EP1111184A2 - Fin de course amovible - Google Patents

Fin de course amovible Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1111184A2
EP1111184A2 EP00310847A EP00310847A EP1111184A2 EP 1111184 A2 EP1111184 A2 EP 1111184A2 EP 00310847 A EP00310847 A EP 00310847A EP 00310847 A EP00310847 A EP 00310847A EP 1111184 A2 EP1111184 A2 EP 1111184A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
release plate
longitudinally
end stop
extending
head rail
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
Application number
EP00310847A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1111184A3 (fr
EP1111184B1 (fr
Inventor
Konrad Welfonder
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Hunter Douglas Industries BV
Original Assignee
Hunter Douglas Industries BV
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hunter Douglas Industries BV filed Critical Hunter Douglas Industries BV
Priority to EP20000310847 priority Critical patent/EP1111184B1/fr
Publication of EP1111184A2 publication Critical patent/EP1111184A2/fr
Publication of EP1111184A3 publication Critical patent/EP1111184A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1111184B1 publication Critical patent/EP1111184B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • E06B9/36—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with vertical lamellae ; Supporting rails therefor

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a releasable end stop for an assembly of carriers and spacers that can be moved longitudinally within a head rail of an architectural covering, such as a covering for an architectural opening, like a window or door, particularly a vertical venetian blind, in order to open and close the covering.
  • an architectural covering such as a covering for an architectural opening, like a window or door, particularly a vertical venetian blind, in order to open and close the covering.
  • Vertical venetian blinds have generally been provided with horizontally-extending head rails, holding a plurality of carriers or travellers that can be moved in spaced apart relationship along the longitudinal length of each head rail.
  • Each carrier has typically supported a vertically-extending louver or slat in such a manner that the consumer of the venetian blind could: i) move the louver along the head rail (e.g., by pulling on a first operating cord or pull cord attached to an active end of the head rail); and ii) also rotate or tilt the louver about its vertical axis (e.g., by pulling on a second operating cord or tilt cord).
  • the carriers in the head rails of vertical blinds have also generally been provided with a plurality of longitudinally-extending spacers which keep the carriers and the louvers, supported by the carriers, in spaced-apart relationship when the carriers and louvers are moved longitudinally along the head rail, apart from each other, to close the blinds and cover their windows.
  • the closed end or leading end of each spacer has been slidably positioned on a smooth horizontal surface within a longitudinally-extending channel or groove of a leading carrier and the open end or trailing end of the spacer has been fixed to an adjacent trailing carrier. See, for example, the carriers and their spacers in US 5 092 386, US 4 887 657, US 4 732 202, US 4 559 670 and US 4 335 775.
  • the most trailing spacer on the most trailing carrier has typically been affixed to the active end of the head rail to keep the most trailing spacer from moving away from the active end (towards the passive other end of the head rail) when the blind has been closed. This has made it difficult to service and clean the parts of the head rail, adjapent the active end. This is because the most trailing carriers, spacers and slats have tended to block access to the head rail adjacent its active end and have not been easy to displace, even temporarily, away from the active end (i.e., longitudinally towards the passive end).
  • a releasable end stop for an assembly of carriers and spacers that can be moved longitudinally within a head rail of an architectural covering, such as a covering for an architectural opening, particularly a vertical venetian blind, to open and close the covering; the end stop comprising:
  • the releasable end stop comprises a pair of tongues that are on a laterally-extending first end surface of an end plug of the active end cap; the first end surface being adjacent to the release plate.
  • the tongues are vertically aligned with each other and with a pair of vertically-aligned, horizontal surfaces of the release plate.
  • each tongue has a hook at a leading edge, and the hooks extend towards each other, particularly where at least one of the tongues can be flexed vertically so that its hook is moved vertically, whereby a horizontal surface of the release plate can then be moved longitudinally over or under the hook to attach or detach the release plate and the end plug, quite particularly where a laterally-extending second end surface of the release plate has a pair of mating, vertically aligned, first notches, adjacent the horizontal surfaces where the first notches can be engaged and held by the hooks by moving the release plate longitudinally against the end plug.
