WO2001033021A2

WO2001033021A2 - Blinds with variable internal openings

Info

Publication number: WO2001033021A2
Application number: PCT/IL2000/000626
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jack Ohayon; Ruth Hirsch
Original assignee: G.H.R.D.N. Marketing & Management Ltd.
Priority date: 1999-10-31
Filing date: 2000-10-06
Publication date: 2001-05-10
Also published as: IL132655A0; WO2001033021A3; AU7682800A; WO2001033021B1

Abstract

A roller blind (20) includes a number of elongated slats (22), each having a front surface (24) and a rear surface (26) interconnected by at least one intermediate rib (28). The front surface (24) and the rear surface (26) of each slat form therebetween an upper cavity (30) extending downwards from an upper edge of the slat (22). The front surface (24) and the rear surface (26) additionally form therebetween a lower cavity (32) extending upwards from a lower edge of the slat (22). The blind (20) also includes a plurality of connecting slats (34), each of the connecting slats (34) having an upper portion (36) configured to be slidingly engaged within a lower cavity (32) of a first of the elongated slats (22), a lower portion (38) configured to be slidingly engaged within an upper cavity (30) of a second of the elongated slats (22), and an intermediate portion (40) attached to the upper (36) and lower (38) portions. As a result, the roller blind (20) assumes an open state in which a major part of the intermediate portion (40) is exposed between adjacent ones of the elongated slats (22), and a closed state in which the connecting slats (34) are accommodated within the upper (30) and lower (32) cavities so that the intermediate portion (40) is concealed.

Description

BLINDS WITH VARIABLE INTERNAL OPENINGS

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to Tollable blinds constructed from

interconnected slats and, in particular, it concerns a design for such blinds

which provides variable internal openings.

It is known to provide blinds constructed from interconnected slats

which, in their closed position, are lowered along tracks positioned at the sides

of an opening such as a window or door and, in their open position, are rolled

around a spindle located in a cavity above the opening. For domestic

applications, the slats are commonly made from polymer materials while partly

or wholly metallic constructions may be preferred for larger or higher-security

applications. Raising and lowering of the blind is typically performed either

manually or electrically. All such blinds will be referred to herein generically

as "roller blinds".

A typical slat configuration for a roller blind of this type is shown in

Figure 1. The blind is made up of a number of similar slats 10, each having a

bottom slot 12 and an upper ridge 14. The upper ridge 14 is formed with lateral

projections 16 configured to lock within the bottom slot 12 of the adjacent slat

10.

Optionally, upper ridge 14 may feature a row of small holes 18 which

allow a very small amount of light transmission and air flow through the blind when it is not fully closed. However, the area of these holes is very small,

typically corresponding to well under 5% of the total area of the blind.

There is therefore a need for a roller blind structure employing

connecting slats which are exposed in an open state and concealed in a closed

state, thereby facilitating the provision of a significant but controllable amount

of light transmission and/or ventilation through the blind.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a roller blind structure employing connecting

slats which are exposed in an open state and concealed in a closed state.

According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided, a

roller blind comprising: (a) a plurality of elongated slats having a length and a

height, each of the elongated slats having a front surface and a rear surface

interconnected by at least one intermediate rib, the front surface and the rear

surface forming therebetween an upper cavity extending downwards from an

upper edge of the slat for at least about a quarter of the height along

substantially the entirety of the length, the front surface and the rear surface

additionally forming therebetween a lower cavity extending upwards from a

lower edge of the slat for at least about a quarter of the height along

substantially the entirety of the length; and (b) a plurality of connecting slats,

each of the connecting slats having an upper portion configured to be slidingly

engaged within a lower cavity of a first of the elongated slats, a lower portion

configured to be slidingly engaged within an upper cavity of a second of the elongated slats, and an intermediate portion attached to the upper and lower

portions, a distance between the upper portion and the lower portion being at

least about a third of the height, such that the roller blind assumes an open state

in which a major part of the intermediate portion is exposed between adjacent

ones of the elongated slats, and such that the roller blind further assumes a

closed state in which the connecting slats are accommodated within the upper

and the lower cavities so that the intermediate portion is substantially

concealed.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the intermediate

portion of each of the connecting slats features at least one ventilation opening

configured so as to permit air flow through the roller blind when the roller

blind is in the open state.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the intermediate

portion of each of the connecting slats features at least one window configured

so as to permit transmission of light through the roller blind when the roller

blind is in the open state. The window may be implemented as an open

aperture, a region of mesh, or using transparent or translucent material.

Preferably, the at least one window extends over a total area

corresponding to at least about half of the major part of the intermediate

portion which is exposed in the open state. Adjacent elongated slats are

preferably separated by at least about half of the height in the open state. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with

reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a conventional slatted roller

blind;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a roller blind, constructed and

operative according to the teachings of the present invention, in an open state;

and

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the roller blind of Figure 2 in a

closed state.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a roller blind structure employing connecting

slats which are exposed in an open state and concealed in a closed state

The principles and operation of roller blinds according to the present

invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the

accompanying description.

Referring now to the drawings, Figures 2-3 show a roller blind,

generally designated 20, constructed and operative according to the teachings

of the present invention.

Generally speaking, roller blind 20 includes a plurality of elongated slats

22 having a length / and a height h. Each slat 22 has a front surface 24 and a

rear surface 26 interconnected by at least one intermediate rib 28. Front surface 24 and rear surface 26 form between them an upper cavity 30 extending

downwards from an upper edge of the slat for at least about a quarter of the

height along substantially the entirety of the length, and a lower cavity 32

extending upwards from a lower edge of the slat for at least about a quarter of

the height along substantially the entirety of the length.

