EP0179968B1 - Venetian blind - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Venetian blind comprising blades (1, 31, 101, 201) having their longitudinal edge sections (3b, 3c, 33b, 33c, 103b, 103c, 203b, 203c) disposed at sides facing away from each other shaped arcuate in cross-section, at least at partial sections, the venetian blind being arranged to include longitudinal flexible supporting elements (11, 13, 111, 113, 211, 213) and connecting members (15, 115, 215) having a holding part (15a, 115a, 215a) fastened to a supporting element (11, 13, 111, 113, 211, 213) and a head (15d, 115d, 215d) connected to the stated holding part by way of a neck (15c, 115c, 215c) and arranged to project away from the axis (19, 119, 219) of the neck (15c, 115c, 215c) beyond the latter, whereby the neck (15c, 115c, 215c) of each connecting member (15, 115, 215) penetrates through an incision (3g, 3h, 103g, 103h, 203g, 203h), the head (15d, 115d, 215d) of each connecting member (15, 115, 215) being arranged to grip the respective incision (3g, 3h, 103g, 103h, 203g, 203h) at the back and each connecting member (15, 115, 215) being connected with the blades (1, 31, 101, 201) pivotably around an axis (17) parallel to the longitudinal direction of the blades (1, 31, 101, 201) as well as around the axis (19, 119, 219) of the neck (15c, 115c, 215c), characterized in that the incision (3g, 3h, 103g, 103h, 203g, 203h) is cut into the stated arcuate partial longitudinal edge section and the head (15d, 115d, 215d) is supported inside the latter, and in that the stated longitudinal edge sections (3b, 3c, 33b, 33c, 103b, 103c, 203b, 203c) and connecting members (15, 115, 215) are so executed, that during assembly the heads (15d, 115d, 215d) of the stated connecting members (15, 115, 215) may be snapped into the stated incisions (3g, 3h, 103g, 103h, 203g, 203h) of the stated longitudinal edge sections (3b, 3c, 33b, 33c, 103b, 103c, 203b, 203c) subjected to a transient elastic deformation of the latter.

Description

The invention relates to a roman blinds according to the preamble of claim 1.

Known Roman blinds of this type have a number of elongated slats. Each lamella has a lamellar body, for example made of sheet metal, which is provided in cross section with a central section and on both sides thereof with a longitudinal edge section bent in a hook-like and / or bead-like manner for reinforcement. The slats are movably held with holding means which have band-like or cord-shaped support elements which run from top to bottom on the two long sides of the slats next to each other, face each other in pairs and are connected to the longitudinal edge sections of the slat bodies by connecting means. Furthermore, there are flexible elevator elements formed by bands, cords, cords or the like and penetrating holes in the lamellar bodies. By means of the flexible support and elevator elements, the Roman blinds and their slats can be placed one on top of the other in a closed position in which the Raffiamale blinds block the passage of light, or in a package or release position in which the slats are pulled up lie on top and form a more or less compact package so that light can pass through the area under this package. In addition to the lamella body forming the actual lamella, the lamellae can also have a strip-shaped seal with a lip which, in the closed position, bears against the adjacent lamella. In the closed position, these seals increase the blackout effect, i.e. H. blocking the passage of light, as well as the heat insulation and also result in noise reduction.

German Offenlegungsschrift 30 09 058 discloses a slat belonging to a Roman blind, the flanged longitudinal edge section of which is provided with a recess into which a coupling element, namely a slat holder, is inserted. A connecting member has a head which is pivotably held in a recess in the lamella holder and is connected to a holding part via a neck. This is clamped to a rope serving as a supporting element. The relatively large recess required in the slat for each slat holder results in a considerable weakening of the slat. This is all the more the case because the drawn slat holder is only engaged in the slat. In claim 5 of German Offenlegungsschrift 30 09 058 is mentioned, the slat holder could also be screwed. Now, however, the manufacture of the lamella holders shown in the figures in the published patent application and their assembly on a lamella and their connection to the connecting member is quite complex. If the lamella holder is still to be attached to the lamellae with any screwing means, the costs for production and assembly are further increased because of the additional screwing means required and because of the work involved in screwing down. Another disadvantage of the Rafflamellenstore according to German Offenlegungsschrift 30 09 058 is also that the rope serving as a supporting element, which is more or less circular in cross-section, folds in any direction when the store is pulled up and is therefore located between the flanged longitudinal edge sections of one another Slats can be pinched. In addition, when the store is pulled up, the noise-damping profile strip, which is attached to the flanged longitudinal edge section and is made of rubber or plastic, can be pinched between slats lying on top of one another and thereby damaged after a relatively short operating time.

