GB2276654A

GB2276654A - Window blinds

Info

Publication number: GB2276654A
Application number: GB9405424A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Edward Lancaster
Original assignee: Ultraframe PLC; Ultraframe UK Ltd
Current assignee: Ultraframe PLC; Ultraframe UK Ltd
Priority date: 1993-03-19
Filing date: 1994-03-18
Publication date: 1994-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 2014-03-18
Also published as: GB9405424D0; GB2276654A8; GB9305792D0; GB2276654B

Abstract

A blind system for a conservatory roof of the type comprising a sheet of fabric (30) slidable on support wires (32) has head (68) and/or bottom (36) support rails connectable to conservatory components without the need for screws, e.g. by snap-fit or clip-on to an intermediate member. <IMAGE>

Description

is 2276654 1 Title: Improvements in and relating to window blinds

DESCRIPTION

This i nvention concerns improvements in and relating to window blinds, especially for conservatories.

Most conservatories have a glazed roof f ormed of glazing panels supported between glazing bars. In sunny weather, it is often desirable to provide some f orm of shading to reduced the sun's intensity through a conservatory roof. For this purpose blinds are provided for roof glazing panels. Typical blinds for roof glazing panels comprise a sheet of fabric folded in concertina fashion and slidable on support wires passing through the folds of the fabric.

The support wires are attached at one end to a ridge of a conservatory except for triangular roof glazing panels when outer support wires are attached to the glazing bars. The attachment of support wires to a glazing bar is generally by means of screws and is highly visible, which adversely affects the appearance of the conservatories.

Furthermore, upper and lower bars support for the blind systems have to be screwed into place which again can be unsightly.

2 An object of this invention is to provide a blind system suitable for::onservatory roofs wherein the number of fixing screws required is minimised.

According to the invention there is provided a blind system suitable for a conservatory roof, of the type comprising a sheet of fabric slidable on support wires, wherein head and/or bottom support bars for the blind are connectable to conservatory components without the need for screws.

Most conservatories with a ridge will have an internal ridge cover in the form of a plate fixed to the ridge. It is proposed, therefore, according to a first aspect of the invention that a head rail of a blind system of the invention be attachable to the ridge cover conveniently via an intermediate member. Preferably the intermediate member comprises an extrusion of resilient material, such as PVC, having a formation on one side which can clip fit onto a cooperating formation along an edge of the ridge cover and a f ormation on its other side to which a head rail can be attached again by a clip or snap-fit action.

The first said formation of the intermediate member preferably comprises a pair of longitudinal slots extending at right angles to each other f rom a common area, one slot having a resiliently deformable outer wall with an angled lead-in portion. The edge of the al is 3 ridge cover preferably has an upstanding longitudinal rib, whereby when the intermediate member is pushed ont 0 the edge of the ridge cover, the rib pushes past 0 the leadin portion of the resiliently deformable outer wall of the one slot to enter that slot. whilst the edge of the ridge cover enters the other slot.

The second said formation of the intermediate member preferably comprises a channel with at least one resiliently deformable side wall, both side walls of the channel having returned ends, which are preferably chamferred to form a convergent passage into the channel. The head rail of the blind pref erably has longitudinal slots or ribs on opposed f aces thereof, whereby when the head rail is pushed into the channel it is retained therein either by the returned ends of the channel side walls engaging in the slots or behind the ribs of the head rail.

It is customary to provide a conservatory with an eaves cover where the roof meets the conservatory side walls. A typical eaves cover comprises a generally flat plate with formations on one side enabling it to be f ixed to the conservatory at the junction of its roof and side walls. It is further proposed, therefore, according to a second aspect of the invention that a bottom rail of a blind system of the invention be attachable to the eaves cover conveniently via is 4 intermediate brackets. A preferred bracket is slotted to sit over a top edge of an eaves cover and has a formation on one side to which a blind system bottom rail is attachable. One preferred bracket has a formation that can snap fit into engagement with a formation of the bottom rail. Another bracket has a part that is rotated to engage a formation of the bottom rail.

The bottom rail is preferably formed with a pair of back to back opposing channels both of which preferably have returned end side walls. Into one such channel,one end of a blind is locatable. Conveniently, the blind and its support wires are fixed to a bar which is preferably slidable into the channel from one end. Into the other channel said bracket formations are engageable.

The glazing bars used to form triangular roof glazing panels usually have an exposed underside having two f aces at an angle to each other to f orm a concave surface. In order to f ix blind support wires to that surface, it is yet further proposed according to a third aspect of the invention that a rail be attached to said angled glazing bars, said rail having means for attachment thereto of blind support wires. Because the angle subtended by the glazing bar faces can vary, it is proposed that said rail have a pair of faces whose 91 relative angle is variable so that they can match the glazing bar faces. These faces of the rail are preferably adherable to a glazing bar and preferably have a contact or pressure sensitive adhesive thereon, so that they can be pressed onto a glazing bar to be held in position.

