EP0120567A2 - A clutch for a vertical louvre blind - Google Patents
A clutch for a vertical louvre blind Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0120567A2 EP0120567A2 EP84300637A EP84300637A EP0120567A2 EP 0120567 A2 EP0120567 A2 EP 0120567A2 EP 84300637 A EP84300637 A EP 84300637A EP 84300637 A EP84300637 A EP 84300637A EP 0120567 A2 EP0120567 A2 EP 0120567A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- sleeve
- inner sleeve
- tongue
- outer sleeve
- clutch
- 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.)
- Granted
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Images
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
- E06B9/36—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with vertical lamellae ; Supporting rails therefor
- E06B9/362—Travellers; Lamellae suspension stems
- E06B9/364—Operating mechanisms therein
-
- 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
- E06B9/36—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with vertical lamellae ; Supporting rails therefor
- E06B9/367—Lamellae suspensions ; Bottom weights; Bottom guides
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a clutch for a vertical louvre blind.
- Such blinds include a headrail, travellers which can be moved along the headrail and hooks rotatably mounted in each traveller from which the louvres of the blind are suspended.
- the purpose of the traveller is twofold. It allows the louvres to be moved back, rather in the manner of a curtain, from an initial position in which the louvres all overlie a window.
- the traveller has in it a mechanism for rotating the louvres so that the angle can be altered. It is advantageous for all the louvres to be parallel to one another and it is a conventional arrangement for each traveller to include a rotatable worm which engages with a worm wheel forming part of, or connected to the louvre hook.
- the worms are rotated by a common tilt rod which passes through all the travellers and is usually provided with longitudinal grooves which are engaged by keys of a rotatable sleeve which drives the worm, usually through a clutch.
- Two forms of clutch have been proposed, one in which teeth are provided in radial walls, to provide a face clutch, and others in which a tooth or teeth engages or engage radial splines on an outer sleeve. None of the present constructions is fully satisfactory insofar as they are rather cumbersome and relatively expensive to manufacture.
- a clutch for a vertical.louvre blind traveller comprising an inner sleeve, at least one key on the inner surface of the inner sleeve engageable in a groove in a tilt rod which passes through said sleeve, whereby the sleeve may be rotated thereby, at least one pair of slots each defining therebetween an axially extending tongue on said inner sleeve, an outer sleeve surrounding said inner sleeve, a worm forming element on the outer surface of the outer sleeve, a plurality of splines on the inner surface of said outer sleeve and means on the outer surface of the tongue engageable with the splines to cause rotation of the outer sleeve as the inner sleeve rotates, the or each tongue being at a circumferential location on the inner sleeve corresponding to a groove in said tilt rod, whereby the or each tongue can flex resilient
- the corresponding groove can be a specially formed groove or a groove designed to receive said key, to provide the drive connection between the tilt rod and the inner sleeve.
- the key or keys would be mounted at the same circumferential location as the tongue or tongues.
- the tongues can readily flex into the corresponding groove or grooves of the tilt rod and can thus provide plenty of space for flexural movement.
- the inner sleeve can be constructed so that it can be very thin indeed, making the whole assembly compact.
- the pair or pairs of slots extend from one axial end of the sleeve, whereby the or each tongue is mounted in cantilever fashion with respect to the remainder of the inner sleeve. Again this makes sure of a positive action with very light components.
- the clutch further comprises a housing having opposite side walls with aligned openings formed therein and end portions on the inner sleeve engageable in said openings, so as to be rotatable therein, the outer sleeve being mounted within the housing, a radially outwardly extending annular, or part-annular, abutment formed on the outer surface of the inner sleeve at a location spaced from one end, one side of said abutment engaging the inner surface of one of said opposite walls of the housing and one end of the outer sleeve engaging the other side of said abutment.
- the position of the outer sleeve with the worm mounted thereon can be accurately controlled in a simple manner to provide a straight-forward bearing during the normal operation of the blind.
