AU6547999A

AU6547999A - Improvements in or relating to covers

Info

Publication number: AU6547999A
Application number: AU65479/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Sam Abouloukme
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-11-10
Filing date: 1999-11-10
Publication date: 2000-05-11

Description

P/00/01I1 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 9* *4*U 9 *9 9.

9 S 9 ORI GINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention tide: IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO COVERS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: agbm M01 1045155001 99994 22.12.1999 IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO COVERS The present invention relates to improvements to covers, and more particularly to improvements to covers such as blinds, pool covers and similar devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Covers for windows such as internal and external roller blinds, and covers for pools, are well known. They generally comprises cover means dimensioned so as to extend across the window or pool and to limit the amount of light entering through the window, or to provide protection for the water, in the case of a pool, from organic matter such as leaves and also to provide a blanketing effect to the water.

*.o 10 Covers of this type are generally formed from synthetic or fabric materials. They are ••oo also usually provided with means for extending or retracting the cover means, and that is generally the form of a rolling tube onto which or from which the cover is rolled when the cover means is being retracted or extended.

S" It has been observed that, as a consequence of repeated extension and retraction of the cover, the cover can have a reduced tendency to roll evenly on the rolling tube. It is thought that this is a result of the material from which the cover means is formed stretching oo o S. or distorting over time through use or other factors such as expansion or contraction due to heat or cold and the natural tendency of cover materials to "creep".

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention accordingly provides in one embodiment a cover including cover means and biasing means arranged at a marginal edge of the cover means the arrangement being such that the biasing means limits the degree to which the marginal edge of the cover means has a tendency in use to curl.

It has been surprisingly found that by providing biasing means at a marginal edge of the cover means, the tendency of the blind to curl in that region is reduced.

A cover according to the present invention may comprise a blind, such as an internal or external roller blind, or a pool cover. Other covers are envisaged within the scope of the present invention.

Biasing means according to the present invention may take any suitable form. In one embodiment it comprises a strip. The strip may be formed from a resilient material. The strip may be curved. In one preferred embodiment the biasing means comprises a resilient strip which has a slight lateral curve. The curve may be inward or outward relative to a marginal edge of the cover means.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the biasing means is in the form of a strip of spring steel which is slightly curved laterally outwardly from a marginal edge of the cover means, and the strips self-position in a substantially straight line when rolling into curls.

When unrolled the strips are straight and the slight lateral curve locks them in the straight 10 position, until when activated they roll up into coils. The strips therefore stop the edges of the blind from curling. Other biasing means arrangements are envisaged within the scope of the present invention.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the biasing means comprises spring steel strip arranged at opposed marginal edges of the cover means. The biasing means preferably S. 15 extends at least partly along a marginal edge of the cover means, and in a particularly preferred oo. o embodiment extends along the full length of a marginal edge of the cover means.

The biasing means may be stitched, sewn or otherwise formed in a marginal edge of °the cover means. The biasing means may be disposed in a pocket extending at least partly along a marginal edge of the cover means. Other arrangements for providing the biasing means at a marginal edge of the cover means are envisaged within the scope of the present invention.

A cover according to the invention may be provided with a rolling tube as is known in the art and a mounting member such as a wall mounting in the case of a roller blind and anchor pin for the rolling tube. The cover in the form of a blind may also include a blind cord as is also known in the art to facilitate roll extension or retraction of the blind as desired.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a cover including cover means and biasing means comprising a strip of spring steel stitched, sewn or othevrwise formed in each of opposed marginal edges of the cover means, the strip extending along the length of each opposed marginal edge and biased to curve laterally outwardly, the arrangement being such that the strips prevent the degree to which the opposed marginal edges of the cover means have in use a tendency to curl.

agbm MO1 10451550v1 99994 22.12.1999 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT To further assist in the understanding of the present invention, particularly preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in relation to the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a an end elevation of a cover in the form of a roller blind according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Turning to the drawing, Figure 1 shows generally a cover in the form of an external roller blind 10 having cover means 11 in the form of an elongated fabric or other material and biasing means arranged at opposed marginal edges 17, 18 of the cover means 11. As can be seen from Figure 1, biasing means extend along substantially the length of the opposed 10 marginal edges 17, 18 of the cover means 11 and in the embodiment shown each comprise a strip of spring steel stitched into each marginal edge of the cover means 11. Although not shown in Figure 1, the strips are curved slightly laterally outwardly, the arrangement being such as to limit the tendency of the edges of the cover means to curl.

Blind 10 also includes a rolling tube 12, blind anchor pins, 14, 15, wall mounting 15 member 13 and blind cord 16 as is known in the art.

In use, in a retraction mode, fully extended cover means 11 is retracted by a user pulling on cord 16 whereupon the cover means 11 is rolled onto rolling tube 12. By virtue of the strips of spring steel arranged along opposed marginal edges 17, 18 of the cover means 11, the edges of the blind 10 have a reduced tendency to curl as the blind 10 is being rolled up or extended as the case may be.

The term "comprising" and forms of the term "comprising as used in this specification do not exclude variations or additions.

Whilst it has been convenient to describe the present invention in relation to particularly preferred embodiments, it is to be appreciated that other constructions and arrangements are considered as falling within the scope of the invention. Various modifications, alterations, variations and/or additions to the constructions and arrangements described herein are considered as falling within the scope of the present invention.

agbm M0110451550vl 99994 22.12.1999

Claims

1. A cover including cover means and biasing means disposed at least partly along a marginal edge of the cover means, the arrangement being such that the biasing means limits the degree to which the marginal edge of the cover means has a tendency to curl.

2. A cover according to claim 1, wherein said biasing means are disposed at opposed marginal edges of said cover means.

3. A cover according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said biasing means comprises a strip of resilient material.

4. A cover according to claim 3, wherein said strip of resilient material is curved.

5. A cover according to claim 4, wherein said strip curves laterally outwardly from said marginal edge.

6. A cover according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said biasing means comprises a strip of spring steel.

7. A cover according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said biasing means is stitched, sewn or otherwise formed in a marginal edge of said cover means.

8. A cover according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said biasing means is disposed in a pocket extending at least partly along a marginal edge of said cover means.

9. A cover substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

10. A cover according to any one of the preceding claims, being a pool cover.

11. A blind including a cover according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and a rolling tube for said cover.

12. A blind according to claim 11, and further including a wall mounting member.

13. A blind according to claim 12, being a roller blind.

14. A roller blind substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. SAM ABOULOUKME 22 December 1999 agbm M0110451550vl 99994 22.12.1999