AU2009203048A1 - Bottom bar for roller blind or the like - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL Name of Applicant/s: Hunter Douglas Industries B.V. Actual Inventor/s: Henri Spaile Address for Service is: SHELSTON IP 60 Margaret Street Telephone No: (02) 9777 1111 SYDNEY NSW 2000 Facsimile No. (02) 9241 4666 CCN: 3710000352 Attorney Code: SW Invention Title: BOTTOM BAR FOR ROLLER BLIND OR THE LIKE Details of Associated Provisional Application No. 2008903813 dated 25 Jul 2008 2008904280 dated 20 Aug 2008 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: File: 58956AUP00 -2 BOTTOM BAR FOR ROLLER BLIND OR THE LIKE Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bottom bar for a roller blind or the like. Embodiments of the invention have been developed for providing a bottom bar 5 that balances competing factors of functionality and cost of production. Although the present disclosure is focussed accordingly, it will be appreciated that the invention has broader application. Background It is known to connect a roller blind or the like to a bottom bar. For 10 example, a bottom bar provides weight to limit the movement of the blind, and optionally provides a handle for manipulation of the blind. When designing such a bottom bar, factors including cost containment, aesthetic appeal, and adaptability are of significant importance. Summary of the Invention 15 It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art, or at least to provide a useful alternative. One embodiment provides a bottom bar connectable to a roller covering for a window, such as a roller screen assembly, the bottom bar including: 20 an elongate body that is configured for connection to the roller covering, the body including a longitudinal weight chamber fbr retaining a weight member; and a locking module that is rotatable between an unlocked configuration in which it is longitudinally slidable in the weight chamber and a locked 25 configuration in which it is longitudinally fixed in the weight chamber thereby to restrain longitudinal movement of the weight member. One embodiment provides a bottom bar wherein the body is of continuous cross-section, the body including a pair of sidewalls connected by a -3 bridge member, wherein the sidewalls are spaced apart to define the weight chamber. One embodiment provides a bottom bar wherein the sidewalls are spaced apart to define a slit for providing external access to the weight chamber along 5 the length of the body. One embodiment provides a bottom bar wherein the locking module includes an engagement formation accessible via the slit for facilitating rotation of the module between the locked and unlocked configurations. One embodiment provides a bottom bar wherein the sidewalls are spaced 10 apart to define a primary channel that is configured for receiving and retaining a connection member thereby to connect the roller covering to the bottom bar. One embodiment provides a bottom bar wherein the locking module has a first lateral dimension lesser then the width of the weight chamber and a second lateral dimension greater than or equal to the width of the weight 15 chamber. One embodiment provides a bottom bar wherein the locking module is profiled to cam-lock upon rotation between the locked and unlocked configurations. One embodiment provides a bottom bar wherein a buffer channel is 20 formed in the body for receiving and retaining a resilient buffer. One embodiment provides a bottom bar including a resilient buffer retained within the buffer channel. One embodiment provides a bottom bar wherein the buffer protrudes from the body along an axis substantially orthogonal to the axis of the roller 25 covering. One embodiment provides a bottom bar wherein the body is integrally formed. One embodiment provides a method of forming a bottom bar connectable to a roller covering for a window, such as a roller screen assembly, the method 30 including: -4 providing an elongate body that is configured for connection to the roller covering, the body including a longitudinal weight chamber for retaining a weight member; inserting into the weight chamber a locking module that is rotatable 5 between an unlocked configuration in which it is longitudinally slidable in the weight chamber and a locked configuration in which it is longitudinally fixed in the weight chamber thereby to restrain longitudinal movement of the weight member. One embodiment provides a bottom bar connectable to a roller covering 10 for a window, such as a roller screen assembly, the bottom bar including: an elongate body including a pair of sidewalls which diverge from one another about their midsections; and a resilient buffer outwardly protruding from one of the sidewalls about the midsection of that sidewall, such that the buffer protrudes from the body 15 along an axis substantially orthogonal to the axis of the roller covering. One embodiment provides a bottom bar wherein the buffer has a vertical dimension less than 30% of the vertical dimension of the body. Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment", "some embodiments" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or 20 characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment", some embodiments" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or 25 characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments. Similarly it should be appreciated that in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description 30 thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the -5 claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this 5 Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention. Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and 10 form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination. In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be 15 practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description. As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives "first", "second", "third", etc., to describe a common object, merely 20 indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner. In the claims below and the description herein, any one of the terms "comprising", "comprised of", or "which comprises" is an open term that means 25 including at least the elements/features that follow, but not excluding others. Thus, the term "comprising", when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being limitative to the means or elements or steps listed thereafter. For example, the scope of the expression a device comprising A and B should not be limited to devices consisting only of elements A and B. Any one of the terms 30 "including", "which includes" or "that includes" as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, "including" is synonymous with and means the -6 same as "comprising". Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 5 FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a bottom bar according to one embodiment, shown connected to a screen assembly; FIG. 2 provides a side view of the bottom bar and screen assembly of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 provides an end view of the bottom bar and screen assembly of 10 FIG. 1; FIG. 4 provides a cross-section along the line A-A of FIG. 2; FIG. 4A provides a front view of a left end cap of another embodiment of the invention; FIG. 4B provides a side view of the left end cap of FIG. 4A; 15 FIG. 4C provides an end view of the left end cap of FIG. 4A; FIG. 4D provides a front view of a right end cap according to one embodiment; FIG. 4E provides a side view of the right end cap of FIG. 4D; FIG. 4F provides an end view of the right end cap of FIG. 4D; 20 FIG. 5 provides cross section similar to that of FIG. 4, showing only the body of the bottom bar; FIG. 6 provides a bottom view of the bottom bar and screen assembly of FIG. 1, showing two locking modules; FIG. 7 provides a perspective view of a locking module for the screen 25 assembly of FIG. 1; FIG. 8 illustrates the locking module of FIG. 7 in a locked configuration; FIG. 9 illustrates the locking module of FIG. 7 in an unlocked configuration; and FIG. 10 illustrates a resilient buffer for the screen assembly of FIG. 1.

