AU2010100125A4

AU2010100125A4 - An adapter for blind systems

Info

Publication number: AU2010100125A4
Application number: AU2010100125A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Carmelo Joseph Licciardi Di Stefano
Original assignee: Acmeda Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Acmeda Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2009-02-09
Filing date: 2010-02-08
Publication date: 2010-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 2018-02-08
Also published as: NZ583119A

Description

Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT AN ADAPTER FOR BLIND SYSTEMS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 1 AN ADAPTER FOR BLIND SYSTEMS FIELD The present invention relates to an adapter for components of blind systems, and in 5 particular, but not being limited to, an adapter that enables components of blind systems to connect to different types of support structures. BACKGROUND 10 A blind system typically includes a screen (which refers to a flexible, semi-rigid or rigid sheet of material such as canvas, fabric, mesh or a panel) with one end secured to and/or gathered by a rotatable roller, and another end secured to a weight or draw bar. A screen may also be referred to as a curtain, awning or shade. The ends of the roller is typically connected to different blind components (or fitting), such as a winder and an idler, which 15 enable the roller to be supported by a supporting structure (e.g. a supporting frame, structure, surface or mounting bracket) for operation. A winder is selectively rotatable by a user for controlling the extension and retraction of a screen. The roller rotates in one direction to extend the screen over an area or opening to 20 be covered (e.g. a wall or window), and rotates in the other direction to retract the screen. A winder has a drive portion which may engage a section of a cord or chain, which enables a user to control the rotation of the winder and roller. An idler enables one end of the roller to rotate relative to the supporting frame, structure or surface. 25 To enable the tube to rotate smoothly, a winder and idler may be coupled to different respective ends of the tube. The winder and idler are each supported by different respective supporting structures, which in turn are fixed to or part of a fixed structure or element such as a window sill or a wall of a building. 30 There are typically many different types of supporting structures available, and there is no set standard, method or design by which a supporting structure can be coupled to a winder or idler (or other similar blind component or fitting). For example, some supporting structures may have a protrusion that is received into a recessed part of the winder or idler.

2 Other supporting structures may have a recessed part for receiving a projection from the winder or idler. A problem therefore arises when a user purchases one type of winder and idler but later finds out that it is not compatible with the supporting structures installed. A user will therefore need to replace either the supporting structures, or alternatively, the 5 winders and idlers used to ensure compatibility. Both options result in greater inconvenience and cost to the user, which is undesirable. Some winders and idlers may be manufactured with a special proprietary coupling that allows the winder and idler (from one manufacturer) to only connect to certain types of 10 supporting structures (e.g. from the same manufacturer). This makes it difficult for a user to use different combinations of winders, idlers and supporting structures from different manufacturers (e.g. where the winders/idlers from one manufacturer provide a technical advantage, and the supporting structures from another manufacturer provide another technical advantage). 15 It is therefore desired to address one or more of the above issues or problems, or to at least provide a useful alternative to any existing solution. SUMMARY 20 According to the present invention, there is provided an adapter for enabling components of a blind system to connect to different types of support structures, said adapter including: a body having: a first coupling portion adapted for connecting to a corresponding coupling 25 portion of a blind component, said blind component being fitted to a rotatable roller for extending or retracting a screen; and a second coupling portion adapted for connecting to a corresponding coupling portion of a fixed support structure; wherein, when said adapter is fitted to said blind component, said first coupling 30 portion forms an interlocking engagement with said coupling portion of the blind component to resist detachment from, and rotation relative to, each other.

