EP0954672B1 - Stores de type venitien - Google Patents

Stores de type venitien Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0954672B1
EP0954672B1 EP96939553A EP96939553A EP0954672B1 EP 0954672 B1 EP0954672 B1 EP 0954672B1 EP 96939553 A EP96939553 A EP 96939553A EP 96939553 A EP96939553 A EP 96939553A EP 0954672 B1 EP0954672 B1 EP 0954672B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lift cords
ladder
lift
attached
venetian blind
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 - Lifetime
Application number
EP96939553A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP0954672A1 (fr
Inventor
Ren Judkins
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Individual
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Individual
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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
    • E06B9/28—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with horizontal lamellae, e.g. non-liftable
    • E06B9/30—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with horizontal lamellae, e.g. non-liftable liftable
    • E06B9/303—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with horizontal lamellae, e.g. non-liftable liftable with ladder-tape
    • E06B9/305—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with horizontal lamellae, e.g. non-liftable liftable with ladder-tape with tilting bar and raising cords guided along fixed bar

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a venetian type blind.
  • Venetian type blinds have a series of slats hung on ladders which extend from a headrail to a bottomrail.
  • a pair of lift cords is provided each having one end attached to the bottomrail and then passing through elongated holes in the slats up to and through the headrail.
  • a cord lock is usually provided in the headrail through which the lift cords pass. The cord lock allows the user to maintain the blind in any desired position from fully raised to fully lowered.
  • the slats rest on rungs between rails of the ladders.
  • the blind is in an open position when the rungs are horizontal.
  • To close the blind one lifts one rail while allowing the other to either remain in place or be lowered. This raises one end of each rung tilting the slats.
  • the blind is closed there is typically tension on one rail while the other rail of the ladder is not in tension.
  • the rails originally used for venetian blinds consisted of a fabric tape typically from one to two inches in width.
  • the rungs were also made of fabric strips.
  • the lift cords pass through holes in the slats which were aligned between the rails of the ladder. When the blind was closed, the fabric rails covered the holes. Consequently, there was no concern about light passing through the holes when the blind was in a closed position.
  • Walker in United States Patent No. 2,572,224 discloses slats for a Venetian type blind having a tape type ladder system and two lift cords. One lift cord passes through notches on the inside edges at one end of the slats. The second lift cord passes through notches on the outside edge of the other end of the slats. Each lift cord is positioned behind one of the tape-type ladders. Walker does not disclose any lift mechanism inferring that a standard lift mechanism could be used. In a blind made with Walker's slats the lift cords play no role in maintaining the slats in alignment when the blinds are closed. Rather, the tape-type rails of the ladders maintain the slats in alignment.
  • the blinds are opened and closed by lifting or lowering one of the ladder rails relative to the other.
  • the lateral position of the ladder rails relative to one another remains unchanged at the headrail.
  • Venetian blind slats are conventionally made of aluminium plastic or wood.
  • Cord route holes are normally punched into the slat one at a time while the length is cut.
  • Wood slats are usually cut to length by saws so that punching or machining of the holes is done one unit at a time.
  • punching of holes through wood slats sometimes causes splintering and the areas around the holes are very difficult to paint or seal.
  • lift cords are passed from the bottom rail through the cord holes to the headrail to complete the assembled blind.
  • At least one of the ladder cords which are used to adjust the angular orientation of the slats is received in notches formed in the edges of the slats.
  • the lift cords used to raise and lower the array of slats run along the outer edges of the slats outside the ladder cords.
  • the blind also has a tilt mechanism.
  • I provide a venetian type blind having a bottomrail, headrail and plurality of slats positioned therebetween.
  • the slats are notched to form slots on their inside edge and outside edge to accommodate lift cords.
  • At least four lift cords pass from the bottomrail to the headrail each passing through a slot on the inside edge or outside edge of each slat.
  • At least two preferably cord-type ladders are provided to hold the slats. The ladders are aligned such that the rails of the ladders are adjacent the lift cords and outside the slots cut in the slats.
  • a tilt mechanism to close the blind is provided within the headrail which preferably moves the rails together as the tilt mechanism lifts one rail and lowers the other rail relative to one another. Therefore, the center of gravity of the blind is in the same plane throughout the tilt range.
  • a tube lift may be provided for the lift cords or a cord lock can be provided within the headrail or on the cords outside of the headrail.
  • the first present preferred embodiment is comprised of a headrail 2, two piece bottomrail 3 and 4 and set of slats 6 extending therebetween. If desired, a one piece bottomrail could be used. For purposes of illustration only six slats are shown. However, the blind could have any number of slats and likely would have many more slats than are shown.
  • the slats of this embodiment are symmetrical to a horizontal plane passing through the front and back edges of the slat. Crowned slats may be used in place of these flat slats if desired.
  • the slats are suspended on a cord type ladder 10.
  • the ladder has a front rail 11, rear rail 12 and series of rungs 13 extending therebetween on which these slats rest. As shown most clearly in Figure 7, the bottom ends of the ladders are knotted within the bottomrails 4 and 5 and covered by plugs 42. Cord 40 is provided to tie the bottomrails 4 and 5 together and prevent them from flaring out. At least two front slots 7 are provided on the front edge of each slat 6. A corresponding set of rear slots 9 have been cut into the back edge of slat 6 opposite slots 7. I prefer to have the slots 7 and 9 directly opposite one another as shown in Figure 5. However, one slot could be to the left or right of the other slot.
