CA1264284A - Decorative window blinds - Google Patents
Decorative window blindsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1264284A CA1264284A CA000563785A CA563785A CA1264284A CA 1264284 A CA1264284 A CA 1264284A CA 000563785 A CA000563785 A CA 000563785A CA 563785 A CA563785 A CA 563785A CA 1264284 A CA1264284 A CA 1264284A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- vane
- groove
- inlay
- vanes
- decorative
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
- E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
- E06B9/00—Screening or protective devices for wall or similar openings, with or without operating or securing mechanisms; Closures of similar construction
- E06B9/24—Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blinds
- E06B9/26—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds
- E06B9/38—Other details
- E06B9/386—Details of lamellae
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Blinds (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A vane for a window blind is provided, having at least one groove adapted to receive a decorative inlay in at least one side thereof; said inlay may be snapped in and out of said groove.
A vane for a window blind is provided, having at least one groove adapted to receive a decorative inlay in at least one side thereof; said inlay may be snapped in and out of said groove.
Description
~.X~:i4;~
This invention relates to decorative vanes for window blinds of the vertical or horizontal (venetian) type. The vanes of such blinds must generally be fairly rigid and are therefore generally made of metal or plastic. Efforts have been made previously to make such vanes decorative in appearance, so as to avoid the appearance of a large expanse of plastic or metal.
Previous such efforts to provide decorative vanes have included vanes made of a stiffened cloth (United States Patent 4,519,435 - Stier), vanes comprised of a double layer of clear material between which a decorative strip may be inserted (United States Patent 2,074,482 - Martens), and vanes characterized by clips on one or both sides thereof into which decorative strips may be inserted (United States Patent 4,628,980 - Le Houillier).
Such vanes all face the drawback that the decorative element is not an integral part of the vane and therefore has a diminished appeal to the eye. Such vanes that include clip members face additional drawbacks associated with protuberances extending from vanes, namely the risk of entanglement, diminished appearance, and difficulty of cleaning. Additionally, such vanes may support at most a very limited number of decorative strips.
The present invention is a vane for a window blind characterized in that the vane has opposed sides and two edges.
At least one longitudinal groove is provided in at least one side of the vane, the groove adapted to receive and releasably retain a decorative inlay.
The invention will now be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
.~ ,~, .~ .
Figure 1 is an elevational view of a venetian blind having vanes according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is an elevational view of a vertical blind having vanes according to the present invention;
Figure 3 is a view of a portion of one of the broad sides of a vane according to the present invention;
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line a-a in Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a vane and an inlay according to the present invention including dimensions in inches thereof.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a window blind may be comprised of a plurality of vanes disposed either horizontally or vertically. Such a blind also comprises a mechanism (not shown) for rotating each vane longitudinally as well as for opening and closing the blind by sliding the vanes towards or away from each other either vertically (Figure 1) or horizontally (Figure 2).
Referring to Figures 3 and 4, a vane 5 according to the invention is provided which is formed of plastic or other suitable material. The vane 5 is of a width generally found in blinds of this type and of a thickness suitable for the insertion of a decorative inlay in grooves on one or both sides thereof. Grooves 6 are disposed longitudinally within the vane 5, and may be molded or machined therein. The cross-section of each groove 6 is comprised of a bottom 7 and straight sides 8 which converge in the direction of the surface of the vane so as to enable a decorative inlay 9 to be releasably retained in the groove 6. As seen in lX64~34 Figure 4, the exposed surface of the inlay 9 is flush with the top surface of the vane 5.
In the example illustrated in Figure 5, the vane 5' is 3.5 inches wide and 0.05 inches thick. A groove 6' is disposed within the vane 5' having a depth of 0.025 inches and having sides 8' each of which slopes inwardly in the direction of the surface of the vane, at an angle of 20 from the vertical. The bottom 7' of the groove 6' has a width of 0.135 inches and the top of the groove 6' has a width of 0.118 inches. An inlay 9' is provided having dimensions suitable for fitting snugly within the groove 6' and displaying an exposed surface flush with the top surface of the vane 5'.
As an alternative embodiment of such inlay, the exposed surface of an inlay lO may be elevated above the corresponding surface of the vane 5 and may describe a smooth bulge or other configuration, as seen in Figure 4. The exposed surface of such inlay should not protrude excessively above the surface of the vane to avoid the potential drawbacks discussed above.
It will be seen that each such vane may support a number of such grooves on one or both sides thereof, and that such inlays may comprise a variety of color combinations and patterns formed with different lengths of inlays. Such patterns may encompass individual vanes, or may by cooperation of the patterns in individual vanes encompass an entire blind or sections thereof.
This invention relates to decorative vanes for window blinds of the vertical or horizontal (venetian) type. The vanes of such blinds must generally be fairly rigid and are therefore generally made of metal or plastic. Efforts have been made previously to make such vanes decorative in appearance, so as to avoid the appearance of a large expanse of plastic or metal.
Previous such efforts to provide decorative vanes have included vanes made of a stiffened cloth (United States Patent 4,519,435 - Stier), vanes comprised of a double layer of clear material between which a decorative strip may be inserted (United States Patent 2,074,482 - Martens), and vanes characterized by clips on one or both sides thereof into which decorative strips may be inserted (United States Patent 4,628,980 - Le Houillier).