-7 Detailed Description Described herein is a bottom bar connectable to a roller covering, such as roller screen assembly of a roller blind or the like. In one embodiment, two locking modules are provided for restraining longitudinal movement of a weight 5 member that is otherwise slidably movable along the bottom bar. These modules rotate to cam-lock in locked and unlocked configurations. The present figures illustrate a bottom bar 1 that is connectable to a roller covering, which presently takes the form of a roller screen assembly 2. In some embodiments, this screen assembly is for a roller blind or the like, or in general 10 terms for a cover that is configured to extend across an architectural opening. In some embodiments, the screen assembly is connected at an upper extremity to a fixed member, and at a lower extremity to bottom bar 1. In this manner, the screen assembly hangs vertically. In some embodiments a roller is provided at the upper extremity for allowing rolling and unrolling of a blind sheet, thereby to 15 correspondingly raise and lower the lower extremity (and bottom bar). The bottom bar serves a primary purpose of providing weighting to a vertically hanging screen assembly. However, in some embodiments, as a secondary or alternate purpose, the bottom bar allows convenient manual manipulation of the screen assembly. 20 In the present embodiment, the bottom bar includes an elongate longitudinally extending body 3, which is optionally integrally formed of aluminium, stainless steel, plastics, or the like. End caps 4 are provided at each end of the body, these being, at least in some embodiments, snap-lockingly engageable with the body by way of locking projections 4a, 4b and 4c. Body 3 25 is of continuous cross-section. In this manner, the body is able to be formed in standard lengths, for example by way of extrusion, and subsequently cut to a desired length for a particular application. In another embodiment, end caps 4 are provided at each end of the body, these being engageable with the body in an interference fit by way of locking 30 projections 4a, 4b and 4c. Each end cap includes a base 4e from which the projections extend normally.

