AU700011B3 - A blind assembly for a window - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to window blinds and, in particular, to a blind assembly for a blind of the draw up type for selectively blocking vision and passage of sunlight through a window.

Most window blinds operate on either the draw down holland or venetian blind principle or on the vertical blind principle. Whenever such blinds are opened, even slightly, they allow sunlight and visibility through that part of the window, the lowest, which is the most prejudicial to privacy. As such, these blinds are unable to selectively block vision and passage of sunlight through the window of a room up to a particular height of the blind that will enable a person within the room to retain his or her privacy in sufficient sunlight.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a blind assembly 4 for a blind of the draw up type adapted for selectively blocking vision or passage of light through a window into a room, whereby the light blocking 15 material of the blind covers only that part of the window necessary to •go• S°ensure privacy, but allow sunlight to enter the room.

According to the present invention, there is provided a blind .::assembly for a blind of the draw up type for a window of a room or the like, comprising a blind, the said blind adapted to be folded on the sill of the 20 window when the blind is open so as to assume a laying position, and oo o adapted to be unfolded therefrom when the blind is drawn upwardly so as to assume an unfolded position and thereby cover the window, the said blind comprising a plurality of unfolded segments divided by permanent folds created by creasing of the blind, the said permanent folds being so creased as to cause the said blind to fold on itself horizontally by concertina-like laying of each unfolded segment on top of each other when the blind is fully open, a flexible cord connected to a first edge portion of ~L1 LI:1 29/10/98 0 N the blind adapted to serve as the leading edge as the blind is drawn upwardly, pulley means located adjacent the top of the window for engaging the said cord whereby a first portion of the said cord hangs freely from the said pulley means so that a user may pull the first portion of the said cord downwardly to draw the blind upwardly from its laying position on the window sill, the arrangement of the unfolded segments and permanent folds being such that the blind gradually unfolds from its laying position starting with the unfolded segment nearest the leading edge of the blind until it assumes its unfolded position.

Preferably, the blind includes a bottom segment which is weightened and fastened to the sill.

is preferred that the pulley means is associated with a means for clamping the cord to the pulley means to restrict pulling of the cord when the blind is in a desired position.

••ol In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:- l Fig 1 is a front elevational view of a window blind assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, 20 and 0Fig 2 is a side elevational view of the window blind assembly of Fig 1.

The window blind assembly 10 of Figs 1 and 2, shown in the open blind position, consists of a blind 12, a flexible cord 30 and a pulley means 32.

The blind 12 is fabricated of suitable opaque material that is able to obstruct the passage of sunlight and visibility therethrough. The opaque A/ material of the blind 12 is pleated so that the blind 12 assumes a neatly 29/10/98 folded concertina-like arrangement when it rests on the sill 18 for the window 20. When the blind 12 is drawn upwardly from its rest position on the window sill 18, the blind 1 2 gradually unfolds starting from the uppermost folded portion. The blind 12 may be drawn upwardly to cover the entire window 20 or to cover only a lower part thereof. When the blind 12 is opened, the opaque material of the blind 12 will fall in such a way that it again assumes a neatly folded concertina-like arrangement on the window sill 18 by folding across the pleats. The pleats are created by a conventional pleating or permanent creasing process.

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29/10/98 4 The blind 12 therefore consists of a plurality of unfolded segments divided by permanent folds or pleats that enable the blind 12 to fold on itself as shown in Figs 1 and 2. A bottom segment 22 of the blind 12 is weightened and fastened to the sill 18 in a horizontal manner so as to improve the stability of the blind 12 and to provide a level platform on which each segment may neatly and evenly lay when the blind 12 is fully open. The weightening and strengthening of the bottom segment 22 may be achieved by providing a sleeve-like aperture in the segment 22 for receiving therewithin a rigid wooden or plastic panel substantially 10 corresponding in shape to the segment 22. Fastening may then be achieved with the use of screws or any other fixing means whereby, if screws are used, they are suitably located and passed through the so strengthened segment 22 into the material from which the sill 18 is formed.

