AU639628B2

AU639628B2 - Blind bracket

Info

Publication number: AU639628B2
Application number: AU10261/92A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Warrington Tisdell
Original assignee: Poulter Maralyn Anne; Poulter William Thomas
Current assignee: Hoswell Barbara Mary; Hoswell Tom Aubrey
Priority date: 1991-01-17
Filing date: 1992-01-16
Publication date: 1993-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 2012-01-16
Also published as: AU1026192A

Description

639628

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant(s): Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: -JhN WARRINGTON TISDELL Wrl\0<~< Po\AA- Mara\p Anre; Fbulter JOHN WARRINGTON TISDELL CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 240 Queen Street, Brisbane, Qld. 4000, Australia.

BLIND BRACKET 0 a 09066 @999 11 9 9 9* e* Details of Associated Provisional Applications: Nos. PK 4243 9 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 9 99 9. 2 THIS INVENTION relates to an arrangement for supporting a screen and is particularly concerned with a bracket arrangement for supporting and orientating the free end of a tensioned roller screen relative to a support structure such as a wall or framework, particularly one which has an opening such as a window.

The term "screen" is intended to encompass materials supplied in sheet form, or which can be combined in sheet form, and which are capable of being wound onto a roller. It thus includes blinds and awnings, manufactured from woven and steel material, flexible room dividers manufactured from fabric, wood and/or plastics material, flyscreening manufactured from fine gauge wire or high density plastics material, and slat, matchstick and bamboo blinds manufactured ":"from metal, wood, plastics materials and bamboo. Other types of screens will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee.

H* The term "tensioned roller" is intended to mean a .roller which either houses a spring which is biased to o automatically wind the screen onto the roller, or is associated with an independent winding system which rotates .the roller so that the screen can be wound onto it.

f S Since the invention is primarily concerned with blinds and awnings, it will be described in that context however, the broader ramifications and utilities should be borne in mind.

Blinds and awnings fitted to the exte i: of ':"'buildings can generally be classified as being of the "fixedtype" or of the "movable-type". The fixed-type are fitted to 3 extend out over the window or door opening at a pre-determined angle to provide maximum shade when the sun is at a particular location. As the name suggests, the fixed-type cannot readily be altered to conform with the angle of the sun at different times of the day or year.

The movable-type blind or awning is generally supported in tracks running down each side of the window or door opening. The arrangement is usually such that the blind or awning can be moved ila a plane parallel with but very closely spaced to the opening. This, in effect, means that the blind or awning, to be effective, must be completely closed when the sun is shining at essentially any angle thereto. This, obviously limits the desirability of such blinds in many instances.

Thus both categories of externally fitted blinds and awnings have disadvantages and it is an object of the present 9 5 "invention to provide an alternative bracket arrangement which .obviates such disadvantages while retaining the good features of both types.

According to the present invention, there is .provided a bracket arrangement for supporting and orientating free end of a screen which is attached at its opposite end 9. to a tensioned roller as herein defined, said arrangement 'comprising a guide rail which includes a C-profile channel adapted to be arranged in a vertical orientation relative to a .::'*support structure on which the tensioned roller is located, said guide rail including a longitudinal opening in the web of its C-profile in an upper, in use, end thereof; and a slide 4 member captured within the channel and on which a support arm is pivotally connected adjacent to one end of the arm, the other end of the support arm being connectable to the free end of the screen, said slide member including a slot which can be aligned with the longitudinal opening in the web of the guide rail; the construction and arrangement, in use, being such that: when the screen is fully retracted onto the tensioned roller, the support arm assumes an inclined upright orientation in an upper region of the guide rail, adjacent to the longitudinal opening therein, as the screen is unwound from the roller by pulling on the free end of the screen, the support arm pivots through an arc to a downwardly projecting orientation 1.6. facilitated by the end of the support arm adjacent to its pivot point, rotating through both the longitudinal opening in the guide rail and the aligned slot in the slide member, and continued unwinding of the screen causes the slide member with attached support arm to move downwardly in the channel of the guide rail until the desired extension of the screen is achieved at which point the screen is released allowing the tension in the roller to pivot the support arm upwardly until it reaches a horizontal orientation at which 0 point the end of the support arm locks against the web of the 29 guide rail channel through the slot in the slide member.

