AU657821B2 - Vertical blind control element - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA 1 PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NUMBER:

LODGED:

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LODGED:

ACCEPTED:

PUBLISHED:

RELATED ART: 4! NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR(S): ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: INVENTION TITLE: TASS ZORBAS

APPLICANT

KELVIN LORD AND COMPANY 4 Douro Place West Perth WA 6005 "VERTICAL BLIND CONTROL

ELEMENT"

ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NOS: PK 9945 The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me/us:p.-1 1 2 2 The present invention relates to a vertical blind control 3 element and to a vertical blind assembly incorporating such 4 a vertical blind control element.

Vertical blind assemblies are well known in the art and are 6 commonly used in domestic and commercial environments.

7 Typically, vertical blind assemblies are used as door or 8 window coverings. These doors and windows are generally 9 slidable door or slidable window assemblies, i.e. slidable leaf assemblies. These slidable door and slidable window 11 assemblies generally consist of a frame holding a fixed 12 panel of the door or window and the slidable door or 13 slidable window, i.e. the slidable leaf. As with the 14 windows, the doors are generally made of glass.

Conventional vertical blind assemblies employ cords and 16 chains to draw the blind slats to move the blind 17 slats in a traversing, to and fro movement) and to change 18 the orientation of the blind slats to adjust the amount and 19 direction of light entering through the blind.

Conventionally, a cord is used for drawing the blind slats 21 and a separate chain is used to change their orientation.

22 The cord and chain hang down from the headrail of the blind 23 assembly. Because of this, the cord and chain can present 24 a hazard, particularly to young children playing with them with the attendant risk of strangulation.

26 The present invention provides a vertical blind control 27 element and a vertical blind assembly which eliminates the 8. need for such cords and chains.

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1 ~-4h e-46pgvg blind c _ontrol elemen 2a In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention .here is provided a vertical blind control element for a vertical blind assembly comprising a housing, first and second gear means positioned in said housing, connection means arranged to permit said vertical blind control element to be connected to a carriage of the vertical blind assembly, and opening means to permit an operating shaft of the vertical blind assembly to extend through said vertical blind control element, wherein said first gear means engages with said second gear means and the axis of said first gear means is positioned at an oblique angle to the axis of said second gear means and said second gear means is arranged to be supported on said operating shaft such that rotation of said first gear means causes said second gear means to rotate and said operating shaft is rotatable with said second gear means and non-rotatable relative to said second gear means, and wherein said second gear means is arranged to be slidable longitudinally along said operating shaft such that said vertical blind control element is movable longitudinally in a headrail of the vertical blind assembly.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a vertical blind assembly comprising a headrmil, an operating shaft arranged to be mounted in said headrail, carriages arranged to be connected to one another and to be supported by said operating shaft for travel within said headrail, a vertical blind control element as previously hereinbefore described in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, said carriages arranged to support blind slats and provided with third gear means, wherein upon said vertical blind control element moving longitudinally in said headrail, said carriages also travel in a like manner to thereby draw said slats, and upon said first gear means causing said second gear means to rotate said operating shaft is caused to rotate which rotation is transferred to said third gear means to change the orientation of said blind slats.

1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 3 comprising a housing, and first gear means and second gear means positioned in said housing, wherein sa-i-d first gear means is positioned at an oblique-agle to said second gear means and engages withs.-s5id second gear means such that rotation of sad first gear means causes said second gear s to rotate.

The present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a vertical blind control element in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a blind assembly incorporating the vertical blind control element shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional end view of the headrail of the vertical blind assembly shown in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a perspective view in exploded form of an end carriage attached to the vertical blind control element shown in Figure 1.

In Figure 1, there is shown an exploded view of a vertical blind control element 10 comprising a housing 12 (better seen in Figure and a first gear 14 and second gear 16 positioned in the housing 12. The first and second gears 14 and 16 are positioned in the housing 12 such that the first gear 14 is positioned at an oblique angle to the e\c-C.onc\ Cx.L)>I OcK =S /second gear 16 with the first and second gears 14 and 16 in engagement.

The housing 12 comprises a first part 18 and a second part L F 1 4- 2 20 which fit together to form the housing 12. This can be 3 seen in Figure 1.

4 The first part 18 of the housing 12 comprises a first pair of opposed side walls 22, a second pair of opposed side 6 walls 24 and a bottom wall 26. The second part 20 of the 7 housing 12 comprises a first pair of opposed side walls 28, 8 a second pair of opposed side walls 30 and a top wall 32.