The uppermost segment 24 of the blind 12 has an edge 26 which serves as the leading edge when the blind 12 is drawn upwardly. The edge 26 is strengthened by the insertion of a rigid rod 28, which may be made of plastic or wood, through a tubular cavity formed by folding the opaque material upon itself and stitching the overlaid material together in a conventional manner. The thus strengthened edge 26 has attached thereto the flexible cord 30 which is similar to that used presently for venetian blinds. The cord 30 passes upwardly to and is engaged around a pulley means 32 fixed to the wall overhang 34 for the window 20. The pulley means 32 has a clamping means associated with it that enables the cord 30 to be pulled to a desired degree and maintained stably at that position for the required blind opening position. The clamping means may be similar to the type used for venetian blinds.

With the cord 30 so engaged around the pulley means 32, a portion 36 of the cord 30 hangs freely therefrom such that a user may, by gripping on the portion 36, pull the cord 30 downwardly to draw the blind 12 upwardly from its folded position on the sill 18.

The blind assembly of the present invention may be manufactured in many different ways and with many different materials known in the art.

For instance, the size and thickness of each unfolded segment may vary to suit the type of window and the level of sunlight obstruction required. Opaque materials of differing weight may also be used as o ao desired. Such materials may include suitably stiffened linen or other plastic sheeting.

°In order to provide an improved sound barrier as well as thermal insulator, each segment of the blind may have inserted therewithin a wooden or plastic board that must not, of course, interfere with the folding of the blind around the pleats.

There may also be provided a box-like container mounted on or adjacent the window sill that is adapted to receive therewithin the neatly folded concertina-like arrangement of the blind, thereby ensuring that the correct folding of the blind is maintained and protected from tampering.

The container may also serve as a means for fastening or anchoring the bottom segment of the blind to the sill. This is particularly important when the blind is being raised upwardly.

There may also be used a forked cord 40 having a plurality of points of attachment to the strengthened edge 26 as shown by the dotted outline in Fig 1.

Various other modifications may be made in details of design and construction without departing from the scope or ambit of the invention.

6 THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:- 1. A blind assembly for a blind of the draw up type for a window of a room or the like, comprising a blind, the said blind adapted to be folded on the sill of the window when the blind is open so as to assume a laying position, and adapted to be unfolded therefrom when the blind is drawn upwardly so as to assume an unfolded position and thereby cover the window, the said blind comprising a plurality of unfolded segments divided by permanent folds created by creasing of the blind, the said permanent folds being so creased as to cause the said blind to fold on itself horizontally by concertina-like laying of each unfolded segment on top of each other when the blind is fully open, a flexible cord connected to a first edge portion of the blind adapted to serve as the leading edge as the blind is drawn upwardly, pulley means located adjacent the top of the window °oo.

*for engaging the said cord whereby a first portion of the said cord hangs freely from the said pulley means so that a user may pull the first portion of the said cord downwardly to draw the blind upwardly from its laying position on the window sill, the arrangement of the unfolded segments and permanent folds being such that the blind gradually unfolds from its laying position starting with the unfolded segment nearest the leading edge of the blind until it assumes its unfolded position.

o 2. The blind assembly of claim 1 wherein the blind includes a bottom segment which is weightened and fastened to the sill.

29/10/98

Claims (1)

1. 3. The blind assembly of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the pulley means is associated with a means for clamping the cord to the pulley means to restrict pulling of the cord when the blind is in a desired position. Dated this 29th day of October, 1998 PETER JOHN SCARCELLA Patent Attorneys for the Applicant PETER MAXWELL ASSOCIATES r r r r r rr r r r r r r r r r r 9 ABSTRACT A blind assembly for a blind of the draw up type for a window (20) of a room or the like, has a blind (12) which is adapted to be folded at a location adjacent the bottom of the window (20) when the blind (12) is open and adapted to be unfolded therefrom when the blind (12) is drawn upwardly so as to cover the window The assembly also includes a flexible cord (30) connected to an edge (26) of the blind (12) adapted to serve as the leading edge as the blind (12) is drawn upwardly, and a pulley *ag*: (32) located adjacent the top of the window (20) for engaging the cord A portion (36) of the cord (30) hangs freely from the pulley (32) such "e *"that a user may pull the portion (36) of the cord (30) downwardly to draw the blind (12) upwardly. S. o S