- the tongue or tongues extend to a point which is not axially beyond the location of the annular abutment so they do not reach beyond the end of the outer sleeve with engages the abutment.
- the or each tongue may be provided with a radially outwardly extending tooth to engage in the splines to give good positive gripping action thereon.
- Each traveller 10 includes side walls 12 with aligned openings 13 therein. Movement of the right hand of the carriers, as illustrated in the drawings, is effected by a pull cord 14 and movement to the right of the other traveller is effected by a ball chain 15. Each traveller has associated therewith a louvre hook 16 associated with a worm wheel 17 having upstanding teeth 18.
- the lefthand traveller illustrated in Figure 1 is shown as having the clutch mechanism of the present invention in an exploded state.
- This clutch includes an inner sleeve 20 which is a sliding fit over a tilt rod 21 which is provided with three equi-angularly spaced longitudinal grooves 22.
- the inner sleeve 20 has three equi-angularly spaced keys 23 fitting into the grooves, whereby rotation of the tilt rod 21 will cause rotation of the sleeve 20.
- the outer surface of the sleeve is provided, at a location spaced a short distance from the end 24, with three part annular abutments 28.
- the length of the tongue 26 is such as not to extend beyond the abutment 28.
- an outer sleeve 30 Surrounding the inner sleeve 20 is an outer sleeve 30 provided on its outer surface with a worm 31 and on its inner surface with longitudinally extending splines 32.
- the whole clutch assembly can be pushed into the housing (by splaying of the side walls 12 thereof) so that the ends of the inner sleeve engaged in the openings 13 and the side walls 12 of the housing.
- the outer surface of the abutment 28 engages against the inner surface 35 of one side wall 12.
- the length of the outer sleeve 30 is such that the other side of the outer sleeve engages against the inner surface 36 of the other side wall 12. In this way the inner and outer sleeves are both retained axially within the housing and are free to rotate.
- the circumferential position of the keys 23 is the same as the circumferential position of the tongues 26, so that the tongues are located immediately above the grooves 22 in the tilt rod 21 as can be seen in Figure 3.
- the teeth 27 on the tongues 26 engage in the spline 32 on the inner surface of the outer sleeve 30 so that the inner and outer sleeves will rotate together. Should the outer sleeve be arrested for any reason, then the tongue 26 can flex inwardly and allow slippage of the teeth 26 with respect to the splines 27.
- the positioning of the tongues over the grooves 22 greatly facilitates this operation.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Operated Clutches (AREA)
- Blinds (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a clutch for a vertical louvre blind.
- Such blinds include a headrail, travellers which can be moved along the headrail and hooks rotatably mounted in each traveller from which the louvres of the blind are suspended. The purpose of the traveller is twofold. It allows the louvres to be moved back, rather in the manner of a curtain, from an initial position in which the louvres all overlie a window. Secondly, the traveller has in it a mechanism for rotating the louvres so that the angle can be altered. It is advantageous for all the louvres to be parallel to one another and it is a conventional arrangement for each traveller to include a rotatable worm which engages with a worm wheel forming part of, or connected to the louvre hook. The worms are rotated by a common tilt rod which passes through all the travellers and is usually provided with longitudinal grooves which are engaged by keys of a rotatable sleeve which drives the worm, usually through a clutch. Two forms of clutch have been proposed, one in which teeth are provided in radial walls, to provide a face clutch, and others in which a tooth or teeth engages or engage radial splines on an outer sleeve. None of the present constructions is fully satisfactory insofar as they are rather cumbersome and relatively expensive to manufacture.