Generally, there will be two such bracket

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arrangements for each screen, a right-hand arrangement and a left-hand arrangement, one each of which is located to either side of the opening. A connecting member such as a rod, tube, bar or the like suitably connects the outermost ends of the support arms of each bracket arrangement and simultaneously provide an attachment region for the free end of the screen. Since such connecting member provides purchase for manipulation of the screen, it should preferably be relatively rigid, durable and easy to handle.

The C-profile channel in the guide rail will preferably have a plane web so as to facilitate movement of the slide member therein and so as to enable the guide rail to be readily fitted to a window or door frame, or to a wall, by screw attachments or the like which pass through locating holes in the web. Preferably, one hole is located in each of the top and bottom regions cf the rail so that the raised head of a screw or like fixing means can then act as a stop for further upward or downward movement of the slide.

A particularly preferred guide rail configuration comprises a C-profile channel supported by longitudinally extending ribs so that the web is raised from the surface of the structure to which it is attached.

The slide member can be any shaped member which snugly fits within the C-profile channel an& which cannot pass through the opening in the face of the guide rail. The slide member should, furthermore, be such that it can easily be *moved along the C-profile channel when required without jamming. One form of preferred slide comprises a profiled T- S :.:,,piece wherein the leg of the extends out through the :opening in the face of the guide rail and provides a region for attaching the pivotal support arm to the slide member.

6 As previously mentioned, the slide member also incorporates a slot to enable the end of the support arm to pivot upwardly when the slide member is brought into alignment with the longitudinal opening in the web of the guide iail, and also to prevent the support arm from moving past a horizontal orientation when not aligned with the. longitudinal opening in the guide rail. Such a slot is conveniently of substantially rectangular configuration and is located to one side of the central longitudinal axis of the web in the Ci~o profile channel.

The support arm is a rigid member such as a bar, tube or rod which is connected near one of its ends to the slide member by a suitable pin which enables it to pivot in a vertical arc which subtends an angle approaching 180 degrees.

*The very end of the support arm adjacent to the pivot point may be slightly angled to enable it to readily move in and out of the slot in the slide member and the longitudinal opening ,in the guide rail. It is also dimensioned and positioned so that the end thereof can rest firmly against the web of the guide rail (of course when not aligned with the slot therein) .and pr.event upward pivoting past a substantially horizontal orientation.

Means are provided in the opposite end of the 'support arm to the pivot point, for attaching the screen or connecting member thereto. This miay be a simple opening for .:..'retaining an axle or pin of the connecting member, or it may bhe a pin or nub onto which a recessed connecting member is inserted.

7 In a modification of the above arrangement to suit the situation in which structures either protrude outwardly from the region where the screen is required to extend over and/or include members such as security grills or bars, the guide rail is curved at its upper, in use, end so as to bring the main body of the guide rail into a plane beyond the plane of the extending structure or members. At least one bracket will also be necessary to connect the lower end of the guide ra.il to the structure surrounding the area to be screened and IO to maintain the guide rail in the desired plane. Such a curve has the added benefit of enabling the support arm to pivot upwardly as it passes up the curve and therefore obviates the need for a longitudinal opening in the guide rail. This also means that a smaller slide member can be employed and this, in turn, enables the arm to be locked in its horizontal orientation by virtue of the arm pushing on the rear of the S slide member which, in turn, wedges against the inner walls of .the C-profile channel. Thus, a slot is also not needed for the slide.

The above two modifications can be seen to provide a new form of screen sapport which enables an angled screen to *a be placed over the opening of a door or window at any predetermined inclination (this being set by the length of support arm chosen) while enabling the screen to still be raised or lowered depending upon the position of the sun. The

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invention thus achieves the desirable characteristics of the •prior art arrangements described above without the concomitant disadvantages thereof.

8 Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a side perspective view of a blind arrangotd over an opening incorporating a bracket arrangement according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 illustrates end on diagrammatic views of the various positions of the blind and pivot arm of the Figure 1 embodiment; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the top end of the guide, the slide and the inner end of the pivot arm of the Figure 1 embodiment; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the slide and pivot arm aligned with the slot in the guide of the Figure 1 embodiment; 00 Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but with the a.

pivot arm folded upwardly; 0 Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the slide and pivot arm of the Figure 1 embodiment locked in the track in a horizontal orientation; Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but with the pivot arm folded downwardly; Figure 8 is a side perspective view of a modified version having a curved track extending beyond a window with grills; Figure 9 illustrates end on diagrammatic view of the various positions of the blind and pivot arm of the Figure 8 embodiment; Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of a midsection of the guide, the slide, the pivot arm and a support bracket of the Figure 8 embodiment; Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the slide and pivot arm of the Figure 8 embodiment locked in the track in a horizontal orientation; Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 but with the pivot arm folded downwardly; and Figure 13 is a partial close-up perspective of the top-left end of the arrangement illustrated in Figure 8.