Such vanes all face the drawback that the decorative element is not an integral part of the vane and therefore has a diminished appeal to the eye. Such vanes that include clip members face additional drawbacks associated with protuberances extending from vanes, namely the risk of entanglement, diminished appearance, and difficulty of cleaning. Additionally, such vanes may support at most a very limited number of decorative strips.
The present invention is a vane for a window blind characterized in that the vane has opposed sides and two edges.
At least one longitudinal groove is provided in at least one side of the vane, the groove adapted to receive and releasably retain a decorative inlay.
The invention will now be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
.~ ,~, .~ .
Figure 1 is an elevational view of a venetian blind having vanes according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is an elevational view of a vertical blind having vanes according to the present invention;
Figure 3 is a view of a portion of one of the broad sides of a vane according to the present invention;
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line a-a in Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a vane and an inlay according to the present invention including dimensions in inches thereof.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a window blind may be comprised of a plurality of vanes disposed either horizontally or vertically. Such a blind also comprises a mechanism (not shown) for rotating each vane longitudinally as well as for opening and closing the blind by sliding the vanes towards or away from each other either vertically (Figure 1) or horizontally (Figure 2).
Referring to Figures 3 and 4, a vane 5 according to the invention is provided which is formed of plastic or other suitable material. The vane 5 is of a width generally found in blinds of this type and of a thickness suitable for the insertion of a decorative inlay in grooves on one or both sides thereof. Grooves 6 are disposed longitudinally within the vane 5, and may be molded or machined therein. The cross-section of each groove 6 is comprised of a bottom 7 and straight sides 8 which converge in the direction of the surface of the vane so as to enable a decorative inlay 9 to be releasably retained in the groove 6. As seen in lX64~34 Figure 4, the exposed surface of the inlay 9 is flush with the top surface of the vane 5.
In the example illustrated in Figure 5, the vane 5' is 3.5 inches wide and 0.05 inches thick. A groove 6' is disposed within the vane 5' having a depth of 0.025 inches and having sides 8' each of which slopes inwardly in the direction of the surface of the vane, at an angle of 20 from the vertical. The bottom 7' of the groove 6' has a width of 0.135 inches and the top of the groove 6' has a width of 0.118 inches. An inlay 9' is provided having dimensions suitable for fitting snugly within the groove 6' and displaying an exposed surface flush with the top surface of the vane 5'.
As an alternative embodiment of such inlay, the exposed surface of an inlay lO may be elevated above the corresponding surface of the vane 5 and may describe a smooth bulge or other configuration, as seen in Figure 4. The exposed surface of such inlay should not protrude excessively above the surface of the vane to avoid the potential drawbacks discussed above.
It will be seen that each such vane may support a number of such grooves on one or both sides thereof, and that such inlays may comprise a variety of color combinations and patterns formed with different lengths of inlays. Such patterns may encompass individual vanes, or may by cooperation of the patterns in individual vanes encompass an entire blind or sections thereof.
Claims (7)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A vane for a window blind characterized in that the vane has two opposed sides and two edges, and in that at least one longitudinal groove is provided in at least one side thereof, said groove being adapted to receive and releasably retain a decorative inlay.
2. A vane as claimed in claim 1, wherein said groove, in transverse cross-section, has a bottom and two opposed sides, said sides converging towards the mouth of the groove so as to releasably retain said decorative inlay.
3. A vane as claimed in claim 1 having a plurality of grooves.
4. A vane as claimed in claim 1 comprising at least one groove on each side thereof.
5. A vane as claimed in claim 1, wherein said decorative inlay is comprised of a plurality of strips of varying lengths.
6. A vane as claimed in claim 1, wherein said decorative inlay is comprised of strips adapted to be held within said groove and is characterized by an outer surface flush with said side when said inlay is disposed within said groove.
7. A vane as claimed in claim 1 wherein said decorative inlay is comprised of a strip adapted to be held within said groove and is characterized by an outer surface that extends above said flat side when said inlay is disposed within said groove.
8. A window blind having a plurality of vanes as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3.
9. A window blind having a plurality of vanes as claimed in claim 4, 5 or 6.
10. A window blind having a plurality of vanes as claimed in
7. A vane as claimed in claim 1 wherein said decorative inlay is comprised of a strip adapted to be held within said groove and is characterized by an outer surface that extends above said flat side when said inlay is disposed within said groove.
8. A window blind having a plurality of vanes as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3.
9. A window blind having a plurality of vanes as claimed in claim 4, 5 or 6.
10. A window blind having a plurality of vanes as claimed in
claim 7.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000563785A CA1264284A (en) | 1988-04-11 | 1988-04-11 | Decorative window blinds |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000563785A CA1264284A (en) | 1988-04-11 | 1988-04-11 | Decorative window blinds |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1264284A true CA1264284A (en) | 1990-01-09 |
Family
ID=4137799
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000563785A Expired CA1264284A (en) | 1988-04-11 | 1988-04-11 | Decorative window blinds |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1264284A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0495342A1 (en) * | 1991-01-14 | 1992-07-22 | Wei-Jai Nien | Slat structure for a venetian blind |
| US6601634B2 (en) * | 1999-12-17 | 2003-08-05 | Barbara E. Weidenbach | Illuminating window cover |
-
1988
- 1988-04-11 CA CA000563785A patent/CA1264284A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0495342A1 (en) * | 1991-01-14 | 1992-07-22 | Wei-Jai Nien | Slat structure for a venetian blind |
| US6601634B2 (en) * | 1999-12-17 | 2003-08-05 | Barbara E. Weidenbach | Illuminating window cover |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |