GB2480808A

GB2480808A - A blind clip

Info

Publication number: GB2480808A
Application number: GB201008915A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Anthony Manley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-05-27
Filing date: 2010-05-27
Publication date: 2011-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 2030-05-27
Also published as: GB201008915D0; GB2480808B

Abstract

A clip 10 that may be used to clip together the slats 30 of a vertically slatted blind 32 comprises two elongate arms 12, 14 hinged together at one end by means of an integrally moulded hinge 16 and provided with a resilient lining layer 18 20 preferably of low density foam padding inside each arm 12, 14. Each layer 18, 20 may be clear at the sides 22 for substantially the whole depth 24 of the layer 18, 20. The other end of the clip 10 is provided with a fastening 26, 28 preferably comprising co-operating magnetic blocks 26, 28, each an interference fit in a suitable housing or recess 30, 32 in the end of the corresponding arm 12, 14. The clip may be moulded together as a single or integral piece. When not in use, the clip 10 can be parked by being clipped to one slat 30 of a vertically slatted blind 32. When required, the clip 10 is opened and as many as necessary of slats 30 are placed within clip 10 which is then clipped closed by its fastening 26, 28 to clip these slats 30 together for storage etc.

Description

Thie: Clip

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to clips. A possible application of the clips is to fastening together the slats of a vertically slatted blind.

BACKGROUND

A common problem with the use of vertical blinds, is that when next to an open door or window and in the open position of the blind (i.e. the slats being gathered together and not spread across the opening), the slats of the blind are hanging loosely and can flap around when caught by any wind or draught blowing through the door or window. This can cause unwelcome noise and be visually distracting. In addition, when the blinds are hanging loosely next to a door they can be a hazard that can catch in the feet of pets or small children as they pass through the doorway. Known clips (not according to the invention) for fastening together the slats of a vertically slatted blind have the disadvantage of being awkward to use and/or damaging to the slats.

THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention provides a clip comprising two elongate arms hinged together towards or in the region of one end, able to be fastened together towards or in the region of the other end and provided with a resilient lining. By being resilient, the clip can hold together varying numbers of flat/strip items, e.g. slats of a vertical blind. Preferably, said resilient lining comprises foam padding. Preferably, each arm is provided with an inside layer of the lining. Preferably, each arm is arranged for its layer to be clear at the sides for substantially the whole depth of the layer; (this will ensure that flat/strip items, e.g. slats, held between the layers will touch only the lining and not any hard part of the arms, which for example might damage, crease or mark such slats.) Preferably, the clip is such that the two layers of lining touch each other (e.g. being slightly compressed together) when the clip is closed but empty; (this will ensure that the clip can be parked or held in position by being closed about a single flat/strip item, e.g. when it is not needed to hold several such items together.) Preferably, the two arms are moulded together as a single piece. At least the hinge region is of a suitable flexible material for the hinge to be part of this moulding. Although the clip could be formed to require a separate fastening means for the aforesaid fastening together of the arms, preferably the clip comprises an integral fastening towards said other end to fasten the two arms together there. Preferably said fastening comprises magnetic fastening means.

The vertical blind clip of the embodiments described herein is a device to hold fabric vertical blind slats together while they are in the open position. The purpose of the clip is to prevent the slats being blown about by drafts when near or next to an open door or window. When next to an open door, it can also stop the loose hanging blind slats becoming entangled in the feet of pets or young children as they pass through the doorway. The clip works because when a group of slats are clasped together by the clip, each slat cannot move independently and their combined weight is sufficient to prevent their movement by a breeze. Normally, one clip would be sufficient but in some circumstances a second clip could be attached at a different height further to restrict any movement of the hanging slats. The clip is designed not to require any fixings either on the blind itself or on any surrounding surfaces. It is also designed so as not to damage, crease or mark the slats to which it is attached when in use. The clip is designed to be manufactured in various colours to be able to fit in with most décors and to be pleasing to see and to touch.

Another aspect of the invention provides a combination of such a clip and a vertically slatted blind, the clip having a suitable size to clip around one or more slats of the blind. This can hold such slats clipped together and/or not so loose or mobile as in the absence of such a clip.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of manufacturing any such clip, in which the two arms of the clip are moulded as a single piece with a hinge portion at one end of the two arms, a layer of resilient lining is adhered to the inside of each arm, and a fastening is provided integrally at the other end of the two arms to fasten them together there.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of using any such clip, in which the clip is closed to clip it to one or more slats of a vertically slatted blind, e.g. in which the clip is closed to clip together a plurality of said slats.