9 (One of the side walls 28 and one of the side walls 30 is hidden in Figure 1).

11 A semi-circular cut-out 34 is provided in each of the side 12 walls 22 of the first part 18 of the housing 12 in opposed 13 relation. Similarly, a semi-circular cut-out 36 is 14 provided in each of the side walls 28 of the second part of the housing 12 in opposed relation. (The semi-circular 16 cut-out 36 of one of the side walls 28 is hidden in Figure 17 1).

18 A bore 38 is provided at each inside corner of the first 19 part 18 of the housing 12.

A pin 40 extends from each inside corner of the second part 21 20 of the housing 12. One of the pins 40 is hidden in 22 Figure Each pin 40 is retained in a respective bore 23 38. The bores 38 are tapered such that the pins 40 are 24 retained therein by pushing the first and second parts 18 and 20 together. In this way, the first and second parts 26 18 and 20 fit together to form the housing 12.

27 Thus, the housing 12 comprises a first pair of opposed side 28 walls 42 and a second pair of opposed side walls 44, best 29 seen in Figure 4. (One of the side walls 42 and one of the side walls 44 is hidden in Figure Each side wall 42 is 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 5 made up of a side wall 22 and a side wall 28 of the first and second parts 18 and 20 (of the housing 12), respectively. Similarly, each side wall 44 is made up of a side wall 24 and a side wall 30 of the first and second parts 18 and 20 (of the housing 12), respectively.

A circular opening 46 is provided in each side wall 42 of the housing 12, best seen in Figure 4. (One of the circular openings 46 is hidden in Figure The circular openings 46 are in opposed relation. Each circular opening 46 is defined by a semi-circular cut-out 34 of a side wall 22 (of the first part 18 of the housing 12) and a semi-circular cut-out 36 of a side wall 28 (of the second part 20 of the housing 12).

Each of the first and second parts 18 and 20 (of the housing 12) is also provided with lugs 48 which have curved edges 50. In Figure 1, the lugs 48 of the second part (of the housing 12) are obscured, but it is to be understood that they are positioned in opposed relation to the lugs 48 of the first part 18.

Each of the first and second parts 18 and 20 of the housing 12 is provided with a hole 52 in the bottom and top walls 26 and 32, respectively, thereof.

Each of the first and second parts 18 and 20 is further provided with a bearing surface 54. The bearing surfaces 54 extend from respective top and bottom walls 26 and 32 of the first and second parts 18 and 20 of the housing 12.

The bearing surfaces 54 extend into the housing 12 and are orientated obliquely. The bearing surfaces 54 are provided around a respective hole 52.

The vertical blind control element is provided with connection means to permit the vertical blind control element to be connected to a carriage of a vertical blind assembly (as will be later hereindescribed).

This connection means is shown in Figures 1 and 4 and comprising an opening 55 in the housing 12.

The opening 55 is arranged to receive a clip to connect the vertical bind control element to a carriage.

The opening 55 is provided in the side wall 42 of the housing 12.

As shown in Figure 1, the opening 55 is provided in the side wall 28 of the second part of the housing 12.

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p.-7 1 6 2 The first and second gears 14 and 16 comprise cylindrical 3 members 56 and 58, respectively, with cogs 60 and 62, 4 respectively, arranged thereon. At least the cylindrical member 58 is tubular. The cylindrical member 58 is 6 provided with one or more ribs or keys 64 on its internal 7 surface.

8 The first gear 14 is rotatably held in the housing 12 with 9 the cylindrical member 56 supported by the two bearing surfaces 54. The ends of the cogs 60 are positioned 11 adjacent the ends of the two bearing surfaces 54 to thereby 12 retain the first gear 14 in place in the housing 12 at an 13 oblique angle. The second gear 16 is rotatably held in the 14 housing 12 with the cylindrical member 58 supported by the curved edges 50 of the opposed lugs 48 of the first and 16 second parts 18 and 20, respectively, and the openings 46 17 of the housing 12. The ends of the cogs 62 are positioned 18 adjacent respective lugs of the first and second parts 18 19 and 20 to thereby retain the second clear 16 in place in the housing 12. The second gear 16 is aligned with the 21 openings 46.

22 The first gear 14 is positioned at an oblique angle to the 23 second gear 16.

-4 24 The cogs 60 of the first gear 14 mesh with the cogs 62 of the second gear 16. The cogs 60 and 62 are of the same 26 hand.