In the drawings only left-hand arrangements are shown in detail.

Referring firstly to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 7, a blind 10 is supported on a spring roller 11 in housing 12 above a window 13 (Note: the housing 12 is omitted from Figure 1 for the sake of clarity).

Leading end 14 of the blind 10 is wrapped around a rod journalled to pivot arms to each side of the blind. One pivot arm is the mirror image of the other, that is, one is a right-hand arm and one is a left-hand arm. Only one, viz left-hand pivot arm 15, is illustrated.

Pivot arm 15 is connected by means of a pivot pin 16 (see Figures 3 7) to a T-profile slide 17 which is adapted to move longitudinally within a C-profile channel 18 fixed to each side of the window. The pivot arm is very slightly tapered at the end 19 adjacent to the pivot.

S A slot 20 is formed in the T-profile slide 17 and a slot 21 is formed in the rear face of the C-profile channel 18.

In use, when the blind 10 is fully retracted, the S pivot arm 15 assumes an inclined upright orientation as 4* illustrated in Figures 2(a) and b. Upon extending the blind from its housing by pulling a leading end 14, pivot arm pivots such that its inner end passes through aligned slots 21 in the slide and C-profile channel, through the orientation illustrated in Figure 2(b) and 4 to the orientation illustrated in Figure At this point, the inner end of the pivot arm has cleared the be.ck wall of the Cprofile channel and the slot 17, and the pivot arm can freely move downwardly on the slide in the channel (see Figure 7).

When the desired degree of extension has been achieved, the leading end 14 of the blind is released, and the tension in the blind roller raises the pivot arm 15 to the horizontal orientation illustrated in dotted outline in Figure The end of the pivot arm wedges firmly against the rear wall of 1 the C-profile channel as shown in Figure 6 and further upward b* movement of the slide 17 and pivot arm 15 is prevented. In 4 A this manner, the blind is locked in place at the desired degree of extension.

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In order to release the blind and return it to its retracted position, the leading end 14 thereof is pulled downwardly to overcome the tension in the roller spring, so that the pivot arm assumes the orientation shown in Figure 7.

J 4 While holding the leading end of the blind with the pivot arm "in the downwardly inclined orientation, the inner end attached to the slide is allowed to slide upwardly in the track under the tension of the blind roller until it is stopped by the raised head 22 of a track pin. At this point it is once again aligned with the slot 21 in the track and can pivot upwardly 11 to the orientation illustrated in Figures 2(a) and Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 8 13, a blind 30 is once again supported on a spring roller 31 above a window 32. This window differs from the previous embodiment in that it has bars 33 extending thereover.

Leading end 34 of the blind 30 is wrapped around a rod journalled to pivot arms to each side of the blind. Both pivot arms are once again identical and only one, viz pivot arm 35, will therefore be described.

The pivot arm 35 is connected by an off-set pivot pin 36 (see Figures 10 13) to a T-profile slide 37 which is adapted to move longitudinally within a "C-profile" channel 38 fixed to the side of the window 32. The "C-profile" channel 38 is curved at its upper end 39 so as to space it away from the wall and the bars 33. Two L-shaped brackets 40, 41 space 4.

Do4- the lower end of the C-shaped profile from the wall and the bars 33 and retain the track in a substantially parallel vertical plane.

In use, when the blind 30 is fully retracted, the pivot arm 35 assumes an inclined upright orientation as illustrated in Figures 2(a) and 13. Upon extending the blind 64 w from its housing by pulling on leading end 34, pivot arm passes through the orientation shown in Figures 2(b) and 11 until it assumes the orientation shown in Figures 2(c) and 12.

34 At this' inclination the pivot arm 35 can be freely pulled down the track on its slide 37 until the desired degree of extension is reached. The blind is then released and the 12 tension in the blind roller raises the pivot arm 35 to the orientation illustrated in Figure 11 where it firmly wedges the slide 37 against the inner surface of the C-shaped profile 38.

To return the blind to its retracted position, the leading end 34 thereof is pulled downwardly to overcome the tension in the roller spring, so that the pivot arm can take the orientation depicted in Figure While holding the leading end of the blind with the pivot arm in the downwardly inclined orientation, the inner end attached to the slide is allowed to slide upwardly in the track under the tension of the blind roller until it passes over the curved section and is prevented from further upward movement either by virtue of crimp in the track or due to the close location of the blind **roller.

