GB2140490A - Vertical blinds - Google Patents

Abstract

Upper and/or lower edges 21a of blind material 21 are folded around respective elongate elements, e.g. rods 22, and pushed into slots 25, 27 in respective retaining strips 23 and/or 24, the blind itself and the free end(s) 21a extending through respective narrow openings 26 and/or 28. The free end(s) 21a may be as long as necessary to achieve the desired blind length. Blind material 21 in the form of vertical blind slats and appropriate retaining strips 23, 24 and elongate elements 22 may constitute part of an assembly or D-I-Y kit. The other components in the kit comprise a channel section and brackets for mounting same, a shaft carrying hook for suspension of the slats and a mechanism for adjusting the angle of same. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method of adjusting length of vertical blind and assembly kit including means for carrying out said method This invention primarily concerns a method of adjusting the length of a vertical blind. However, a further aspect of the same invention is an assembly kit or "Do-it-yourself" kit including means for carrying out the aforesaid method.

Hitherto, vertical louvre blind assemblies have almost always been made-to-measure by manufacturers for individual customers requirements, the width relating to the length of a channel section from which the blind is suspended and the length relating to the vertical length of the slats which constitute the blind plus a standard amount, for example for the height of the channel section.

What has not hitherto been possible with any ease is for a householder or other person to themselves install vertical blind assemblies in window recesses.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and means which will facilitate such installation.

With this object in view, the present invention provides a method of adjusting the length of a vertical blind comprising folding an upper and/or lower edge of blind material around an elongate element, the free end of the material being as long as is required to achieve a desired blind length, and pushing same into a slot formed in a retaining strip, the blind itself and the free end of the blind material extending through a narrow opening of the slot.

Advantageously, the retaining strip for the lower edge of the blind is formed integrally with a weight thereby ensuring vertical suspension of the blind and adequate stretching of the material thereof.

A further aspect of the invention is an assembly kit for vertical louvre blinds including a channel section, at least two brackets for mounting the channel section at the ends thereof, a shaft for insertion into the channel section and on which a plurality of hooks for suspension of blind slats are disposed, a mechanism operative to rotate the shaft and thereby alter the angular disposition of the hooks thereon, a plurality of blind slats in the form of strips of fabric, a plurality of elongate elements around which the upper and lower edges of the blind slats are intended to be folded, a plurality of slotted retaining strips for the upper edges of the slats and a plurality of slotted retaining strips for the lower edges of the slats so that during assembly the lengths of the slats may be adjusted in accordance with the aforesaid method.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a small-scale, partly fragmentary view of all the parts of a preferred embodiment of the assembly kit of the invention when spread out; Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view to a larger scale illustrating how the length of a vertical blind is adjusted by means of retaining strips in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, the illustrated components also constituting part of the assembly kit of Figure 1; Figures 3 and 4 are respective fragmentary end views to an enlarged scale illustrating how the upper and lower edges of the blind of Figure 2 are retained in the respective strips; Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a retaining strip as shown in Figures 1 to 4;; Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating the positioning device, which is one of the components of the kit of Figure 1, in use; Figure 7 is a side elevation of the same positioning device; Figure 8 is a cross-section along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of a lower retaining strip which differs from that shown in Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of one corner of a lower retaining strip which differs from that shown in Figures 1 and 2 and from that shown in Figure 9.

As illustrated in Figure 1, a preferred embodiment of the assembly kit of the invention comprises a channel section 10, two brackets 11 for mounting the channel section 10 at the ends thereof, a shaft 12 for insertion into the channel section 10 and on which a plurality of hooks 13 are disposed and a mechanism 14 including a chain 14a operative to rotate the shaft 12 and thereby alter the angular disposition of the hooks 13 thereon.The cross-sectional configuration of the shaft 12 and the details of structure and function of the mechanism 14 are fully disclosed in our earlier British Patents Nos. 2036144B and 20314938. As indicated, each hook 13 is connected to the next adjacent hook by a respective wire 15 which extends through the two respective hooks 13 and has upturned ends so as to limit the sliding of said hooks 13 along said wire 15 and determine their maximum distance apart. A cord 16 is attached to the hook 13a adjacent the one end 17 of the shaft 12 to enable the hooks 13 to be pulled and spread evenly along said shaft 12. A lug 18 in the form of a lozenge with notches 19 at each end is provided.