27 The cogs 60 and 62 are arranged helically on the 28 cylindrical members 56 and 58, respectively.

29 The first gear 14 has a portion 66 which extends out of the hole 52 of the first part 18 of the housing 12. The V- 7 2 portion 66 terminates in a lug 68 having an aperture 3 The housing 12 further comprises a pair of spindles 72 4 projecting from each side wall 44 of the housing 12. (The spindles 72 projecting from one of the side walls 44 are 6 hidden in Figure The spindles 72 have end flanges 74.

7 The size of the end flanges 74 has been exaggerated in the 8 drawings for clarity of visual representation. Wheels 76 9 are rotatably mounted on the spindles 72.

Each wheel 76 has an annular recessed part 78 around its 11 hub 80. The wheels 76 are retained on the spindles 72 by 12 the spindles 72 extending through the hubs 80 and the end 13 flanges 74 being received in the annular recessed parts 78.

14 Each spindle 72 is formed by a pair of lugs 82, with a respective lug 32 of each such pair being provided on the 16 first part 18 and second part 20 (of the housing 12), 17 respectively.

18 A wand 84 may be attached to first gear 14.

19 The wand 84 may be connected to the portion 66 of the first gear 14 by an intermediate member 86 which permits pivotal 21 movement between the intermediate member 86 and the portion 22 66 about a first axis 88 and pivotal movement between the 23 wand 84 and the intermediate member 86 about a second axis 24 90. These first and second axes 88 and 90 are substantially orthoganol and are shown in Figure 2.

26 The intermediate member 86 has a notch 92 at each end 27 thereof. The two notches 92 are o&eiI-aa-Ic isplaced by 28 substantially 900. The lug 68 is received in one notch 92 _:29 and held in place by a pin 94 passing through the aperture 70 in the lug 68 and apertures 96 in the intermediate

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14~NI 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 8 member 86. Similarly, one end of the wand 84 is received in the other notch 92 and held in place by another pin 98 passing through an aperture in the end (hidden from view) of the wand 84 and apertures i00 in the intermediate member 86.

The vertical blind control element 10 of the present invention is used in a vertical blind assembly shown generally at 200 in Figure 2.

The vertical blind assembly 200 comprises a headrail 202 (which has been omitted from Figure 2 for clarity of visual presentation but which is shown in cross-section in Figure an operating shaft 204 supported in the headrail 202 between end caps (not shown) and carriages 206 supported on the operating shaft 204.

The carriages 206 are connected serially to one another by spacer elements 208. Each carriage 206 is provided with a hook 210 which depends therefrom. Each of the hooks 210 carries a blind slat 212.

Each carriage 206 is also provided with a tubular worm gear 214 which is rotatably held therein. The upper part of each hook 210, positioned in a respective carriage 206, is provided with a gear portion 216 which meshes with the tubular worm gear 214.

The operating shaft 204 is provided with longitudinally extending grooves 218.

The internal face of each tubular worm gear 214 is provided with one or more ribs or keys 220 (shown in Figure 4) which locate in a corresponding groove 218 of the operating shaft 204. This supports the worm gears 214 (and thereby the

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I -1 I p it -9carriages 206) on the operating shaft 204 such that the tubular worm gears 214 rotate with the operating shaft 204.

The headrail 202 is of a substantially channel cross-section as can be seen in Figure 3.

The headrail 202 is provided with longitudinally extending ribs or flanges 222 therein on opposite sides of the headrail 202. In this way, tracks 223 are formed inside the headrail 202 in which the wheels 76 of the vertical blind control element 10 locate and are able to travel.

The second gear 16 is supported on the operating shaft 204 with the operating shaft 204 passing through the second gear 16 and the ribs or keys 64 of the second gear 16 locating in respective grooves 218 of the operating shaft 204. (In this way, the vertical blind control element 10 is supported on the operating shaft 204.) In this way, the operating shaft 204 is rotatable with the second gear 16 and non-rotatable relative to the second gear 16. The operating shaft 204 extends through the vertical blind control element via the openings 46.

The second gear 16 is slidable longitudinally along the operating shaft 204.

Further, the vertical blind control element 10 is connected to an end carriage labelled as 206a in the drawings for easier identification.

The vertical blind control element 10 is connected tc the end c i sage 206a using a clip 224. The clip 224 extends through openings 226 in opposed walls of the end carriage 206a and into the opening 55 in the side wall 42 of the housing 12 of the vertical blind control element 10. The forked end of the clip 224 engages on the inside of the side wall 42 of the housing 12 through the opening 55. In this way, the end carriage 206a is connected with the vertical blind control element 10. The carriages 206, including the end carriage 206a, are 0^ S p. i- 1 10 2 provided with a pair of wheels 230 on respective opposed 3 sides of the carriages 206, 206a. The wheels 230 are 4 rotatably mounted on spindles 232. The wheels 230 are located in the tracks 223 and are able to travel therein.

6 Thus, the vertical blind assembly 200 may be of 7 conventional form apart from the vertical bind control 8 element 10, and the absence of a cord and chain 9 arrangement.

The vertical blind control element 10 of the present 11 invention enables the blind slats 212 to be drawn (i.e 12 moved to and fro) across, for example, a window or door.

13 Further, the vertical blind control element 10 enables the 14 orientation of the blind slats 212 to be changed.

The blind slats 212 can be drawn across the door or window 16 by grasping and pulling on the wand 84 to cause the 17 vertical blind control element 10 to move in the 18 appropriate direction within the tracks 223 in the headrail 19 202,ksliding along the operating shaft 204. Since the vertical blind control element 10 is connected to the end 21 carriage 206a and since the other carriages 206 are 22 connected to one another, they also move in a like manner 23 with the vertical blind control element 10. If the 24 vertical blind control element 10 moves in the direction shown by arrow A in Figure 2, the carriages 206 move toward 26 one another and bunch up as shown at the left hand side of 27 Figure 2. In this way, the blind slats 212 are drawn 28 open. On the other hand, if the vertical blind control 29 element 10 moves in the direction shown by arrow B in Figure 2, the blind slats 212 are drawn closed (to cover *1 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 S16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 11 the window or door).

Further, the vertical blind control element 10 can be used to change the orientation of the blind slats 212. This can be done by rotating the wand 84 about its own longitudinal axis in one of the directions shown by arrows C in Figure 2. This rotation of the wand 84 causes the first gear 14 to also rotate since the intermediate member 86 transfers rotation of the wand 84 to the first gear 14. Rotation of the first gear 14 is transferred to the second gear 16 by way of the cogs 60 and 62, respectively. Since the second gear 16 is rigidly, i.e. non-rotatably, supported with respect to the operating shaft 204, the operating shaft 204 rotates with the second gear 16. Rotation of the operating shaft 204 means that the worm gears 214 also rotate in a corresponding direction since they are rigidly, i.e.

non-rotatably, supported with respect to the operating shaft 204. The worm gears 214 transfer rotation to the hook members 210 via the gear portions 216 located at the upper parts of the hook members 210. In this way, the hook members 210 also rotate about their own axes. This rotation is shown by the arrow C' in Figure 2 in relation to the hook members 210. This rotation of the hook members 210 causes the blind slats 212 to change their orientation to adjust the amount and direction of light entering through the blind in conventional manner.

Due to the oblique angle of the first gear 14 with respect to the second gear 16, the rotation of the first gear 14 is able to cause rotation of the second gear 16 and thereby rotation of the operating shaft 204. This enables the 1 12 2 vertical blind control element 10 to effect the change in 3 orientation of the blind slats 212.

4 Accordingly, the vertical blind control element of the present invention eliminates the need for the use of cords 6 and chains to effect the drawing (or traversing movement) 7 of the blind slats across the window or door, and change in 8 their orientation.

9 This provides a significant benefit in relation to the installation and operation of the vertical blind assembly 11 since movement of the blind slats is controlled by a single 12 member (viz the wand 84).

13 Further, the elimination of the cords and chains of 14 conventional vertical blind assemblies provides a safety feature in that it prevents accidents to young children and 16 infants playing with the such cords and chains with the 17 risk of strangulation.

18 Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a 19 skilled addressee are deemed within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (13)

1. A vertical blind control element for a vertical blind assembly comprising a housing, first and second gear means positioned in said housing, connection means arranged to permit said vertical blind control element to be connected to a carriage of the vertical blind assembly, and opening means to permit an operating shaft of the vertical blind assembly to extend through said vertical blind control element, wherein said first gear means engages with said second gear means and the axis of said first gear means is positioned at an oblique angle to the axis of said second gear means and said second gear means is arranged to be supported on said operating shaft such that rotation of said first gear means causes said second gear means to rotate and said operating shaft is rotatable with said second gear means and non-rotatable relative to said second gear means, and wherein said second gear means is arranged to be slidable longitudinally along said operating shaft such that said vertical blind control element is movable longitudinally in a headrail of the vertical blind assembly.

