DE20104051U1 - Fabric for sun protection devices - Google Patents

Abstract

A woven window blind has a series of horizontal threads (6, 8) sandwiched front and back between an alternating series of vertical threads (4). One face of the blind has a second series of horizontal threads (8) forming horizontal ridges at intervals. The ridges project above the base layer by a pre-determined depth.

Description

Hüppe Form Sonnenschutzsysteme GmbH, Cloppenburger Straße 200, 26133 Oldenburg

Fabric for sun protection devices

The invention relates to a material for sun protection devices, in particular for roller blinds or the like, which are available on the market in a variety of designs and are used to prevent direct sunlight in interior spaces and to provide sufficient shade for interior spaces. In particular, these known materials are woven in such a way that direct light transmission is as low as possible, so that direct sunlight and the associated glare are reliably prevented. Alternatively, materials are also known that have transparent properties but allow direct sunlight, which can lead to glare for people in the shaded room.

The disadvantage is that the well-known roller blind fabrics have to be woven very tightly to prevent direct sunlight, so that it is not possible to see through the fabric from the inside to the outside.

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The object of the invention is therefore to develop a material for sun protection devices of the type mentioned at the beginning in such a way that the material allows a low level of direct sunlight, but on the other hand ensures a relatively high level of visibility downwards.

This object is achieved according to the invention in the fabric of the type mentioned at the outset in that at least some threads of the first type form ribs in a first direction, for example weft threads or additional threads running in the weft direction, the cross-section of which protrudes essentially transversely or perpendicularly from the rest of the fabric plane.

The advantages of the invention lie in particular in the fact that some of the existing threads of the first type are arranged in a first direction or have such a thread cross-section that these first threads have a comparatively large cross-sectional extent in a direction that runs perpendicular to the rest of the fabric plane, the fabric plane being defined in particular by the threads of the second type, which run transversely or perpendicular to the threads of the first type. These ribs or webs, which protrude outwards from the plane of the second threads and run parallel to one another, act like the small slats integrated into the fabric, which prevent the transmission of directly incident light rays from a predetermined elevation angle even with thin or loosely woven fabrics, but the view downwards is guaranteed for the user, so that the user has sufficient visibility downwards through the fabric and can therefore perceive the outside environment, while glare from directly incident solar radiation is prevented.

Preferably, the rib-shaped first threads or additional threads are formed on one side of the fabric, and the fabric is preferably used for sun protection purposes in such a way that the ribs or webs run horizontally and are directed against the incidence of light. If then - according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention - the first threads have an enlarged

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If the ribs are spaced apart, the view downwards is further improved, whereas the transmission of direct sunlight is effectively prevented by the ribs, which act like slats. The material then has a degree of transmission that depends heavily on the angle of incidence of the light.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the relevant first threads can be reinforced with additional threads running along with them until the desired projection of the ribs from the other fabric plane or the plane of the second threads is achieved. The ribs then have an elongated, flat cross-section, which is preferably aligned approximately perpendicular to the plane of the second threads, but which - according to the invention - can also assume a predetermined angle of inclination to this plane or the other fabric plane.

Particularly preferably, the ribs can also be formed by arranging additional first threads in addition to the first threads running in the plane of the material, which realize the rib-shaped cross-section in the desired manner.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a further first thread for forming the ribs can be provided next to every &eegr;-th first thread substantially perpendicular to the plane of the material or the plane of the second threads.

Preferably, the second threads can be provided in several parallel thread planes. According to the invention, it is also possible to produce the second threads from transparent material.

Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized by the features of the subclaims.

In the following, embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. They show:

Figure 1 is a perspective schematic representation of a material for

sun protection purposes;

Figure 2 shows a cross-section through the material according to Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a cross section through a second embodiment of the material;

Figure 4 shows a cross-section through a third embodiment of the material;

and

Figure 5 shows a cross-section through a fourth embodiment of the material.