- It is now proposed, according to the present invention, to provide a clutch for a vertical.louvre blind traveller, said clutch comprising an inner sleeve, at least one key on the inner surface of the inner sleeve engageable in a groove in a tilt rod which passes through said sleeve, whereby the sleeve may be rotated thereby, at least one pair of slots each defining therebetween an axially extending tongue on said inner sleeve, an outer sleeve surrounding said inner sleeve, a worm forming element on the outer surface of the outer sleeve, a plurality of splines on the inner surface of said outer sleeve and means on the outer surface of the tongue engageable with the splines to cause rotation of the outer sleeve as the inner sleeve rotates, the or each tongue being at a circumferential location on the inner sleeve corresponding to a groove in said tilt rod, whereby the or each tongue can flex resiliently radially inwardly into said corresponding groove of said tilt rod, to allow continued rotating of said tilt rod and inner sleeve, if rotation of the outer sleeve is arrested.
- The corresponding groove can be a specially formed groove or a groove designed to receive said key, to provide the drive connection between the tilt rod and the inner sleeve. With the latter construction, the key or keys would be mounted at the same circumferential location as the tongue or tongues. In either event, the tongues can readily flex into the corresponding groove or grooves of the tilt rod and can thus provide plenty of space for flexural movement. This means that the inner sleeve can be constructed so that it can be very thin indeed, making the whole assembly compact.
- In a preferred construction the pair or pairs of slots extend from one axial end of the sleeve, whereby the or each tongue is mounted in cantilever fashion with respect to the remainder of the inner sleeve. Again this makes sure of a positive action with very light components.
- Advantageously, the clutch further comprises a housing having opposite side walls with aligned openings formed therein and end portions on the inner sleeve engageable in said openings, so as to be rotatable therein, the outer sleeve being mounted within the housing, a radially outwardly extending annular, or part-annular, abutment formed on the outer surface of the inner sleeve at a location spaced from one end, one side of said abutment engaging the inner surface of one of said opposite walls of the housing and one end of the outer sleeve engaging the other side of said abutment. In this way the position of the outer sleeve with the worm mounted thereon, can be accurately controlled in a simple manner to provide a straight-forward bearing during the normal operation of the blind. Preferably the tongue or tongues extend to a point which is not axially beyond the location of the annular abutment so they do not reach beyond the end of the outer sleeve with engages the abutment.
- The or each tongue may be provided with a radially outwardly extending tooth to engage in the splines to give good positive gripping action thereon.
- In order that the invention may more readily be understood, the following description is given, merely by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one of the travellers of a vertical louvre blind exploded to illustrate the components parts forming one embodiment of clutch according to the invention, and an adjacent pair of travellers assembled;
- Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional elevation through a traveller to illustrate the clutch; and
- Figure 3 is a section taken along the line III-III of Figure 2.
- Referring first to Figure 1 there are illustrated two
travellers 10 which are mounted for sliding motion in a headrail (not shown). Eachtraveller 10 includesside walls 12 with alignedopenings 13 therein. Movement of the right hand of the carriers, as illustrated in the drawings, is effected by apull cord 14 and movement to the right of the other traveller is effected by aball chain 15. Each traveller has associated therewith alouvre hook 16 associated with a worm wheel 17 havingupstanding teeth 18. - The lefthand traveller illustrated in Figure 1 is shown as having the clutch mechanism of the present invention in an exploded state. This clutch includes an
inner sleeve 20 which is a sliding fit over atilt rod 21 which is provided with three equi-angularly spacedlongitudinal grooves 22. Theinner sleeve 20 has three equi-angularlyspaced keys 23 fitting into the grooves, whereby rotation of thetilt rod 21 will cause rotation of thesleeve 20. - Extending from one