-8 In other embodiments, it will be appreciated that locking projections 4a, 4b and 4c are arranged in configurations other than that shown in FIG. 4. In some embodiments, the locking projections are formed of flexible deformable materials. However, it will be appreciated that the locking projections are 5 formed of rigid materials in other embodiments, while in further embodiments a combination of flexible and rigid materials are used. The locking projections are tapered but otherwise substantially complementary to the internal formations of body 3. FIG. 4A and FIG. 4D illustrate left and right end caps respectively. 10 Locking projection 4a is in the form of a rigid guide formation for guiding the respective end cap into engagement with body 3. End caps 4 also include, in this embodiment, markings 4d for identifying the respective end caps. In use, projections 4a, 4b and 4c are nested entirely within body 3 and base 4e extends longitudinally beyond minimally. In this embodiment the 15 thickness of base 4e is about 3 mm. In other embodiments different thicknesses are used. Preferentially base 4e is relatively thin to allow closely adjacent roller screen assemblies. The end caps are made from a transparent or translucent material which includes a frosted finish, at least on the outwardly facing surface of base 4e, to 20 substantially conceal the internal formations of body 3. Base 4e includes a periphery that, in use, abuts and continuously overlies the periphery of body 3. Moreover, base 4e, adjacent to its periphery, is bevelled to provide a smooth finish and to reduce the risk of fouling between adjacent assemblies. 25 The periphery of base 4e, like the adjacent periphery of body 3, is substantially asymmetric. FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section along the line A-A for FIG. 2. This view is particularly well suited for demonstrating important features of bottom bar 1. Body 3 is of continuous cross-section, and includes a pair of curved 30 sidewalls 5 connected by a central bridge member 6. The sidewalls 5 are spaced apart to define a primary channel 7 that is configured for receiving and retaining a connection member 8, thereby to -9 connect screen assembly 2 to the bottom bar. In particular, the primary channel includes an opening 11 defined between the upper extremities of sidewalls 5, and a pair of retaining projections 12 and 13, which inwardly project from the sidewalls. The screen assembly includes a planar portion 14, which is fixedly 5 connected to (or optionally integrally formed with) a connection member 8. In use, the planar portion extends through opening 11, and the connection member abuts under gravitational influence against the lower surfaces of retaining projections 12 and 13, as shown in FIG. 4. This biases the upper edge of opening 1I into abutment with portion 14. That is, the lower edge of opening I I 10 - the edge on the architectural opening side of the assembly - is held away from portion 14. The screen assembly is optionally initially longitudinally fed into the body. However, in some embodiments, upon careful manual manipulation, it is also possible to vertically feed connection member 8 through opening I I and 15 additionally through a gap 16 between projections 12 and 13. The spacing of sidewalls 5 additionally defines a longitudinal weight chamber 20 for retaining a weight member 21. Furthermore the sidewalls are spaced apart at their lower extremities to define a slit 22 for providing external access to weight chamber 20 along the length of body 3. In the present example, 20 the weight chamber is configured for retaining a weight member of rectangular cross section, although in other embodiments alternate configurations are used, such as cylindrical configurations. In use, a weight member is longitudinally slid into the weight chamber. Weight chamber 20 is configured for retaining at least one locking 25 module 25, which in the present embodiments is moulded from a plastic material. Chamber 20 includes an enlarged mid section for retaining such a locking module, although it will be appreciated that such a feature is by no means necessary (although it is advantageous in the sense that a module of lesser vertical dimension than the weight chamber is able to be vertically restrained). 30 Locking module 25 is rotatable between an unlocked configuration, in which it is longitudinally slidable in the weight chamber (see particularly FIG. 8), and a locked configuration in which it is longitudinally fixed in the weight - 10 chamber (see particularly FIG. 9) thereby to restrain longitudinal movement of the weight member. Preferably, two such modules are used, one at each end of the weight member, thereby to selectively restrain longitudinal movement of the weight member in either direction along the axis of the weight chamber. This is 5 particularly advantageous in positioning the weight member at the longitudinal midpoint of the body, thereby to balance the locking bar and screen assembly. In the present embodiment, locking module 25 includes an engagement formation 26 which, in use, is accessible via slit 22 for facilitating rotation of the module between the locked and unlocked configurations. For example, it will be 10 appreciated that an implement such as a flat-head screwdriver would be appropriate in the illustrated example. Locking module 25 has a first lateral dimension lesser than the width of the weight chamber (along sides 27) and a second lateral dimension greater than or equal to the width of the weight chamber (along sides 28). In this manner, when rotated such that sides 28 are 15 parallel to the walls of the weight chamber, the module abuts against the chamber walls, thereby to become locked in position. On the other hand, when positioned such that sides 27 are parallel to the walls of the weight chamber, the module is able to be longitudinally moved. Furthermore, curved corners 29 profile module 25 to cam upon rotation between the locked and unlocked 20 configurations. In the present embodiment, only two opposite corners are curved, and in this manner rotation between the locked and unlocked configuration is oppositely directed (i.e. rotation is limited to 90 degrees). However, in another embodiment all corners are curved such that rotation between the locked and unlocked configuration may be likewise directed or 25 oppositely directed (i.e. rotation of greater than 90 degrees is possible, and in fact rotation is generally unlimited). In the illustrated embodiment, locking module 25 includes markings 30 for identifying the respective directions of rotation for locking and for unlocking. A buffer channel 40 is formed on one of sidewalls 5, this buffer channel 30 being configured to receive a resilient buffer 41. Buffer 41 is formed of a resilient plastics or rubber material, and protrudes from body 3 along an axis substantially orthogonal to the axis of the screen assembly. In this manner, - 11 buffer 41 serves to reduce noise associated with the impact of bottom bar 1 with an adjacent structure, such as a window or the like. To this end, in use, the sidewall containing the buffer channel is positioned closest to the adjacent structure. Although in the present embodiment a buffer channel is provided in 5 only one of the sidewalls, in other embodiments buffer channels are provided in both sidewalls. Buffer 41 includes a curved impact face 42, and a locking portion 43 shaped to match channel 40. Preferably, the buffer is longitudinally fed into the body. However, faces 44 and 45 are angled respectively to allow lateral insertion and removal. In one embodiment, the buffer has a vertical 10 dimension less than 30% of the vertical dimension of the body, preferably less than 10%. When combined, the curved sidewalls outwardly diverge about their midsections, such a configuration provides a particularly useful noise-reduction mechanism. Further embodiments of the present invention provide methods for the 15 manufacture, installation, and utilisation of bottom bars as described herein. For example, one embodiment includes the steps of providing an elongate body that is configured for connection to a roller covering, the body including a longitudinal weight chamber for retaining a weight member; and inserting into the weight chamber a locking module that is rotatable between an unlocked 20 configuration in which it is longitudinally slidable in the weight chamber and a locked configuration in which it is longitudinally fixed in the weight chamber thereby to restrain longitudinal movement of the weight member. It will be appreciated that the bottom bar disclosed above, and other embodiments thereof, provide various significant advantages above and beyond 25 those known in the art. For example, the use of camming locking modules allows for the convenient restraint of a longitudinally movable locking bar, without a corresponding need to make use of body having an irregular cross section, resulting in significant const savings. Although the invention has been described with reference to specific 30 examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms. While there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the - 12 art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as falling within the scope of the invention. Steps may be added to or deleted from methods described herein whilst 5 remaining within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (16)