A preferred design of a clip embodying the invention consists of two shaped plastic strips hinged together at one end and with a magnetic fastening to hold them together at their other end. The hinge mechanism allows the two halves of the clip to open apart by at least 60 degrees to enable the clip to be easily attached to and removed from the blinds. The strips may conveniently be approximately 2-3cm deep and/or 2-3cm wide. The inside surfaces that grip the blind each have a layer of low density foam padding that is sufficiently flexible to grip different thicknesses and numbers of blind slats. There may be several versions with differing lengths (13cm, 15cm and 17cm) to handle different width blind slats.

A clip embodying the invention could be made by using two pieces of wood with a metal hinge and a pair of mutually co-operating magnets to hold the other (free) ends together when in use or when parked; the inner surfaces also have a foam padding surface held to the wood with adhesive. However, I prefer that the product be manufactured from a single plastic moulding that incorporates a flexible hinge to which the magnetic closures and the foam inserts are added.

A useful feature of the embodiments is to ensure that when the clip is used it does not mark or crease the fabric of the blind slats and to help in that way the inner surface needs to be smooth, but with some grip, and about 2cm wide. Narrow or hard surfaces on the clip can cause creasing to the blind slats. The foam padding inserts should be sufficiently flexible to provide grip for a range of widths, thicknesses and numbers of blind slats.

My embodiments, as indicated herein, can be very simple, distinctive and useful to all users of vertical blinds. A typical use is in conservatories where there are invariably door and window openings.

A clip of my embodiments could be manufactured quite cheaply and then marketed readily by blind retailers and blind manufacturers, as well as hardware stores. Thus:

a. The vertical blind clip of my invention is preferably to be used as a device to hold fabric vertical blind slats together while they are in the fully open position, i.e. turned at 90 degrees to the window and pulled across to one end of the run of the blind.

b. The preferred clip does not require any other fixings either on the blinds or on any surrounding surfaces.

c. The preferred clip may readily be designed not to damage or permanently mark the blinds to which it is attached while in use.

d. The preferred clip consists of two shaped plastic strips hinged together at one end and with a fastening to hold them together at the other end.

e. Each of the preferred clip's inside surfaces that grip the blind slat or slats has a layer of low density foam padding that is of sufficient depth and flexibility (and the proposed layers are sufficiently close together, or pressed together, when the lid is closed) to grip a range of thicknesses and numbers of blind slats.

f. The preferred clip can be manufactured in various size versions to be able to handle a range of slat thicknesses, widths and numbers.

A further aspect of the invention provides a method of manufacturing any such clip in which a single plastics moulding comprising two arms of the clip and a flexible hinge interconnecting them has added to it a fastening to hold the arms together and a resilient lining inside the arms. The lining will bear against a slat or other article between the arms when these are closed together.

In a method of manufacturing the clip, a single plastic moulding is made of the two arms and incorporating a flexible hinge and, to this are added magnetic closures or other fastening means for the free ends of the arms and low density foam padding inserts or other resilient means inside the arms. Alternatively, other hinge mechanisms and fastenings may be used, as known to one skilled in the art.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clip embodying the invention when closed and empty; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same when open; Figure 3 is a perspective exploded view of the clip; Figure 4 is a front elevation of part of a wall comprising a window and a doorway each provided with a vertically slatted blind of which the slats are held together by a clip embodying the invention; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the clip being clipped around a plurality of vertical slats; Figure 6 is a similar perspective view of the clip clipped around a single vertical slat (parked) to prevent displacement of the clip when not required to hold together a plurality of slats; and Figures 7 and 8 are top views of the clip closed to secure together respectively a small number (e.g. 11, Figure 7) of slats and a large number (e.g. 37, Figure 8) of slats, to show the differing compression of the resilient lining, the slats being shown only in vertical cross-section.