2. A vertical blind control element according to claim 1, wherein said connection means comprises an opening in said housing arranged to receive a clip to connect said vertical blind control element to said carriage. .1 1 13- 2 The claims defining the invention are as follows:- 3 i. A vertical blind control element comprising: 4 a housing, and first gear means and second r means positioned in said housing, wherein sai first gear means 6 is positioned at an oblique angle t said second gear means c is 7 and engages with said second g r means such that rotation 8 of said first gear means c uses said second gear means to /s 9 rotate. e 2. A vertical b nd control element according to claim 1, 11 wherein sai :irst gear means and said second gear means 12 are proyded with cogs which are arranged helically on said 13 fi t and second gear means, respectively. 14 3. A vertical blind control element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein wand means is connected with said first gear 16 means such that rotation of said wand means about its 17 longitudinal axis causes said first gear means to rotate. 18 4. A vertical blind control element according to claim 3, 19 wherein said wand means is connected with said first gear means by an intermediate member which permits pivotal 21 movement between said intermediate member and said first 22 gear means about a first axis and pivotal movement between 23 said wand means and said intermediate member about a second 24 axis, said first and second axes being substantially orthogonal. 26 5. A vertical blind control element according to any one 27 of claims 1 to 4, wherein bearing surfaces are provided for 28 said first gear means to support said first gear means in 29 said housing at an oblique angle.

6. A vertical blind control element according to claim 31 wherein said bearing surfaces extend inwardly of said -14- housing from respective top and bottom walls thereof

7. A vertical blind control element according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said housing has a hole in a bottom wall thereof through which a portion of said first gear means extends and a said bearing surface is provided around said hole.

8. A vertical blind control element according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said second gear means is substantially tubular with key means on the internal surface thereof arranged to locate with said operating shaft and said opening means comprises a pair of opposed openings in respective side walls of said housing and said second gear means is aligned with said openings.

9. A vertical blind control element according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said housing is provided with wheels on a pair of opposed side walls thereof A vertical blind control element according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said first gear means and said second gear means are provided with cogs which are arranged helically on said first and second gear means, respectively.

11. A vertical blind control element according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein lug means are provided to support said second gear means in said housing.

12. A vertical blind assembly comprising: a headrail, an operating shaft arranged to be mounted in said headrail, carriages arranged to be connected to one another and to be supported by said operating shaft for travel within said headrail, vertical blind control element as defined in any one of claims 1 to 11, said carriages arranged to support blind slats and provided with third gear means, wherein upon said vertical blind control element moving longitudinally in said headrail, said carriages also travel in a like manner to thereby draw said slats, and upon said first gear means causing said second gear means to rotate said operating shaft is caused to rotate which rotation is transferred to said third gear means to change the orientation of said blind slats.

13. A vertical blind assembly according to claim 12, wherein said second gear means is arranged to be supported by said operating shaft such that said vertical blind control q N-: "i element is thereby supported by said operating shaft.

14. A vertical blind assembly according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said third gear means comprises a fourth gear arranged to be supported by said operating shaft and a fifth gear at the upper part of hook means which is arranged to carry a said blind slat. A vertical bind assembly according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein said carriages are arranged to be connected serially to one another by spacer means and said carriages are provided with wheels for travel within said headrail.

16. A vertical blind assembly according to claim 14 or 15, wherein said fourth gear is provided with key means on its internal surface and said operating shaft is provided with groove means such that said second gear means and said fourth gear are supported on said operating shaft by their respective said key means locating in said groove means of said operating shaft.

17. A vertical blind control element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. A vertical blind assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. ,,dm p.- 16 DATED NOVEMBER 30 1992 TASS ZORBAS By his Patent Attorneys KELVIN LORD AND COMPANY PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA L i 1 V 1 -17 2 ABSTRACT 3 A vertical blind control element (10) which comprises a 4 housing (12) containing a first gear (14) and a second gear The first gear (14) is positioned at a oblique angle 6 to the second gear (16) and engages with the second gear 7 This enables rotation of the first gear (14) to 8 cause the second gear (16) to rotate. A wand (84) is 9 connected to the first gear The vertical blind control element (10) may be incorporated into a vertical 11 blind assembly (200) having blind slats (212). The blind 12 slat (212) can be drawn by grasping and pulling the wand 13 (84) to cause the vertical blind control element (10) and 14 the carriages (206, 206a) to slide in the appropriate direction. The orientation of the blind slats (212) can be 16 changed by rotating the wand (84) about its own axis. This 17 causes the first gear (14) to rotate, which, in turn, 18 causes the second gear (16) to rotate as described above.