3 The first coupling portion and second coupling portion may each have a cross-sectional shape adapted to a cross-section of the corresponding coupling portion of the blind component and support structure respectively. 5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Representative embodiments of the present invention are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an adapter and the components of a 10 winder blind component that may be used with the adapter; Figure 2 is another perspective view of the adapter and components of the winder; Figure 3 is a perspective view of an adapter coupled to the winder; Figure 4 is a front perspective view of an adapter; Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the adapter; 15 Figures 6, 7 and 8 are top, front and bottom view of the adapter; and Figures 9, 10 and 11 are left side, right side and rear side view of the adapter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENTS 20 Figures 1 and 2 are exploded views of one exemplary form of an adapter 100 together with the internal components of a winder 102 to which the adapter 100 is coupled to (when in use). Figure 3 shows the adapter 100 coupled to the winder 102 when fully assembled. Although the representative embodiments in this specification describe the adapter 100 being coupled to a specific type of blind component (i.e. a winder 102), it will be 25 understood that the adapter 100 can be adapted for coupling to any blind component to enable that blind component to connect to different types of support structures (e.g. as determined by the form of the body of the adapter 100). Figure 4 is a perspective view of an adapter 100 according to a representative embodiment 30 of the present invention. Figures 5 to 11 are different views of the adapter 100 shown in Figure 4. Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the adapter 100 includes a body having a first coupling portion with a cross-sectional shape adapted for connecting to a corresponding coupling portion of a blind component, and a second coupling portion with a cross sectional shape adapted for connecting to a corresponding coupling portion of a fixed 4 support structure. The first coupling portion may include one or more retaining members 108a and 108b projecting from an outer surface of the adapter 100. Each retaining member 108a and 108b is shaped for engaging a portion of a fitting (such as a recessed portion 106 of the winder 102 or other blind component) so as to resist disengagement of the adapter 5 100 from the winder 102 (or other fitting) when in use. Each retaining member 108a and 108b may have an enlarged head portion 1 10a and 11 Ob (see Figure 5) that is shaped for being securely received into different respective openings 112 (or different respective grooves) formed inside the recessed portion 106 of the winder 10 102. The interlocking engagement formed between the retaining members 108a and 108b and the openings 112 (or grooves) securely holds the adapter 100 and winder 102 together, and resists disengagement of these two parts when fitted together in use. The adapter 100 may also include one or more guide elements 112a and 112b. The guide 15 elements 1 12a and 1 12b help guide the movement between the adapter 100 and winder 102 when the two parts are in the process of being coupled together. For example, in one representative embodiment, the guide elements 112a and 112b are projections from the outer surface of the body of the adapter 100, for engaging with correspondingly shaped grooves formed in the recessed portion 106 of the winder 102. Alternatively, in another 20 representative embodiment, the guide elements 112a and 112b are grooves formed into the outer surface of the body of the adapter 100, for engaging with correspondingly shaped projections extending from the recessed portion 106 of the winder 102. The guide elements 112a and 112b can provide a further benefit in that, when the adapter 25 100 and winder 102 are coupled together (e.g. during use), the engagement formed between the guide elements 112a and 112b and the corresponding projections or grooves of the winder 102 resists rotation of the adapter 100 relative to the winder 102. This is advantageous for a winder 102 (or fitting) as shown in Figure 3, because if the winder 102 was able to rotate relative to the adapter 100, the retaining wall portion 30 (for resisting 30 complete detachment of a cord connected to the fitting) could be placed in a position that interferes with the operation of the cord. The adapter 100 may include a facade 114 that sits flush with the outer surface 116 of the winder 102 (or fitting) when the adapter 100 is received into the winder 102 (or fitting).

5 The second coupling portion of the adapter 100 includes a connecting portion 118 for coupling to (or engaging) a supporting structure (e.g. a mounting bracket) when the adapter is in use. For example, the connecting portion 118 may include a protruding portion shaped for being received into a recess of the supporting structure (e.g. a bore) when the 5 supporting structure is coupled to the adapter 100 in use. Alternatively, the connecting portion 118 may include a hollow portion (e.g. as shown in Figure 4 and 5) for receiving at least a protruding member extending from the supporting structure (e.g. a support arm or axle) when the support structure is coupled to the adapter 100 in use. 10 Figure 5 shows a representative embodiment of the adapter 100 having a connecting portion 118 comprising a hollow that extends completely through the body of the adapter 100. The advantage of this is that the hollow of the adapter 100 can receive a protruding member from the support structure that is longer than the actual length of the adapter 100. This helps improve the strength of the coupling between the support structure and the 15 adapter 100, particularly where the adapter 100 has a relative short body. As shown in Figure 4, the opening to the hollow (i.e. connecting portion 118) of the adapter 100 may include a tapered edge to help guide the entry of a protruding member (of the support structure) into the hollow connecting portion 118 of the adapter 100. 20 Regardless of whether the connecting portion 118 comprises of a protrusion or a hollow, the cross-sectional shape of the connecting portion 118 should correspond with the cross sectional shape of the corresponding recess or protrusion (of the support structure) that is coupled to the connecting portion 118. In this way, the engagement formed between the 25 support structure and the connecting portion 118 helps resist rotation of the adapter 100 relative to the support structure. Modifications and improvements to the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and improvements are intended to be within the scope of this 30 invention. For example, although the body of the adapter 100 has been described as being a single unitary component, the body of the adapter 100 may be made up of two or more separate components that are assembled together (e.g. by way of an interlocking arrangement).

6 In this specification where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge; or known to be relevant to an attempt to 5 solve any problem with which this specification is concerned. The word 'comprising' and forms of the word 'comprising' as used in this description and in the claims does not limit the invention claimed to exclude any variants or additions.

Claims

1. An adapter for enabling components of a blind system to connect to different types of support structures, said adapter including: a body having: a first coupling portion adapted for connecting to a corresponding coupling portion of a blind component, said blind component being fitted to a rotatable roller for extending or retracting a screen; and a second coupling portion adapted for connecting to a corresponding coupling portion of a fixed support structure; wherein, when said adapter is fitted to said blind component, said first coupling portion forms an interlocking engagement with said coupling portion of the blind component to resist detachment from, and rotation relative to, each other.

2. An adapter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second coupling portion includes at least one of the following: i) a protruding portion shaped to be received into a recess of said supporting structure when coupled to said body in use; and ii) a hollow portion shaped for receiving at least a protruding member extending from said supporting structure when coupled to said body in use.

3. An adapter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first coupling portion includes one or more retaining members projecting from said body, each said retaining member having an enlarged head portion shaped for engaging a corresponding recess of the blind component to resist disengagement of said body from said blind component when both parts are fitted together.

4. An adapter as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said body and said blind component includes one or more guide elements for engaging corresponding grooves formed on the other of said body and said blind component, wherein said guide elements engage said grooves for resisting rotation of said body relative to said blind component when fitted together.

5. A component of a blind system including an adapter as claimed in claim 1.