Referring to the drawings, a clip 10 comprises two elongate arms 12, 14 hinged together towards, or in the region of, e.g. as shown in Figure 1 at, one end 13 by means of an integrally moulded hinge 16 and provided with a resilient lining comprising a layer 18,20 of low density foam padding inside each arm 12, 14. Each layer 18, 20 is clear (i.e. is not enclosed by any containing part of arm 12, 14) at the sides 22, 22 for substantially the whole depth 24, 24 of the layer 18, thereby to allow the layer 18, 20 to be compressed by slats 30 as described below. The clip 10 is able to be fastened together towards, or in the region of, e.g. as shown in Figure 1 at, the other end 15. For this purpose, said other end 15 of the clip 10 is provided with a fastening 25, 27 comprising co-operating magnetic blocks 26, 28, each an interference fit in a suitable recess 31, 32 in a housing 17,23 in the end 15, 15 of the corresponding arm 12, 14.

In a method of manufacturing such a clip, the two arms 12, 14 of the clip 10 are moulded as a single piece with a hinge portion 16 at one end 13 of the two arms 12, 14, a layer 18, 20 of resilient lining is adhered to the inside of each arm 12, 14, and a fastening 25, 27 is provided integrally at the other end 15 of the two arms 12, 14 to fasten them together there.

The magnetic blocks 26, 28 are pressed as a force-fit into the housing recesses 31, 32 and the resilient foam layer 18, 20 is provided with adhesive at its underside 19, 21 as seen in Figure 3 to adhere it to the respective arm 12, 14.

In a method of using the clip 10, it is opened as seen in Figure 2 and placed around a plurality of said slats 30 as seen in Figure 5 and closed to clip them together as seen in Figures 7 and 8. When not otherwise in use, the clip 10 may be parked by being clipped to one slat 30 of a blind 35 as seen in Figure 6. When required, the clip lOis opened and as many as required of slats 30 are placed within clip 10 (as seen in FigureS) which is then wrapped around these slats 30 until it is clipped closed by its fastening magnetic blocks 26, 28 being snapped together to clip together these slats 30 as seen in Figures 7 and 8. Such tightening of the slats 30 together may cause one or more of them to bend, as shown schematically at points 33, 33 in Figure 5, but this is not normally permanent bending. A second clip 10 may be used additionally if required, as shown in dashed lines in Figure 4, e.g. for a blind 35 comprising slats 30 to cover a door opening 40, whereas a single clip 10 may be all that is necessary for a blind 35 comprising slats 30 to cover a window opening 42 inawall44 One or more of the clips 10 may be sold in a combination together with a blind 35, e.g. as a kit of parts. In such case, the internal length 34 of clip 10 and/or the length 36 of the lining layers 18,20 is preferably between 5% and 20% greater than the width 37 of a slat 30, and preferably the gap 38, if any, between the opposite layers 18, 20 (when the clip 10 is closed that does not contain any slats 30) is less than the thickness 39 of a slat 30 to facilitate parking of the clip 10, clipping a single slat 30, as mentioned above. Alternatively, one or more clips 10 may be sold together with instructions indicating how it is to be used (as explained herein) with a suitable vertically slatted blind 35, preferably including reference to the intended sizes of suitable slats 30 with which the clip 10 can be used.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, that features of the different embodiments disclosed herein may be omitted, selected, combined or exchanged and the invention is considered to extend to any new and inventive combination thus formed. Where a preference or particularisation is stated, there is implied the possibility of its negative, i.e. a case in which that preference or particularisation is absent.