  • the slots are sized so that lift cords 81, 82, 83 and 84, which are generally identified by reference number 8, and ends of rungs 13 can loosely fit therein.
  • Tilt ladders 10 are positioned near the ends of the blind so that the rails 11 and 12 are adjacent the lift cords.
  • a third tilt ladder is provided at the center of the blind where no lift cords are needed.
  • Slots 7 and 9 preferably have a depth such that only the lift cords 8 and ends of rungs 13 can completely fit therein. Thus, the rails 11 and 12 can never be fully within the slots.
  • the lift cords 8 are shown in chain line in some of the figures so as to distinguish them from the adjacent rails of the tilt ladders or other structures.
  • lift cords 8 should be positioned near either end of the blind in slots on both the front and rear edges of the slats.
  • four lift cords extend from the bottomrail through the headrail.
  • lift cords 81 and 83 extend from the front bottomrail 4 through slots 7 in the front edge of slats 6.
  • Lift cords 82 and 84 extend from the rear bottomrail 5 through slots 9 in the rear edge of slats 6.
  • the lift cords 81, 82, 83 and 84 pass through the headrail 2 exiting on the front right side as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
  • the lift cords 81, 82, 83 and 84 are threaded through the headrail over pulley 38 and into a cord lock 26 provided in the headrail 2.
  • Support plate 36 is provided to attach the cord lock 26 to the headrail 2.
  • the pulley 38 is held in place by support 37.
  • the cords extend through the cord lock to a position outside and at one end of the blinds. Preferably, the cord lock is always engaging the lift cords unless the blind is being raised or lowered.
  • the distal end of the lift cords may be tied together in a ball connector 33. If desired a pull cord 34 having a tassel 35 may be connected to the ball connector 33.
  • the weight of the lift cords extending out of the headrail and the attached tassel can provide sufficient tension to hold the slats in place. Moreover, a weight can be placed in the tassel 35 or connector 33 if needed. If the bottomrail is supported only by the lift cords, the weight of the bottomrail maintains the lift cords in tension. Tension in the lift cord prevents lateral motion of the slats.
  • FIG. 9 An alternative cording arrangement shown in Figures 9 and 10 utilizes two lift cords and pulleys in the bottomrail 14.
  • the distal end of each lift cord 85 and 86 is attached to the headrail via the tilt disk 18 through hole 17. (See Figure 4)
  • the lift cord 85 and 86 is routed from the headrail down the front of the blind, through the front slats 7, over pulleys 88, across the bottomrails 3, 4, under pulley 89 and up the back of the blind through back slots 9 to the headrail.
  • the lift cords can be threaded through the ladder rungs 13 as shown or be alternately laced with the ladder rungs.
  • the cords 85, 86 pass through a cord lock 90 and out of the headrail as shown in Figure 10.
  • the rails of the tilt ladders are only in tension when the blind is fully lowered. Since the rails are on the outside edges of the slats they can fold neatly across the front of the blind when the blind is raised to the position shown in Figure 2. Although such neat folding generally occurs, I prefer to assure that such neat folding always occurs by treating the rails with a permanent pleating or other treatment to provide a memory in the rails so that they will fold in the desired manner.
  • a tilt mechanism 16 is provided to move the rails 11 and 12 of the tilt ladder 10 relative to one another to open and close the blind and also moves the lift cords at the same time.
  • the present preferred tilt mechanism can be seen most clearly by referring to Figures 4, 3, 7, 8, 11, 12 and 13.
  • the tilt mechanism in the preferred embodiment is comprised of a disk 18 to which the rails 11 and 12 of the tilt ladder 10 are connected. There is one disk for each tilt ladder 10.
  • the disks 18 are mounted on tilt rod 19 so that rotation of the tilt rod will turn the disks in unison.
  • the tilt rod is suspended above the base 20 of the headrail by cradles 22. I prefer to provide a bridge 23 on each cradle to prevent the lift cords from getting caught on the cradles.
  • a right angle drive or worm gear drive 24 is provided at one end of tilt rod 19.
  • the drive extends through the headrail 2 to provide a handle 25 which is turned to open and close the blind.
  • Rotation of the disk 18 in either direction lifts one rail 11 or 12 and associated lift cords relative to the other and moves the rails 11 and 12 toward one another. If a two piece bottomrail is used, the front bottomrail will move relative to the rear bottomrail. The same center of gravity should be maintained for the blind through the tilt cycle..
  • the disks can be rotated 100 degrees. As can be seen in Figures 12 and 13, the blind slats 6 will be in a nearly closed position after the disks 18 have been rotated through approximately 90 degrees.
  • the lift cords 8 and the rails 11 and 12 of the tilt ladders 10 are constantly in tension. This contains the slats and prevents them from slipping laterally..
  • the number of tilt ladders which are used will vary according to the width of the blind.
  • the lift cords are routed through pivot holes 17 in the disks 18 located at the point of attachment of the ladder rails 11 and 12. Consequently, rotation of the disk shifts the lift cords transversely and vertically in tandem with the ladder rails and keeps the lift cords under tension.
  • An alignment arm 27 extends from tilt rod 19 through which the lift cords pass to prevent the lift cords from getting caught on the cradles and to present the cords for a uniform entry into the cord lock independent of the tilt angle of the slats.
  • the lift cords 8 pass through the headrail.
  • An alternative is shown in Figures 14 and 15 wherein the lift cords are wound about a tubular drive mechanism 30.
  • the drive mechanism includes an axle 29 around which the lift cords 8 are wound. Winding is done such that the lift cord extending from the front is wound in one direction whereas the lift cord extending from the rear is wound in the opposite direction as shown in Figure 15. Thus, turning of the drive axle 29 will raise or lower the lift cords in the front and back at the same time.
  • a tube lift mechanism such as is disclosed in United States Patent No. 5,184,660 can be adopted for the venetian blind shown in Figures 14 and 15.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Blinds (AREA)

Claims (14)

  1. Store vénitien comprenant :
    un rail supérieur (2) ;
    un rail inférieur (4, 5, 14) ;
    au moins deux échelles de cordons (10) comportant chacune des rails sensiblement parallèles (11, 12) ;
    des cordons de levage (8, 81 à 82) s'étendant entre le rail supérieur (2) et le rail inférieur (4, 5), et comprenant une paire de cordons de levage (81, 82) adjacents à la première échelle (10) et reliés au rail inférieur (4, 5), et une deuxième paire de cordons de levage (83, 84) adjacents à la deuxième échelle (10) ;
    une pluralité de lames (6) supportées sur les échelles, chaque lame (6) comportant une première extrémité et une deuxième extrémité et un bord intérieur et un bord extérieur, et au moins une première encoche (7) sur le bord extérieur ou le bord intérieur à proximité de la première extrémité de la lame, les premières encoches formant un premier jeu d'encoches groupées verticalement, et une deuxième encoche (7) sur le bord intérieur ou le bord extérieur à proximité de la deuxième extrémité de la lame et latéralement espacée de la première encoche, les deuxièmes encoches formant un deuxième jeu d'encoches groupées verticalement, de telle sorte qu'une première échelle (10) soit positionnée à proximité des premières extrémités des lames de telle sorte qu'un rail d'échelle (11) soit positionné à proximité du premier jeu d'encoches, et qu'une deuxième échelle (10) soit positionnée à proximité des deuxièmes extrémités des lames de telle sorte qu'un rail d'échelle (11) soit positionné à proximité du deuxième jeu d'encoches ; et
    un mécanisme d'inclinaison (16) fixé au rail supérieur (2) auquel sont fixées les première et deuxième échelles (10), de telle sorte que, lorsque le store passe d'une position ouverte à une position fermée, les rails (11, 12) de chacune des échelles se déplacent l'un par rapport à l'autre ;
       caractérisé par le fait que :
    l'un de la première paire de cordons de levage (82) s'étend à travers le premier jeu d'encoches (7) et l'un de la deuxième paire de cordons de levage (84) s'étend à travers le deuxième jeu d'encoches (7) ; et
    la première paire de cordons de levage (81, 82) s'engage avec sensiblement chacun des échelons (13) de la première échelle (10) et la deuxième paire de cordons de levage (83, 84) s'engage avec sensiblement chacun des échelons (13) de la deuxième échelle (10), de telle sorte que les rails (11, 12) des échelles (10) se plient sensiblement dans un plan parallèle aux bords des lames (6) lorsque les cordons de levage (81 à 84) tirent les lames (6) les unes vers les autres.
  2. Store vénitien selon la revendication 1, dans lequel chaque lame comporte une troisième encoche (9) opposée à la première encoche (7), et une quatrième encoche (9) opposée à la deuxième encoche (7), un deuxième cordon (81) de la première paire de cordons de levage (81, 82) s'étendant à travers la troisième encoche (9) de chaque lame (6), et un deuxième cordon (83) de la deuxième paire de cordons de levage (83, 84) s'étendant à travers la quatrième encoche (9) de chaque lame (6).
  3. Store vénitien selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les rails d'échelle (11, 12) ont une dimension supérieure à l'ouverture des encoches (7, 9).
  4. Store vénitien selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'engagement des cordons de levage (8, 81 à 84) avec les échelons d'échelle (13) comprend le laçage alterné de cordons de levage avec les échelons d'échelle.
  5. Store vénitien selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'engagement des cordons de levage (8, 81 à 84) avec les échelons d'échelle (13) comprend le fait que chacun des cordons de levage passe à travers au moins l'un des échelons d'échelle.
  6. Store vénitien selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le rail inférieur se compose de deux rails parallèles espacés l'un de l'autre (4, 5), et dans lequel un cordon de levage (81, 83) de chaque paire de cordons de levage est fixé à un rail (5) et un deuxième cordon de levage (82, 84) de chaque paire de cordons de levage est fixé à l'autre rail (4).