Slats 22 are interconnected by a plurality of connecting slats 34, each

having an upper portion 36 configured to be slidingly engaged within lower

cavity 32 of one slat 22, and a lower portion 38 configured to be slidingly

engaged within upper cavity 30 of another slat 22. An intermediate portion 40

attaches upper and lower portions 36 and 38 which are separated by a distance

of at least about a third of the height h.

The structure is thus configured such that roller blind 20 assumes an

open state (Figure 2) in which a major part of intermediate portion 40 is

exposed between adjacent elongated slats 22, and a closed state (Figure 3) in

which connecting slats 34 are accommodated within upper and lower cavities

30 and 32 so that intermediate portion 40 is substantially concealed.

At this point, it will be readily apparent that the present invention

provides connecting slats which may be selectively revealed and concealed,

depending upon the state of opening of the blind. By providing these

connecting slats with openings or windows, the structure of the present

invention may be used to provide highly controllable lighting and/or ventilation

properties. Turning now to the features of the present invention in more detail, it is

a particular feature of certain most preferred embodiments of the present

invention that intermediate portion 40 of each connecting slat 34 features at

least one window 42 which is revealed in the open state of the blind. The

window may be configured primarily as a ventilation opening configured so as

to permit air flow through the roller blind, or may be primarily for illumination

configured so as to permit transmission of light through the roller blind when

the roller blind is in the open state. In either case, the window is substantially

obscured when the blind assumes its closed state.

Structurally, window 42 may be implemented most simply as an open

aperture. Where it is preferred to provide ventilation without allowing insects

to enter through the windows, a region of mesh (also known as "screen" or

"netting") may be provided. In the latter case, depending upon choice of

materials, in may be possible to form the mesh integrally with connecting slats

34. Alternatively, a separate mesh, most commonly of aluminum or polymer

material, may be attached by known techniques to cover the windows 42.

In cases in which illumination is required without ventilation, window

42 is typically implemented using transparent material. Examples of suitable

transparent materials include, but are not limited to, glass and various

transparent plastics. The materials may be tinted as desired. Where illumination

is required without compromising privacy, translucent light scattering materials

may be used. In order to maximize the range of illumination and/or ventilation

conditions which can be obtained, the at least one window 42 preferably

extends over a total area corresponding to at least about half of the part of

intermediate portion 40 which is exposed in the open state. Similarly, the

intermediate portion 40 itself preferably corresponds to a relatively large

proportion of the area of the open blind, preferably in excess of about 30% of

the total area. To this end, adjacent elongated slats 22 are preferably separated

by at least about half of height h in the open state, corresponding to a height of

connecting slats 34 greater than h/2. In a most preferred case, the height of

connecting slats 34 is in excess of about 0.7/., or even 0.8/.. This requires

dimensions of upper and lower cavities 30 and 32 which together define a

storage space for connecting slats 34 which extends over in excess of two

thirds of height h.

It should be noted in this context that upper and lower cavities 30 and 32

need not necessarily, or even typically, be symmetrical. Thus, upper cavity 30

may be larger than, or smaller than, lower cavity 32, so long as the combined

dimensions of the cavities are sufficient to accommodate connecting slats 34.

As mentioned earlier, the roller blinds of the present invention may be

made from any suitable materials. Typical non-limiting examples include

plastics, aluminum, steel and combinations thereof. Particular significance is

noted for high security applications of the present invention where metals or

metal alloys are used either as the main structural materials or as reinforcing

elements. In this case, both in the open and in the closed states, the blinds of the present invention provide higher security than offered by sliding or

retractable security bars while still allowing an adjustable degree of

illumination and/or ventilation.

It will be appreciated that the above descriptions are intended only to

serve as examples, and that many other embodiments are possible within the

spirit and the scope of the present invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A roller blind comprising:

(i) a plurality of elongated slats having a length and a height, each of

said elongated slats having a front surface and a rear surface

interconnected by at least one intermediate rib, said front surface

and said rear surface forming therebetween an upper cavity

extending downwards from an upper edge of said slat for at least

about a quarter of said height along substantially the entirety of

said length, said front surface and said rear surface additionally

forming therebetween a lower cavity extending upwards from a

lower edge of said slat for at least about a quarter of said height

along substantially the entirety of said length; and

(ii) a plurality of connecting slats, each of said connecting slats

having an upper portion configured to be slidingly engaged

within a lower cavity of a first of said elongated slats, a lower

portion configured to be slidingly engaged within an upper cavity

of a second of said elongated slats, and an intermediate portion

attached to said upper and lower portions, a distance between said

upper portion and said lower portion being at least about a third

of said height,

such that the roller blind assumes an open state in which a major part of said

intermediate portion is exposed between adjacent ones of said elongated slats,

and such that the roller blind further assumes a closed state in which said connecting slats are accommodated within said upper and said lower cavities so

that said intermediate portion is substantially concealed.

2. The roller blind of claim 1, wherein said intermediate portion of

each of said connecting slats features at least one ventilation opening

configured so as to permit air flow through the roller blind when the roller

blind is in said open state.

3. The roller blind of claim 1, wherein said intermediate portion of

each of said connecting slats features at least one window configured so as to

permit transmission of light through the roller blind when the roller blind is in

said open state.

4. The roller blind of claim 3, wherein said window is implemented

as an open aperture.

5. The roller blind of claim 3, wherein said window is implemented

as a region of mesh.

6. The roller blind of claim 3, wherein said window is implemented

using transparent material.

7. The roller blind of claim 3, wherein said window is implemented

using translucent material.

8. The roller blind of claim 3, wherein said at least one window

extends over a total area corresponding to at least about half of said major part

of said intermediate portion which is exposed in said open state.

9. The roller blind of claim 1, wherein adjacent ones of said

elongated slats are separated by at least about half of said height in said open

state.