This may be inserted between the inturned side edges of the channel section 10 to determine the position of the hook 1 3b adjacent the other end 20 of the shaft 12.

The kit also includes a plurality (in the illustrated example there are six) of blind slats 21 in the form of long strips of fabric, a plurality of elongate elements in the form of rods 22 around which the upper and lower edges of the slats 21 are intended to be folded, as shown in Figures 2 to 4, as well as a number of slotted plastics retaining strips 23 for the upper edges of the slats 21 and an equal number of slotted plastics retaining strips 24 for the lower edges of the slats 21. Each upper retaining strip 23 consists of a short strip of plastics, one edge of which bulges out to form a cup-shaped slot 25 with a narrow opening 26 in line with the plane of the strip. There is an aperture 35 midway along each strip 23 so that the strip 23 can be suspended from a hook 13.Each lower retaining strip 24 is of equal length to an upper retaining strip 23 and has a similar cup-shaped edge slot 27 with a narrow opening 28. However, each lower strip 24 is formed, by injection moulding, integrally with a weight 29 which, in use, will ensure vertical suspension of the relevant slat 21 and adequate stretching of the material thereof. As shown in Figure 5, the openings 26,28 are formed with tapered ends 30.

The final item in the preferred kit is a positioning device 31 consisting of a short plastics strip which is L-shaped in cross-section and has a slot 32 parallel to and at a predetermined distance from one end and a ridge 33 forming a stop at each end of the slot 32.

It will no doubt be readily appreciated how the components of the kit are easily assembled together by a relatively unskilled person. Firstly, the width of a window recess into which the blind is to be fitted is measured. Assuming this is shorter than the standard length of channel section 10, the exact length is marked on the standard length provided in the kit and with the aid of the positioning device 31 t which is held onto the channel section 10, a line is drawn around the section 10. Still holding the device 31 to the section 10, a cutting blade is inserted in the slot 32 and the section 10 cut to exactly the correct length taking into account a small distance (exactly the distance between the slot 32 and the adjacent end of the device 31) which is required for the brackets 11 and the mechanism 14. The shaft 12 is also cut to fit the recess.The brackets 11 are then mounted at either side at the top of the recess and the channel section 10, the shaft 12 with the hooks 13 disposed thereon and the mechanism 14 are mounted in position. The lug 18 is simply pushed into an appropriate position adjacent the end 20 of the shaft 12 with the notches 19 engaging inwardly turned side edges of the channel section 10. At least one hook 13b should remain between the lug 18 and the end 20 so that the lug 18 acts as a stop limiting the movement of that hook 1 3b or those hooks. Several hooks 13 may be held back in this way in cases where the shaft 12 has had to be cut down by a considerable amount so as only to accommodate a few of the hooks 13 spread evenly along its length.

The hooks 13 are, of course, spread simply by pulling the cord 16, the distance between each hook 13 and the next being limited by respective wires 15.

Each slat 21 is cut to approximately the correct length corresponding to the height of the window plus a few centimetres for folding back. Subsequently, the upper and lower edges of each slat 21 are folded around a respective rod 22 and pushed in respective slots 25, 27 in retaining strips 23, 24, the blind slat 21 itself and the free ends 21a of the fabric of the slat 21 extending through the respective slot openings 26, 28. It will, or course, be appreciated that in each case the free ends 21a may be as long as required to achieve exactly the desired length of blind slat, prior to suspending the respective slats 21 from the hooks 13 by means of the apertures 35 in the upper retaining strips 23.It should also be noted that, at any time, the vertical blind assembly can be removed from its position, modified by reduction in width of channel section 10 or length of slats 21 and repositioned in a window recess or similar place of smaller dimensions.

The invention is not limited to the exact details of the above-described embodiment and variations are possible within the scope of the claims. For example, the lower retaining strips 24 as described above and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 may be replaced in the proposed kit by different types of strips, such as those shown in Figures 9 and 10 respectively. The lower retaining strip 34 shown in Figure 9 has a slot 27 along its upper edge and an integral weight 29 as in the previous embodiment. However, at each end, just below the slot 27, it also has a cup-like or bowl-like extension 35 with a slot 36 therein to accommodate a spherical body of a beaded thermal (not shown) whereby adjacent slats 21 may be connected together.

The lower retaining strip 38 shown in Figure 10 also includes a slot 27 along its upper edge and an integral weight 29 as in the previous embodiment.

However, between the slot 27 and the weight 29 it is provided with a tunnel 39 into which a narrow bar 40 may be inserted. At each end, the bar 40 is provided with attachment means including a platform 41 carrying an upstanding pillar 42. Each platform 41 is firmly attached to the bar 40 and is supported by a triangular strut 43. A small component 44 formed as a tube with a flat external flange may be fitted by means of its tube position onto each pillar 42 and retained thereon by the enlarged end 45 of each pillar 42. The flange portion of each component 44 is provided with a notched slot whereby a beaded thread or chain (not shown) may be engaged, which thread or chain connects together adjacent slats 21.

Alternatively, a number of plain bars each with a hole in each end may be provided as part of the kit for insertion into the tunnels 39 and attachment of a thread or chain for connecting the slats 21.

Claims (10)

1. A method of adjusting the length of a vertical blind comprising folding an upper and/or lower edge of blind material around an elongate element, the free end of the material being as long as is required to achieve a desired blind length, and pushing same into a slot formed in a retaining strip, the blind itself and the free end of the blind material extending through a narrow opening of the slot.

2. An assembly kit for vertical louvre blinds including a channel section, at least two brackets for mounting the channel section at the ends thereof, a shaft for insertion into the channel section and on which a plurality of hooks for suspension of blind slats are disposed, a mechanism operative to rotate the shaft and thereby alter the angular disposition of the hooks thereon, a plurality of blind slats in the form of strips of fabric, a plurality of elongate elements around which the upper and lower edges of the blind slats are intended to be folded, a plurality of slotted retaining strips for the upper edges of the slats and a plurality of slotted retaining strips for the lower edges of the slats so that during assembly the lengths of the slats may be adjusted in accordance with the method claimed in claim 1.

3. An assembly kit as claimed in claim 2 wherein each hook is connected to the next adjacent hook by a respective wire which limits the distance between the respective hooks and wherein a cord is secured to the hook adjacent the one end of the shaft to enable the hooks to be pulled along the shaft and thereby evenly spread therealong.

4. An assembly kit as claimed in claim 3 further including a lug which may be inserted between the sides of channel section to determine the position of the hook or several hooks adjacent the other end of the shaft.

5. An assembly kit as claimed in any of claims 2, 3 or 4 further including, a positioning device facilitating marking and cutting to size of the channel section, if such is required.

6. An assembly kit as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5 wherein the retaining strips for the lower edges of the slats are each formed integrally with a weight so as to ensure vertical suspension of each slat and adequate stretching of the material thereof.

7. An assembly kit as claimed in any of claims 2 to 6 wherein the retaining strips for the lower edges of the slats are, at each end, provided with a slotted cup-like or bowl-like extension for attachment of a thread or chain for connecting the slats together.

8. An assembly kit as claimed in any of claims 2 to 6 wherein the retaining strips for the lower edges of the slats are each formed with a tunnel and the kit includes a plurality of bars for insertion into these tunnels, the bars having, at each end, means for attachment of a thread or chain for connecting the slats together.

9. A method of adjusting the length of a vertical blind substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by Figures 2, 3 and 4.

10. An assembly kit for vertical louvre blinds including means for adjusting the length of the vertical blind slats substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 1, or Figure 9 or Figure 10.