0 Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the itvention, many modifications and variations may be made thereto hy persons skilled in the art without departing from the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A bracket arrangement for supporting and orientating the free end of a screen which is attached at its opposite end to a tensioned roller as herein defined, said arrangement comprising a guide rail which includes a C-profile channel adapted to be arranged in a vertical orientation relative to a support structure on which the tensioned roller is located, said guide rail including a longitudinal opening in the web of its C-profile in an upper, in use, end thereof; and a slide member captured within the channel and on which a support arm is pivotally connected adjacent to one end of the arm, the other end of the support arm being connectable to the free end of the screen, said slide member including a slot which can be son*: aligned with the longitudinal opening in the web of the guide 0 0 0000 rail; the construction and arrangement, in use, being such S that: S(a) when the screen is fully retracted onto the when the screen is fully retracted onto the tensioned roller, the support arm assumes an inclined upright orientation in an upper region of the guide rail, adjacent to the longitudinal opening therein, o as the screen is unwound from the roller by pulling on the free end of the screen, the support arm pivots through an arc to a downwardly projecting orientation facilitated by the end of the support arm ad-acent to its pivot point, rotating through both the longitudinal opening in the guide rail and the aligned slot in the slide member, and continued unwinding of the screen causes the slide member with attached support arm to move downwardly in 14 the channel of the guide rail until the desired extension of the screen is achieved at which point the screen is released allowing the tension in the roller to pivot the support arm upwardly until it reaches a horizontal orientation at which point the end of the support arm locks against the web of the guide rail channel through the slot in the slide member.

2. A bracket arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the C-profile channel has a plane web to facilitate attachment of the guide rail'to a support structure. 1O 3. A b. .cket arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the C-profile channel includes two longitudinally extending ribs formed on the exterior of the web which are integral with the said web and which are adapted to raise the web off the .support structure.

4. A bracket arrangement as claimed in any one of the C. S"preceding claims, wherein the slide member comprises a profile .T-piece wherein the leg of the extends out between the walls of the C-profile channel and provides a region for attaching the support arm. A bracket arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the longitudinal opening in the web and the slot in the slide member have the same dimensions, and 'wherein the longitudinal opening is located to one side of the central longitudinal axis of the web. A bracket arrangement as claimed in any one of the ,preceding claims, wherein the guide rail is curved at its upper, in use, end so as to bring the main body of the guide rail into a plane beyond the plane of the support structure.

7. A bracket arrangement substantially as herein described with refe)rence to Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A bracket grrangement substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 8 13 of the accompanying drawingo. DATED this 16th day of January 199.2 X=OII W-RRINTE)TO TEE85E LL \ccv-W P-Orcc'4 ZAA~ By his Patent Attorneys Mrkm Ar A e CULLEN CO. t SS 0 0 d 16 ABSTRACT A bracket arrangement for supporting and orientating the free end of a screen which is attached at its opposite end to a tensioned roller as herein defined, said arrangement comprising a guide rail which includes a C-profile channel adapted to be arranged in a vertical orientation relative to a support structure on which the tensioned roller is located, said guide rail including a longitudinal opening in the web of its C-profile in an upper, in use, end thereof; and a slide member captured within the channel and on which a support arm is pivotally connected adjacent to one end of the arm, the other end of the support arm being connectable to the free end of the screen, said slide member including a slot which can be .Aligned with the longitudinal opening in the web of the guide rail; the construction and arrangement, in use, being such ~hat: when the screen is fully retracted onto the *'***ensioned roller, the support arm assumes an inclined upright orientation in an upper region of the guide rail, adjacent to the longitudinal opening therein, g* as the screen is unwound from the roller by pulling -on the free end of the screen, the support arm pivots hrough an arc to a downwardly projecting orientation facilitated by the end of the support arm adjacent to its ,pivot point, rotating through both the longitudinal opening in he guide rail and the aligned slot in the slide member, and continued unwinding of the screen causes the slide member with attached support arm to move downwardly in 17 the channel of the guide rail until the desired extension of the screen is achieved at which point the screen is released allowing the tension in the roller to pivot the support arm upwardly until it reaches a horizontal orientation at which point the end of the support arm locks against the web of the guide rail channel through the slot in the slide member. oo. t oo S* p *4 e 94 4 S