  7. Store vénitien selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant également un élément de levage à tube (30) fixé au rail supérieur (2), et auquel sont reliés les cordons de levage (8).
  8. Store vénitien selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant également quatre poulies (88, 89) à l'intérieur du rail inférieur, et positionnées de telle sorte qu'un cordon de levage (85) passe sur chaque poulie.
  9. Store vénitien selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant également un élément de verrouillage de cordon (26) à travers lequel passent les cordons de levage (8, 81 à 84), l'élément de verrouillage de cordon étant toujours engagé sauf si les cordons de levage sont actionnés.
  10. Store vénitien selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le mécanisme d'inclinaison se compose d'un premier élément cylindrique (18) auquel sont fixés les rails (11, 12) de la première échelle (10) ; un deuxième élément cylindrique (18) auquel sont fixés les rails (11, 12) de la deuxième échelle (10) ; un axe (19) fixé entre le première élément cylindrique et le deuxième élément cylindrique ; et des moyens (24) pour faire tourner l'axe (19) et les éléments cylindriques fixés à lui (18).
  11. Store vénitien selon la revendication 10, dans lequel au moins l'un des cordons de levage passe à travers au moins l'un des éléments cylindriques (18).
  12. Store vénitien selon la revendication 10, dans lequel les moyens (24) pour faire tourner l'axe et les éléments cylindriques fixés à lui est l'un parmi un entraínement à angle droit et un entraínement à vis sans fin.
  13. Store vénitien selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 10, dans lequel le mécanisme d'inclinaison comprend :
    un premier disque (16) auquel les rails (11, 12) de la première échelle (10) sont fixés ;
    un deuxième disque (18) auquel les rails (11, 12) de la deuxième échelle (10) sont fixés ;
    un axe (19) fixé entre le premier disque (18) et le deuxième disque (18) ; et
    des moyens (24) pour faire tourner l'axe et les disques fixés.
  14. Store vénitien selon la revendication 13, dans lequel au moins l'un des cordons de levage (8) passe à travers au moins l'un parmi le premier disque et le deuxième disque (18).
EP96939553A 1996-11-11 1996-11-11 Stores de type venitien Expired - Lifetime EP0954672B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1996/017747 WO1998021437A1 (fr) 1996-11-11 1996-11-11 Stores de type venitien

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0954672A1 EP0954672A1 (fr) 1999-11-10
EP0954672B1 true EP0954672B1 (fr) 2003-05-21

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96939553A Expired - Lifetime EP0954672B1 (fr) 1996-11-11 1996-11-11 Stores de type venitien

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0954672B1 (fr)
AU (1) AU7669596A (fr)
DE (1) DE69628343T2 (fr)
WO (1) WO1998021437A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11208841B2 (en) 2017-07-14 2021-12-28 Hunter Douglas Inc. Slats with an improved route hole configuration for use within a covering and related manufacturing methods

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR92322E (fr) * 1967-05-05 1968-10-25 Store vénitien perfectionné
US4951729A (en) * 1989-04-26 1990-08-28 Chi Yu Simon S Venetian blind structure
US5060709A (en) * 1989-10-10 1991-10-29 Newell Co. Infinitely sizable solid slat mini blind

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11208841B2 (en) 2017-07-14 2021-12-28 Hunter Douglas Inc. Slats with an improved route hole configuration for use within a covering and related manufacturing methods

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU7669596A (en) 1998-06-03
DE69628343T2 (de) 2004-06-09
DE69628343D1 (de) 2003-06-26
WO1998021437A1 (fr) 1998-05-22
EP0954672A1 (fr) 1999-11-10

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