German Offenlegungsschrift 33 00 213 discloses a support element, which is part of a raffia store and is designed as a band, with a connecting element which has a holding part fastened to the band and a spherical head connected to it via a neck. An eyelet serving as a coupling member and formed from a sheet metal strip has a slot penetrated by the neck and serves to receive the head, one end of the slot forming an extension for inserting the head. The two end sections of the sheet metal strip forming the eyelet protrude through a slot in the flanged longitudinal edge section of a lamella and are attached to the longitudinal edge section by spreading. If you want to connect a connecting element to a lamella, you first have to spread the eyelet quite a bit so that the head can be pushed into the eyelet. Thereafter, the eyelet must be pressed together so strongly that the end sections of the sheet metal strip forming it can be pushed through the slot of the slat longitudinal edge section. Finally, the end sections of the sheet metal strip must be spread in such a way that they rest against the inside of the flanged lamella longitudinal edge section. The manufacture of the eyelets and in particular the work operations to be carried out for their assembly are therefore rather complex, and it is above all difficult or practically impossible during assembly, the metal strip end sections. if they have been pushed through the slot of the slat longitudinal edge section, spread such that they lie firmly against the arcuate inner surface of the slat longitudinal edge section.

The invention is based on the object. to create a disadvantage of the well-known roman blinds. In particular, the aim is that the different.

to form an articulated connection parts with the least possible weakening of the lamellar bodies are stable and nevertheless quick and easy to connect to each other and also inexpensive to manufacture.

This object is achieved by a roman blind of the type mentioned in the introduction, the roman blind according to the invention being characterized by the characterizing part of claim 1. Advantageous refinements of the Roman blinds are evident from the dependent claims.

• die Figur 1 einen Querschnitt durch einen Längsrandabschnitt einer Lamelle eines sich in seiner Schliess-Stellung befindenden Rafflamellenstores mit den die Lamellen mit einem Tragelement verbindenden Verbindungsmitteln,
• die Figur 2 eine Ansicht des Verbindungsorgans der in der Figur 1 dargestellten Verbindungsmittel in der durch den Pfeil II bezeichneten Blickrichtung,
• die Figur 3 eine Ansicht des Kupplungsorgans der in der Figur 1 dargestellten Verbindungsmittel in der gleichen Blickrichtung wie die Figur 2 und
• die Figur 4 eine Ansicht des in der Figur 1 dargestellten Kupplungsorgans in der durch den Pfeil IV bezeichneten Blickrichtung.

The object of the invention will now be explained with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing. In the drawing shows

• FIG. 1 shows a cross section through a longitudinal edge section of a slat of a Roman blind store in its closed position with the connecting means connecting the slats to a supporting element,
• FIG. 2 shows a view of the connecting member of the connecting means shown in FIG. 1 in the direction of view indicated by arrow II,
• 3 shows a view of the coupling member of the connecting means shown in FIG. 1 in the same viewing direction as FIGS. 2 and
• FIG. 4 shows a view of the coupling member shown in FIG. 1 in the viewing direction indicated by arrow IV.

The Roman blind, a section of which is shown in FIG. 1, has slats 61, each with a slat body 63, which consists, for example, of sheet metal, namely aluminum. Each lamellar body 63 has a central section 63a and two longitudinal edge sections 63c which are arranged on mutually remote sides thereof and are parallel to one another. In FIG. 1, only the one lower end region of the central section 63a and the one longitudinal edge section 63c are drawn from the lamellar body 63. The longitudinal edge sections are hook-shaped in cross section, namely flanged, and thus form bead-like or thickened thickenings of the lamellar bodies in cross section. The longitudinal edge sections therefore have cross sections at least approximately in the form of a circular arc around their horizontal longitudinal axes 77. In cross-section, these extend over more than 180 ° and, for example, approximately 270 ° central angles. The central section 63a is knee-shaped in cross-section and has a shorter leg adjoining the longitudinal edge section not shown in FIG. 1 and a longer leg adjoining the longitudinal edge section 63c, the last also also having a shape slightly deviating from a plane, and the Angle between the two legs is at least about 90 ° and at most about 130 °.

Each lamella 61 can be provided with a strip-shaped, rubber-elastic seal. which is anchored in a groove at the knee of the slat body 63 and has at least one lip protruding from the groove.

The longitudinal edge section 63c, when it is connected to the central section 63a, has all-round holes 63h, namely elongated slots, the longitudinal direction of which runs parallel to that of the lamella 61. The other longitudinal edge section of the lamellar body 63, not shown in FIG. 1, is provided in an analogous manner with slot-shaped holes.

In a building, for example, the Roman blind is arranged on the outside of a window, not shown, the pane or panes of which are in FIG. 1 on the right side of the Roman blind. The slats 61 are movable and adjustable with holding means connected to a holding and winding device, not shown, arranged in or on the lintel. The holding means have on both sides of the slats 61 at least two elongated, flexible support elements, of which only one support element 73 can be seen. The support elements are preferably formed by bands and their upper ends are fastened to the holding and winding device. Each support element 73 extends on the outside along the longitudinal edge sections 63c of slats 61 located one above the other, from top to bottom, along a series of holes 63h. The two broad sides or surfaces of the support elements form a right angle with the longitudinal direction of the slats in all positions of the slats that occur when using the Roman blind.

The holding means also include at least two flexible, elongated, band-shaped, cord-shaped or cord-shaped elevator elements, not shown, which run freely through holes present in the central sections 63a of the slat bodies 63. The upper ends of the elevator elements are attached to a roller of the holding and winding device, not shown, so that the elevator elements can be wound up or unwound by rotating this roller. The lower ends of the elevator elements are fastened to a horizontal bar, not shown, arranged under the lowermost slat 61 or possibly directly to the lowermost slat, in which case the latter is then preferably provided with a reinforcing bar or the like.

The lamellar bodies 63 are held at both longitudinal edge sections on the supporting elements with connecting means, each of which has an integral connecting element 75, shown separately in FIG. 2, with a holding part 75a fastened to the supporting element and a joint part 75b. The holding part 75a is formed by a ring with a rectangular outline and a through-opening which is rectangular in cross section, and encloses a support element 73 in a cut transverse to its longitudinal direction on all sides without gaps, full and firm, so that each holding part 75a is rigidly fastened to a support element, wherein the holding parts are arranged at equidistant intervals on the support elements. Each the joint part 75b is rotationally symmetrical with respect to an axis 79 and, apart from rounded transition surfaces, has a cylindrical pin which forms a neck 75c. This is formed in the middle of a longitudinal surface of the holding part 75a, which is located on the one narrow side of the band-shaped supporting element 73, so that the axis 79 runs through the supporting element at right angles to the longitudinal direction thereof, namely parallel to the two broader sides or surfaces of the band-shaped Support element. That facing away from the holding part 75a. the free end of each hinge part 75b is formed by a flattened head 75d which protrudes from the axis 79 in a generally radial direction over the pin or neck 75c.

For each connection of a plate 61 to a support element there is also a one-piece coupling member 83, which is shown separately in FIGS. 3 and 4. The coupling member 83 forms a first socket-like bearing 83a, in which the joint part 75b is pivotally mounted about the axis 79, the joint part 75b being latchable in the bearing 83a. The coupling member 83 also has two arcuate sections, which together form a second clamp-like bearing 83b which encompasses the outer surface of the section of the longitudinal edge section 63c which is circular in cross section, namely via a central angle of more than 180 °, in which the longitudinal edge section 63c about the axis 79 right-angled axis 77 is pivotally mounted with the. Longitudinal axis of the arcuate section of the longitudinal edge section coincides. One of the arcuate sections forming the bearing 83b penetrates the slot-shaped hole 63h, the bearing 83b and / or the longitudinal edge section 63c being sufficiently resilient that the latter can be snapped into the bearing 83b. The connecting members 75 and the coupling members 83 consist of plastic, for example glass fiber reinforced polyamide.

The Roman blind with the parts shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 can assume a closed position and a package or release position.