Many variations of the invention and embodiments hereinbefore described will be apparent to people skilled in the art and all such variations are to be considered as falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A clip comprising two elongate arms hinged together towards or in the region of one end, able to be fastened together towards or in the region of the other end and provided with a resilient lining.
2. A clip as claimed in claim 1, in which said resilient lining comprises foam padding.
3. A clip as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which each arm is provided with an inside layer of the lining.
4. A clip as claimed in claim 3, in which each arm is arranged for its layer to be clear at the sides for substantially the whole depth of the layer.
5. A clip as claimed in claim 3 or 4, such that the two layers of lining touch each other.
6. A clip as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the two arms are moulded together as a single piece.
7. A clip as claimed in any one of claims ito 5, in which the two arms and a flexible hinge region between them are moulded together as a single piece.
8. A clip as claimed in any preceding claim, which comprises an integral fastening towards said other end to fasten the two arms together there.
9. A clip as claimed in claim 8, in which said fastening comprises magnetic fastening means to fasten the two arms together.
10. A clip substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described.
ii. A clip substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
12. A clip as claimed in any preceding claim, in combination with instructions indicating how it is to be used with a suitable vertically slatted blind.
13. A combination of a clip as claimed in any preceding claim with a vertically slatted blind, the clip having a suitable size to clip around one or more slats of the blind.
14. A combination as claimed in claim 13, in the form of a kit of parts.
15. A combination as claimed in claim 13, in which the clip is clipped around at least one slat of the blind.
16. A combination as claimed in claim 13, in which the clip is clipped around a plurality of slats of the blind so as to clip these slats together.
17. A method of manufacturing a clip as claimed in claim 1, in which the two arms of the clip are moulded as a single piece with a hinge portion at one end of the two arms, a layer of resilient lining is adhered to the inside of each arm, and a fastening is provided integrally at the other end of the two arms to fasten them together there.
18. A method of manufacturing a clip, which method is substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described.
19. A method of manufacturing a clip, which method is substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
20. A method of using a clip as claimed in any one of claims ito 12, in which the clip is closed to clip it to one or more slats of a vertically slatted blind.
21. A method as claimed in claim 20, in which the clip is closed to clip together a plurality of said slats.
22. A method of using a clip, which method is substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described.
23. A method of using a clip, which method is substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWSCLAIMS1. A blind clip for clipping together slats of a vertically slatted blind, the clip comprising two elongate arms hinged together towards or in the region of one end and adapted to be fastened together towards or in the region of the other end to clip the slats together, the inside of the arms having resilient means.2. A blind clip for clipping together slats of a vertically slatted blind, the clip comprising two elongate arms hinged together towards or in the region of one end and adapted to be fastened together towards or in the region of the other end to clip the slats together and provided with a lining of resilient material.3. A clip as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which said resilient means or material comprises foam padding.4. A clip as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each arm is provided with an inside layer of the resilient means or material.5. A clip as claimed in claim 4, in which each arm is arranged for its layer to be clear at the sides for substantially the whole depth of the layer.6. A clip as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which the two layers of lining are constructed and arranged to touch each other when the clip is closed but empty.7. A clip as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the two arms are moulded together as a single piece.8. A clip as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the two arms and a flexible hinge region between them L() are moulded together as a single piece.9. A clip as claimed in any preceding claim, which comprises an integral fastening towards said other end to fasten C) the two arms together there.10. A clip as claimed in claim 9, in which said fastening comprises magnetic fastening means to fasten the two arms together.11. A clip as claimed in claim 1 or 2 and substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described.12. A clip as claimed in claim 1 or 2 and substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore descbed with reference to the accompanying drawings.13. A combination of a vertically slatted blind and a clip as claimed in any preceding claim for clipping together slats of the blind.14. A combination of a vertically slatted blind and a clip as claimed in any one of claims I to 12 for clipping together slats of the blind, the clip having dimensions such that when fastened it can encompass one or more slats of the blind.15. A combination as claimed in claim 13 and substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described.16. A combination as claimed in claim 13 and substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.17. A combination as daimed in any one of daims 13 to 16, in the form of a kit of parts.18. A method of manufacturing a clip as claimed in claim 1 or 2, or a combination as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 17, in which a single plastics moulding comprising two arms of the clip and a flexible hinge interconnecting them has added to it a fastening to hold the arms together and a resilient lining inside the arms.19. A method of manufacturing a clip as claimed in claim 1 or 2, or a combination as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 17, in which the clip is moulded as a single piece comprising two arms of the clip joined by a hinge portion at one end of the two arms, a layer of resilient lining is adhered to the inside of each arm, and a fastening is provided integrally at the other end of the two arms to fasten them together there.20. A method as claimed in claim 18 or 19, in which said fastening comprises a magnetic fastening and this is attached at said other end.21. A method of manufacturing a clip, which method is substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described.22. A method of manufacturing a clip, which method is substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.23. A method of using a clip as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, or a combination as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 17, in which the clip is closed to clip it to one or more slats of a vertically slatted blind.
24. A method as claimed in claim 23, in which the clip is closed to clip together a plurality of said slats.
25. A method of using a clip as claimed in claim 1 or2, ora clip of a combination as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 17, which method is substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described.(Y)
26. A method of using a clip as claimed in claim 1 or 2, or a clip of a combination as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 17, which method is substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.