The rail receiving screw preferably also has a channel for threaded bolts around which blind support wires may be wrapped and held in place by nuts thereon. The rail preferably has means for attaching a cover over the nuts and bolts holding the wires. The covers are preferably a snap or clip fit onto the rails.

At the junction of triangular glazing panels at a ridge end, it is preferred that head rails of blinds for those panels fourth aspect provision of be concealed. To that end according to a of the invention further proposes the a ridge cowl within which said head rails are concealed. A preferred ridge cowl comprises upper and lower trays, the upper of which is fixed to a ridge cover along with the blind head rails and the lower is securable thereto, preferably by a single generally central screw or bolt.

This invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 shows a conservatory fitted with blinds; is 6 Figure 2 is an exploded view of a blind system; Figure 3 is an end view of a component of the system of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the component of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a partially exploded view of the component of Figure 3; Figure 6 is an end view of further components of the blind system of Figure 1; and Figure 7 is an end view of yet further components of the blind system of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a conservatory 10 has a roof 12 constructed of glazing panels 14 supported between glazing bars 16.

The conservatory illustrated has two side walls 18 and an end wall 20 formed in three sections 22, 24 and 26 angled relative to each other. Consequently, the roof 12 has a first part formed of rectangular glazing panels 14A meeting at a ridge 28 and a second part formed of triangular glazing panels 14B extending from the end of the ridge 28.

The ridge 28 has an internal ridge cover plate 29 secured thereto and the junction of the side walls and roofing panels have internal eaves covers 31 thereon. The ridge and eaves covers are generally flat plates with formations on one side whereby they are securable -I A is 7 to the conservatory ridge or eaves respectively.

Each glazing panel 14 is provided with a blind 30 comprising a panel of fabric folded concertina fashion and slidable on wires 32 to extend or reduce the area of the glazing panel covered to by the blind.

Each blind 30 is attached to the conservatory depending on the shape of the glazing panel 14 as illustrated in the remaining Figures of the accompanying drawings. Taking the rectangular glazing panels 14A f irst, each blind has a head rail 34 and a bottom rail 36. The bottom rail 36 (see Figure 7) is an extrusion f orming a pair of oppositely opening back to back channels 38, 40. The channels 38 and 40 are formed between pairs of side walls 42 and 44 respectively which have end sections 46 and 48 respectively turned in to face each other. The one channel 38 is deeper than the other channel 40 and received a bar 50 or the like to which the lower end of the blind and its guide wires are attached. The other channel 40 clips onto brackets 52 which are slotted onto the eaves covers 31 of the conservatory. The brackets 52 may be of the type shown in Figure 2, wherein an arm 53 is rotatable to engage the channel 40 or of the type of Figure 7, wherein a pair of extensions 55 have end formations to snap behind end section 48 of the channel 40.

The head rail 34 of the blind system is a channel 8 section extrusion having side ends 62 and opposed internal surf ace of each side wall is walls 60 with turned in flanges 64. The outer f ormed with a series of parallel longitudinal slots 66. The same shape extrusion denoted 68 is used as a slider rail f or the blind having the upper end of the blind fabric with its folds retained by its turned in ends 70 and its internal flanges 72. This extrusion is drilled so that the support wires 32 pass through it to the head rail 34, which is itself drilled to received and retain ends of the support wires. The blind is extended or retracted by sliding the slider rail 68 along the support wires.

The head rail 34 is attached to the ridge cover 29 by means of a connector extrusion 80 of plastics material (see Figure 7). The connector 80 has a f irst part 82 for locating on the ridge cover edge and second part 82 to which the head rail 34 is attachable. The first part 82 comprises a pair of longitudinal slots 86, 88 at right angles to each other and opening to a common space. The slot 86 is generally vertical and has a resiliently deformable free side wall 90 with an upwardly angled external lip 92 providing a lead in for the edge of the ridge cover. Near to the edge of the ridge cover is a longitudinal rib 94 so that when the connector is pushed onto the ridge cover edge part the lead in tip 92, the rib enters the slot 86 and the ridge v 1 9 is cover edge the slot 88.

The second part 84 of the connector 80 is a channel which has side walls 98 with turned in ends 100 which are chamferred to provide a converging entrance to the channel. The side walls 98 are resiliently deformable so that the head rail 34 can be pushed into the channel until the ends 100 of the side walls snap into the slots 66 of the head rail to retain it in the channel.

The head rail 34 and the slider rial 68 both have end caps 102 as shown in Figure 7. The end caps 102 comprise a flat end plate 104 with a wedging formation 106 extending perpendicularly therefore, which is pushed into the end of a rail 34 or 68 and retained there by a wedging.

Turning particularly to blinds for triangular roof ing panels, these also have a bottom rail 36 but a shorter head rail 34a which is ridge cover but is concealed in a the underside of the ridge cover.

not connected to the cowl 110 attached to The cowl 110 has an upper tray 112 which is secured to the ridge cover 29 by means of screws and the head rails 34a is secured to the tray 112 also by screws. The head rials 34a has only a central pair of support wires 32 fastened to it. The cowl is completed by a lower tray 114 which is secured to the upper tray by a bolt 116. The lower tray has r is slots 118 cut in its edges f or the wired 32. The lower tray generally conceals the head rails 34a from view.