1. A bottom bar connectable to a roller covering for a window, such as a roller screen assembly, the bottom bar including: an elongate body that is configured for connection to the roller covering, 5 the body including a longitudinal weight chamber for retaining a weight member; and a locking module that is rotatable between an unlocked configuration in which it is longitudinally slidable in the weight chamber and a locked configuration in which it is longitudinally fixed in the weight chamber thereby to 10 restrain longitudinal movement of the weight member.

2. A bottom bar according to claim I wherein the body is of continuous cross-section, the body including a pair of sidewalls connected by a bridge member, wherein the sidewalls are spaced apart to define the weight chamber.

3. A bottom bar according to claim 2 wherein the sidewalls are spaced apart 15 to define a slit for providing external access to the weight chamber along the length of the body.

4. A bottom bar according to claim 3 wherein the locking module includes an engagement formation accessible via the slit for facilitating rotation of the module between the locked and unlocked configurations. 20

5. A bottom bar according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the sidewalls are spaced apart to define a primary channel that is configured for receiving and retaining a connection member thereby to connect the roller covering to the bottom bar.

6. A bottom bar according to any preceding claim wherein the locking 25 module has a first lateral dimension lesser than the width of the weight chamber and a second lateral dimension greater than or equal to the width of the weight chamber. -14

7. A bottom bar according to any preceding claim wherein the locking module is profiled to cam-lock upon rotation between the locked and unlocked configurations.

8. A bottom bar according to any preceding claim wherein a buffer channel is 5 formed in the body for receiving and retaining a resilient buffer.

9. A bottom bar according to claim 8 including a resilient buffer retained within the buffer channel.

10. A bottom bar according to claim 9 wherein the buffer protrudes from the body along an axis substantially orthogonal to the axis of the roller covering. 10

11. A bottom bar according to any preceding claim wherein the body is integrally formed.

12. A method of forming a bottom bar connectable to a roller covering for a window, such as a roller screen assembly, the method including: providing an elongate body that is configured for connection to the roller 15 covering, the body including a longitudinal weight chamber for retaining a weight member; inserting into the weight chamber a locking module that is rotatable between an unlocked configuration in which it is longitudinally slidable in the weight chamber and a locked configuration in which it is longitudinally fixed in 20 the weight chamber thereby to restrain longitudinal movement of the weight member.

13. A bottom bar connectable to a roller covering for a window, such as a roller screen assembly, the bottom bar including: an elongate body including a pair of sidewalls which diverge from one 25 another about their midsections; and a resilient buffer outwardly protruding from one of the sidewalls about the midsection of that sidewall, such that the buffer protrudes from the body along an axis substantially orthogonal to the axis of the roller covering. - 15

14. A bottom bar according to claim 13 wherein the buffer has a vertical dimension less than 30% of the vertical dimension of the body.

15. A bottom bar substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings 5 and/or examples.

16. A method substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or examples.