GB2453930A

GB2453930A - Removable blind

Info

Publication number: GB2453930A
Application number: GB0720238A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Christopher Ball
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-10-16
Filing date: 2007-10-16
Publication date: 2009-04-29
Anticipated expiration: 2027-10-16
Also published as: GB0720238D0; GB2453930B

Abstract

A blind 10 is removably attached to a window 26 using a suction cup 16 including fastening means. The fastening means enables the blind 10 to be removeably attached to the suction cup 16 and may be, for example, a clip. The fastening means may include a threaded recess to receive and hold a threaded stem 22 of a fastener.

Description

1 2453930

IMPROVED BLIND

This invention relates to a blind which can be removeably fixed to a window. The blind can be attached to suction cups which are then attached to the window.

It is common to use black-out" blinds to windows to reduce the amount of light entering a room. This is particularly useful in that they prevent a child's sleep from being disturbed by excess light entering the room.

Although black-out' blinds can readily be mounted to window frames, when travelling most windows are not provided with these blinds. The absence of these blinds means that excess light enters the room and may cause the child to wake.

The present invention provides a portable blind which enables the amount of light entering a room to be reduced. This can be particularly useful for people with small children.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus including, a blind and a suction cup including fastening means, wherein the fastening means enables the blind to be removeably attached to the suction cup.

Preferably, the apparatus further includes a fastener having a stem and a head, the fastening means including a recess configured to receive and hold in frictional engagement the stem of the fastener and the blind including a hole through which the stem of the fastener can pass. Optionally, the recess and stem are provided with complementary threads.

The blind may have a plurality of holes along a first side of the blind. The blind may also have a plurality of holes along a second side of the blind; the first and second sides being perpendicular to each other.

The apparatus may include a second blind which also has a plurality of holes along a first and second side. In use, the holes along the side of the first blind are aligned with the holes in the second blind and each of the aligned holes of the first and second blind are attached to the same suction cup.

The fastening means may be a clip arranged to hold the blind in frictional engagement.

Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

Figure 1 illustrates a blind attached to the window; Figure 2 is an exploded cross-section through the blind at an eyelet; and Figure 3 is a zoomed in view of a bind being attached to a window; and Figure 4 illustrates the use of two blinds to cover the entirety of a window.

Figure 1 illustrates a blind 10 of the present invention in use. The blind 10 can be used with multiple different sized windows and can be repeatedly attached and detached. The blind 10 includes multiple eyelets 12 along its upper length. Each eyelet 12 comprises a hole which is preferably lined around its inner circumference to minimise fraying and stretching of the hole's circumference. Preferably, the hole has a metal ring lining its circumference. Each eyelet 12 is arranged to receive the attachment mechanism 14 as illustrated in Figure 2.

As can be seen in Figure 2, the attachment mechanism 14 includes a suction cup 16 and a fastener 18. The fastener has a head 20 and a stem 22. The suction cup 16 includes a recess 24 which is arranged to receive the stem 22 in frictional engagement and hold the stem 22 within it.

Turning to Figure 3, to attach the blind 10 to a window 26 a number of suction cups 16 are attached to the window 26 at a spacing corresponding to the spacing between the eyelets 12. An eyelet 12 is then lined up with a recess in a first suction cup 16 and the stem 22 of a fastener 18 is passed through the eyelet 12 into the recess 24. The head 20 is pressed until the eyelet 12 is held securely between the head 20 of the fastener and the suction cup 16.

This is repeated along the length of the window 26 as shown in Figure 1.

Where the blind's width is greater than that of the window, the blind may be folded back as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. As shown in Figure 3, two eyelets 12 can be lined up with the recess 24 in the suction cup 16 and the stem 22 of the fastener 18 is passed through both of the eyelets 12 to secure both parts of the blind 10 securely between the suction cup 16 and head 20 of the fastener 18.

If the length of the blind is greater than that of the window then a clip 28 may be used to alter the length of the blind. In this instance the blind lOis folded to a suitable length and the clip 28 is then introduced to the folded part of the blind to hold it in place using friction. In this way the blind can be shortened to an appropriate length thereby preventing light from entering the room due to, for example, the blind extending over the windowsilL If desired, eyelets may also be provided along a second length of the blind. This allows the eyelets to be used to vary the length along two sides. Alternatively, if the blind is rectangular in shape, with a first pair of parallel sides having a first length and a second pair of parallel sides having a different length, the orientation of the blind can be varied according to the window to which it is to be attached.. This allows the blind to effectively be used on a greater range of window sizes.

Optionally two blinds may be attached to the same window as illustrated in Figure 4. This allows light entry through a large window to be prevented. Preferably, an eyelet of one of the two blinds is aligned with an eyelet from the other blind. The blinds can then be attached to the window using suction cups and fasteners as described above. By attaching the blinds to the window along the join the entry of light at the join of two blinds is minimised.

As will be understood by the skilled person, the described method of attachment to the suction cup is not the only possible method. For example, a suction cup may be provided with a clip, such as clip 28 shown in Figure 3, which retains the blind in frictional engagement.

Alternatively, the fastener's stem and the recess in the suction cup may be provided with complimentary threads so that the fastener is screwed' into the suction cup.

Claims

1. Apparatus including: i) a blind; ii) a suction cup including fastening means; wherein the fastening means enables the blind to be removeably attached to the suction cup.

2. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the apparatus further includes a fastener having a stem and a head, the fastening means including a recess configured to receive and hold in frictional engagement the stem of the fastener and the blind including a hole through which the stem of the fastener can pass.

3. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the recess and stem are provided with complementary threads.

4. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the blind includes a plurality of holes along a first side of the blind.

5. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the blind further comprises a plurality of holes along a second side of the blind; the first and second sides being perpendicular to each other.

6. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the blind further comprises a plurality of holes along a second side of the blind; the first and second sides being S...

perpendicular to each other.

I..... S *

S5* 7 The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the fastening means comprises S..-a clip arranged to hold the blind in frictional engagement.

8 An apparatus to removeably attach as blind to a window substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in any combination of the accompanying drawings. * *e * S * * ** * * *S.. **** * S *5S*

I

S..... * . * S.. * * S... S. **

* * _) S *

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 further comprising a second blind as recited in Claim 5; such that, in use, the holes along the side of the first blind are aligned with the holes in the second blind and each of the aligned holes of the first and second blind are attached to the same suction cup.

7. The apparatus as claimed in Claim I wherein the fastening means comprises a clip arranged to hold the blind in frictional engagement.

8. An apparatus to removeably attach as blind to a window substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in any combination of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows ____ 7 Claims 1. Apparatus including: I) a sheet of flexible material in the form of a blind having a plurality of holes such that the blind can be folded to align two holes in registry; ii) a fastener having a stem and a head; wherein the stem can pass through two of the plurality of holes in registry; and iii) a suction cup having fastening means configured to receive the stem of the fastener; wherein the fastening means enables the blind to be removeably engaged to the suction cup.

2. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the stem of the fastener is inserted through two holes aligned in registry thereby enabling the size of the blind to be altered.

3. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the fastening means includes a recess configured to receive and hold in frictional engagement the stem of the fastener.

4. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the recess and stem are provided with complementary threads.

5. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the blind includes a * ** plurality of holes along a first side of the blind. S. I'..