Figures 1 to 5 show various embodiments of the material according to the invention, with Figure 1 showing a perspective detail and Figures 2 to 5 each showing different cross sections through the threads of the first type - also called first threads - of the material, which run in a predetermined first direction. According to Figures 1 and 2, several threads of the second type 4, also called second threads, run at a predetermined distance perpendicular to the first threads 6, 8 and cross the second threads 4 alternately at the front or back. In addition to the regular first threads 6, additional first threads 8 are arranged on one side of the second threads 4 in the first direction, which form parallel ribs running perpendicular to the plane of the second threads and are suitably connected to the second threads 4. Below the additional first threads 8, a gap is formed between the regular first threads 6, i.e. immediately below the first threads 8, the first threads 6 have an increased distance so that a better view through the fabric downwards is realized.

Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of the fabric in which the first threads 6 cross the second threads 4 vertically. In addition, further first threads 8 are provided on one side of the second threads, each of which is arranged next to one of the

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first threads 6 are arranged and have a cross-section which is elongated in the direction R perpendicular to the plane formed by the second threads in order to achieve an effective slat effect and thus a shading effect against direct sunlight from a predetermined elevation angle. The first threads 8 are arranged next to the first threads 6, they can be woven and fastened with the second threads 4 using a suitable weave, if necessary using thin additional threads.

Figure 4 shows a cross section through a further embodiment of a fabric in which the first threads 6 again cross the second threads 4 perpendicularly. On one side of the fabric, which is to be exposed to light for sun protection purposes, further first threads 8 are provided in the first direction, which are connected to the second threads, for example by suitable guidance of additional threads 10, and form a rib structure whose rib-shaped cross sections extend outwards and upwards away from the plane of the second threads.

Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of the fabric according to the invention, in which second threads 4 run in two parallel planes, with first threads 6 - in a conventional weave - crossing the second threads 4 of one plane. In addition, further first threads 8 are arranged between the regular first threads 6. These additional first threads 8 have an elongated cross-section directed away from the fabric plane in the direction R perpendicular to the plane of the second threads and are attached to the second threads 4.

In order to achieve the desired sun protection effect, the fabric according to the invention is used in roller blinds or Roman blinds or other curtains in such a way that the ribs formed by the first threads run horizontally, whereas the second threads are then aligned essentially vertically.

Claims (9)

1. Fabric for sun protection devices, in particular for roller blinds, Roman blinds or vertical blinds,
with first threads ( 6 , 8 ) running in a first direction and second threads ( 4 ) running essentially transversely or perpendicularly thereto,
characterized in that at least some of the first threads ( 8 ) form ribs which run in the first direction and whose cross-section protrudes a predetermined amount from the plane of the material or the plane formed by the second threads ( 4 ). 2. Fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that the first threads ( 8 ) together with additional threads ( 10 ) running in the first direction form the ribs perpendicular to the plane of the second threads ( 4 ). 3. Fabric according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the first threads ( 8 ), optionally together with additional threads ( 10 ) running in the first direction, have or form an elongated, flat cross-section perpendicular to the plane of the second threads ( 4 ). 4. Fabric according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that next to every n-th first thread ( 6 ), where n = 1, 2, 3, ..., additional first threads ( 8 ) are arranged substantially perpendicular to the plane of the second threads ( 4 ) to form the ribs. 5. Fabric according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that additional first threads ( 6 ) are arranged at regular distances from one another between first threads ( 8 ), which protrude outwards in a rib-like manner perpendicular to the plane of the second threads ( 4 ). 6. Fabric according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second threads ( 4 ) are arranged in several parallel planes. 7. Fabric according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second threads ( 4 ) consist of transparent material. 8. Fabric according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first threads ( 8 ) forming the ribs are all arranged on one side of the second threads ( 4 ). 9. Fabric according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that adjacent to the first threads ( 8 ) forming the ribs, individual first threads have an increased distance from one another.