Outer support wires 32 are attached at their upper ends to longitudinal members 120 themselves attached to the glazing bars 16 on either side of a roofing panel. The longitudinal members 120 themselves are plastics extrusions and have a downwardly open channel 122 formed therein which has a upper narrow portion 124, a wider mid-portion 126 and a narrow bottom portion 128. At its mouth the channel has serrated flanges 130 extending laterally of the channel side walls both inwardly and outwardly. The outward extension of the flanges 130 provides longitudinal slots 132 along the outside of the member 120.

The side walls of the channel extend upwardly and each has a hinged flap 134 extending inwardly therefrom. Hinging is provided by thinning of material where the flaps are connected to the channel side walls.

The flaps 134 are coated on their outer surface with contact adhesive. These flaps are provided so that the members 120 can be attached to the underside of glazing bars 16 whether they are flat or have angled faces.

The channel 122 receives threaded bolts 140 having heads 142 shaped to fit into the bottom portion 124 of the channel without being able to rotate. The 1 I 11 bottom portion 128 accommodates a washer 144 on the bolt 140 and a knurled nut 146 screws onto the bolt 140 with a further washer 148 between it and the flanges 130. Ends of support wires 32 of a blind are wrapped around the bolt 140 and held in place by tightening of the nut 144 thereon. The longitudinal side slots 132 of the member 120 receive lips 150 of a channel section cover 152 which snap fits onto the member 120 to conceal the nuts 144.

1

Claims

12 CLAIMS

A blind system for a conservatory roof of the type comprising a sheet of fabric slidable on support wires, wherein head and/or bottom support rails for the blind are connected to conservatory components without screws.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the head rail is attached to an internal cover for a ridge of the conservatory.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the head rail is attachable to the internal cover via an intermediate member.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the intermediate member comprises an extrusion of resilient material having a formation on one side which is a clip fit onto a cooperating formation along an edge of the ridge cover and a formation on its other side to which the head rail is attached by clip or snap-fit action.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first said formation of the intermediate member comprises a pair of longitudinal slots extending at right angles to each other from a common one, one slot having a resiliently deformable outer wall with an angled lead-in portion.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the V is 13 ridge cover has an upstanding longitudinal rib, whereby when the intermediate member is pushed onto the edge of the ridge cover, the rib pushes past the lead-in portion of the resiliently deformable outer wall of the one slot to enter that slot, whilst the edge of the ridge cover enters the other slot.

7. A system as claimed in claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the second said formation of the intermediate member comprises a channel with at least one resiliently deformable side wall, both side walls of the channel having returned ends.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the returned ends of the channel side walls are chamfered to form a convergent passage into the channel.

9. A system as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the head rail has longitudinal slots or ribs on opposed faces thereof, whereby, when the head rail is pushed into the channel, it is retained therein either by the returned ends of the channel side walls engaging in the slots or behind the ribs of the head rail.

10. A system as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 9, wherein the bottom rail is attached to an eaves cover for the junction of a conservatory roof and side wall.

11. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the bottom rail is attached to the eaves cover by intermediate brackets.

14 12. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the bracket is slotted to sit over a top edge of the eaves cover and has a formation on one side to which the bottom rail is attached.

13. A system as claimed in claims 11 or 12, wherein the bracket has formations that is a snap-fit into engagement with a formation of the bottom rail.

14. A system as claimed in claim 11 or 12 wherein the bracket has a part that is rotated to engage a formation of the bottom rail.

15. A system as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the bottom rail has a pair of back to back opposing channels.

16. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein both of the channels have returned end side walls.

17. A system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the blind and its support wires are fixed to a bar slidable into one of said channels from one end.

18. A system as claimed in claims 16 or 17 wherein the brackets locate in said other channel.

19. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein, for fixing blind support wires to a glazing bar having a pair of angled faces forming a concave surface, a rail having means for attachment thereto of blind support wires is attached to said glazing bar.

20. A system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the rail j if 2 has a pair of faces whose relative angle is variable to match the angle of the glazing bar faces.

21. A system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the faces of the rail have a contact or pressure sensitive adhesive thereon for adhering same to the faces of the glazing bar.

22. A system as claimed in claim 19, 20 or 21, wherein the rail has a channel for receiving screwthreaded bolts around which blind support wires may be wrapped and held in place by nuts thereon.

23. A system as claimed in claims 22, further comprising a cover for attachment to the rails to conceal said nuts and bolts.

24. A system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the cover is a snap-fit onto the rail.

25. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 24, further comprising a ridge cowl for concealing head rails at a junction of triangular glazing panels at a ridge end.

26. A system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the ridge cowl comprises upper and lower trays, the upper of which is fixed to a ridge cover along with the blind head rails and the lower is securable thereto.

27. A blind system for a conservatory roof substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.