When the Roman blind is in its closed position shown in FIG. 1. the band-shaped support elements 73 are stretched and run away from the holding and winding device holding them, generally parallel to one another perpendicularly downwards. The support elements 73 hold the slats 61 in the closed position by means of the connecting members 75 and coupling members 83 such that the longitudinal edge section, not shown in FIG. 1, of each slat body 63 is above its longitudinal edge section 63c. The sections or legs of the latter extending from the longitudinal edge section 63c to the knee of the lamellar bodies 63 assume a steep position, so that the knee of each lamellar body extends approximately vertically above the longitudinal edge section 63c of the respective lamellar body 63 and, with the exception of the knee of the uppermost lamellar body , is located slightly above the longitudinal edge portion 63c of the next upper slat body 63. The section or leg of the lamellar bodies 63 between the knee and the longitudinal edge section, not shown, is inclined a little downward away from the longitudinal edge section, not shown. When the Roman blind is in the closed position and the elevator elements are now wound up with the holding and winding device (not shown), these pull the slats 61 upwards starting at the lower end of the store. Each slat is pivoted or tilted clockwise around the axes 77, starting from its closed position shown in FIG. 1 with respect to the connecting members. This swiveling or tilting process begins at the lower end of the store and then propagates upwards in the course of the winding process. When the slats 61 are pulled upwards with the elevator elements, the previously vertical support elements 73 form loops, the connecting members 75 being pivoted about a right angle about the axes 79, starting from their positions in the closed position of the Roman blinds. Successive connecting members 75 fastened to the same support element are alternately pivoted in opposite directions. Accordingly, the loops that follow one another from bottom to top project alternately on different sides of the connecting members. The pivoting of the connecting members 75 about the axes 79 ensures that the support elements 73 form loops of a uniform length in a defined manner and therefore form a regular serpentine line and are not bent or bent excessively anywhere.

When the elevator elements are wound up to the intended end position, the Roman blinds come into their parcel or release position. In this, all the slats 61 are located above the pane or panes of the window (not shown), form a package in the height region of the window lintel and release the area occupied by the window pane or panes for the passage of light. The longitudinal edge portions belonging to the same lamellar body 63 lie in an approximately horizontal plane.

In the package or release position, the clutch elements 83 belonging to a plate 61 also rest on the clutch elements belonging to the respectively adjacent plate 61 or possibly on the longitudinal edge sections of the respectively adjacent plate body 63, so that the longitudinal edge sections of the plate bodies 63 at least in the area of the Connecting members 75 do not rest directly on one another.

Of course, the Roman blind can start again from its package or release position by unwinding the elevator elements be lowered into its closed position. Various intermediate positions are also possible. As a result of the fact that the connecting members 75 can pivot about the axes 79 in positions favorable for the formation of loops of the support elements 73 when the Roman blinds are raised or pulled open, the stress and wear of the support elements when the Roman blinds are raised or opened and of course also again when the Raff slat blind is lowered very low, so that a long service life can also be achieved for the support elements.

As already mentioned, the support elements 73 consist of bands. These have a fabric made of plastic, such as polyester and / or acrylic threads. The fabric is, for example, tubular and is provided with at least one reinforcement strand, namely, for example, two reinforcement strands running in the longitudinal direction of the support elements and arranged in the interior of the hose, which serve to increase the tensile strength and to minimize the changes in length of the support elements that occur as a result of stress and aging hold. The two reinforcement strands contain a core made of plastic fibers, namely the plastic known under the name Aramit and the name Kevlar, and a shell made of another plastic which envelops this core and protects against ultraviolet radiation. The connecting members 75 consist of a plastic-containing material, for example of glass fiber reinforced polyamide. The connecting members can be attached to the previously produced support elements 73 by an injection molding process, the plastic of the connecting members 75 adhering to the support elements and possibly being welded to them more or less. This configuration of the support elements and connecting members makes it possible for the support elements to change their length when the load occurs during their use and as a result of the signs of aging at most about 0.05%. In addition, since the connecting members 75 are rigidly attached to the support elements 73 and, apart from any small elastic deformability that may be present, are themselves dimensionally stable, the longitudinal edge portions 63c of the lamellar bodies 63 can be held in the closed position with respect to one another exactly at the intended heights, so that the lips of the seals mentioned lie against the longitudinal edge sections 63c and that the roman blinds still close properly even after long use.