axial end 24 of the inner sleeve are three equi-angularly spaced pairs of axially extendingslots 25 defining therebetween threetongues 26 each of which is provided with a radially outwardly extendingtooth 27. The outer surface of the sleeve is provided, at a location spaced a short distance from theend 24, with three part
annular abutments 28. The length of thetongue 26 is such as not to extend beyond theabutment 28. - Surrounding the
inner sleeve 20 is anouter sleeve 30 provided on its outer surface with aworm 31 and on its inner surface with longitudinally extendingsplines 32. - In the assembled condition the
end 33 of theouter sleeve 30 abuts theabutment 28. - As can be seen in particular from Figure 2, the whole clutch assembly can be pushed into the housing (by splaying of the
side walls 12 thereof) so that the ends of the inner sleeve engaged in theopenings 13 and theside walls 12 of the housing. At this time the outer surface of theabutment 28 engages against theinner surface 35 of oneside wall 12. The length of theouter sleeve 30 is such that the other side of the outer sleeve engages against theinner surface 36 of theother side wall 12. In this way the inner and outer sleeves are both retained axially within the housing and are free to rotate. - It will be noted from Figure 1 that the circumferential position of the
keys 23 is the same as the circumferential position of thetongues 26, so that the tongues are located immediately above thegrooves 22 in thetilt rod 21 as can be seen in Figure 3. Theteeth 27 on thetongues 26 engage in thespline 32 on the inner surface of theouter sleeve 30 so that the inner and outer sleeves will rotate together. Should the outer sleeve be arrested for any reason, then thetongue 26 can flex inwardly and allow slippage of theteeth 26 with respect to thesplines 27. The positioning of the tongues over thegrooves 22 greatly facilitates this operation. - It will be appreciated that all the parts can be simply moulded and the two parts of the clutch proper namely the inner and outer sleeves can readily be inserted one within the other and the thus formed assembly inserted in the
housing 12.
Claims (7)
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB08308061A GB2137269B (en) | 1983-03-24 | 1983-03-24 | Verticle louvre blind |
GB8308061 | 1983-03-24 | ||
GB8321980 | 1983-08-16 | ||
GB08321980A GB2145141A (en) | 1983-08-16 | 1983-08-16 | Clutch for a vertical louvre blind |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0120567A2 true EP0120567A2 (en) | 1984-10-03 |
EP0120567A3 EP0120567A3 (en) | 1985-03-27 |
EP0120567B1 EP0120567B1 (en) | 1986-11-05 |
Family
ID=26285599
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19840300637 Expired EP0120567B1 (en) | 1983-03-24 | 1984-02-01 | A clutch for a vertical louvre blind |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0120567B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE3461210D1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0349998A1 (en) * | 1988-07-05 | 1990-01-10 | K. Bratschi, Silent Gliss | Vertical blind assembly |
EP0352410A2 (en) * | 1988-07-29 | 1990-01-31 | bautex Adolf Stöver Söhne KG | Worm gear for angle adjustment of vertical lamellar blinds |
EP0562711A2 (en) * | 1992-02-24 | 1993-09-29 | Hunter Douglas Industries B.V. | Vertical louver blind |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2104949A (en) * | 1981-08-22 | 1983-03-16 | Haller Gmbh And Co Kg Berthold | Shutter blind of the type having vertically arranged shutters |
-
1984
- 1984-02-01 DE DE8484300637T patent/DE3461210D1/en not_active Expired
- 1984-02-01 EP EP19840300637 patent/EP0120567B1/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2104949A (en) * | 1981-08-22 | 1983-03-16 | Haller Gmbh And Co Kg Berthold | Shutter blind of the type having vertically arranged shutters |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0349998A1 (en) * | 1988-07-05 | 1990-01-10 | K. Bratschi, Silent Gliss | Vertical blind assembly |
EP0352410A2 (en) * | 1988-07-29 | 1990-01-31 | bautex Adolf Stöver Söhne KG | Worm gear for angle adjustment of vertical lamellar blinds |
EP0352410A3 (en) * | 1988-07-29 | 1991-07-24 | bautex Adolf Stöver Söhne KG | Worm gear for angle adjustment of vertical lamellar blinds |
EP0562711A2 (en) * | 1992-02-24 | 1993-09-29 | Hunter Douglas Industries B.V. | Vertical louver blind |
EP0562711A3 (en) * | 1992-02-24 | 1993-12-08 | Hunter Douglas Ind Bv | Vertical louver blind |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0120567A3 (en) | 1985-03-27 |
DE3461210D1 (en) | 1986-12-11 |
EP0120567B1 (en) | 1986-11-05 |
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