For the manufacture of the lamellar bodies 63, a sheet metal strip which is originally flat in cross section can be deformed, for example by rolling, in such a way that it acquires the profile shape described, in particular the longitudinal edge sections being flanged. Then the sheet metal strip is cut into pieces according to the intended length of the lamellae and provided with the holes 63h. The joint parts 75b of the connecting members 75, the coupling members 83 and the lamellar bodies 61 can then be connected to one another by snapping into one another.

The Roman blinds can still be modified. For example, the slat body could be made of plastic instead of sheet metal. In this case, the profile shape of the lamellar bodies would not be produced by deforming a band originally flat in cross-section, but rather directly, for example by an extrusion process, the strips or strips having the profile shape of the lamellar bodies. The longitudinal edge sections of the lamellar bodies could either be of the same arch shape as in FIG. 1 or, instead, generally form a bead with a circular cross-section and an outer surface. In the case of the supporting elements, the longitudinal edge sections can have a hole arranged corresponding to the hole 63h for storage with a bearing 83h.

Furthermore, one could attach the connecting members to the supporting elements instead of by casting or in addition with rivets or adhesive, the holding parts of the connecting members possibly being U-shaped and then only partially enclosing the supporting elements.

In the roman blinds shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the slats and supporting elements can be pivoted with respect to one another, apart from the play of the articulated connections, exclusively about two axes which are perpendicular to one another. It would now also be possible to change the articulated connections in such a way that the lamellae and support elements could also be spatially pivoted with respect to one another in a certain angular range.

In the exemplary embodiment of the roman blinds explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the spatial pivotability of the articulated connection could be achieved in that the head 75d of the connecting member 75 and the surface of the pan-like bearing 83a used for its mounting would be spherical, the internal diameter of which, of course, also Neck 75c penetrated opening of the bearing 83a would be made sufficiently larger than the diameter of the pin 75c.

It would also be possible to provide slats that do not have seals. The slat bodies of these slats could then have, for example, instead of the middle sections forming a knee, middle sections which form a flat arc in cross section:

Claims (10)

1. Venetian blind having blades (61), whose longitudinal edge sections (63c) at sides which face away from one another possess, at least in parts, outer surfaces having an arc-shaped cross- section, elongated, flexible supporting elements (73) and connecting organs (75), which have a holding part (75a) fastened to a supporting element (73) and have a joint part (75b) which is connected to this holding part and possesses a neck (75c) and a head (75d) which projects from the axis (79) of the neck (75c) beyond the latter, the joint part (75b) being mounted so that it is rotatable about the stated axis (79), in a bearing (83a) of a coupling organ (83) which passes through a hole (63h) present in one of the blade elements (63) and is held in this hole, characterized in that the coupling organ (83) has a second clamp-like bearing (83b) with sections which each possess a free end, one of the said sections passing through the stated hole (63h), and that the second bearing (83b) surrounds at least part of the stated, arc-shaped outer surface in such a way that the blade element (63) is mounted so that it is rotatable about an axis (77) . parallel to its longitudinal direction.

2. Venetian blind according to Claim 1, characterized in that the second bearing (83b) and/or the stated longitudinal edge section (63c) is springy and the latter is locked in the second bearing (83b).

3. Venetian blind according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the stated holes (63h) in the blade elements (63) are located at the connecting point of the arc-shaped longitudinal edge sections with the middle sections (63a) of the blade elements (63) and are completely surrounded.

4. Venetian blind according to Claim 3, characterized in that the stated holes (63h) in the blade elements (63) are formed by slots having a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the blade.

5. Venetian blind according to any of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the stated, arc-shaped outer surface extends over an arc of more than .180° and, for example, about 270°, and that the second bearing (83b) surrounds the stated arc-shaped outer surface over a central angle measuring more than 180°.

6. Venetian blind according to any of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the joint part (75b) is locked in the first-mentioned bearing (83a).

7. Venetian blind according to Claim 6, in which the first-mentioned bearing (83a) has a hole penetrated by the neck, characterized in that the stated hole possesses, on one side of the axis (79) of the neck (75c), a slot through which the neck (75c) can be snapped in.

8. Venetian blind according to any of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the coupling organs . (83) consist of plastic, for example glass fibre- reinforced polyamide.

9. Venetian blind according to any of Claims 1

to 8, characterized in that the two stated sections of the second, clamp-like bearing (83b) are arc-shaped.

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