  • both, of the tongues are highly flexible, so that the tongues can be flexed vertically to move their hooks vertically apart, whereby the horizontal surfaces of the release plate can then be moved longitudinally over or under the hooks to attach or detach the release plate from the hooks, by pushing on one vertical side of the release plate in a direction longitudinally away from the active end cap.
  • a head rail for an architectural covering including this releasable end stop and an architectural covering, particularly a vertical venetian blind, including this head rail.
  • Figures 1-10 show a vertical blind 1 having a plurality of conventional (metal, plastic or fabric) vertical louvers or slats 3 suspended from its horizontally- and longitudinally-extending head rail 4. Passive and active end caps 5 and 6, respectively, are provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the head rail 4. An upper marginal portion 7 of each louver 3 is securely suspended vertically from a conventional (preferably plastic) holder 9, each supported by a conventional (preferably plastic) carrier, generally 11, within the head rail 4.
  • a conventional (preferably plastic) carrier generally 11, within the head rail 4.
  • a pair of conventional (preferably thin, stainless steel or plastic), longitudinally-extending elongate spacers, generally 13, are attached to each spacer 11.
  • the leading end 14A of one spacer 13 has been slidably positioned on a smooth surface of each carrier 11, and the trailing end 14B of the other spacer 13 has been fixed to the carrier.
  • the spacers 13 keep the carriers 11 in longitudinally spaced-apart relationship when the carriers are moved longitudinally: i) from an open position, in which they are stacked adjacent the active end cap 6 when the blind 1 is open, ii) towards the passive end cap 5 and a closed position, in which the carriers are spread apart along the length of the head rail 4 when the blind 1 is closed.
  • a conventional pull cord 15 is provided within the active end cap 6.
  • the pull cord 15 is connected by longitudinally-extending draw cords 17 (shown in Figures 7-8) to a leading carrier (not shown) that is closest to the passive end cap 5.
  • the pull cord 15 is adapted to: i) pull the leading carrier toward the passive end cap 5 and thereby pull all the other carriers 11 and the spacers 13 towards the passive end cap to close the blind 1; and ii) also to pull the leading carrier towards the active end cap 6 and thereby to pull the other carriers and spacers towards the active end cap 6 so as to open the blind 1.
  • the active end cap 6 also holds a conventional bead chain 19 which serves as a tilt cord for rotating a conventional longitudinally-extending grooved tilt rod 21 (also shown in Figures 7-8) of the head rail 4, so as to tilt the holders 9 and thereby tilt their louvers 3.
  • a conventional bead chain 19 which serves as a tilt cord for rotating a conventional longitudinally-extending grooved tilt rod 21 (also shown in Figures 7-8) of the head rail 4, so as to tilt the holders 9 and thereby tilt their louvers 3.
  • the active end cap 6 includes an end plug 23 inserted in the active end of the head rail 4.
  • the active end plug 23 includes conventional longitudinally-extending openings, through which the draw cords 17 can pass to the pull cord 15 and through which the tilt rod 21 can pass to a conventional pulley (not shown), around which the bead chain 19 is wound.
  • each carrier 11 has a pair of conventional rollers or wheels 24 on its front and rear.
  • the carrier moves on the rollers 24 along longitudinally-extending tracks 25 on the front and rear of the interior of the head rail 4, along its length, in response to movement of the pull cord 15 and draw cords 17.
  • the head rail 4 and its components are conventional.
  • the structure of the carriers 11, holders 9, spacers 13 and louvers 3 and their controlled longitudinal movement along the length of the head rail 4 and the controlled tilt of the holders 9 and louvers 3 are generally known (e.g., from US patents 4 732 202 and 4 335 775).
  • a releasable end stop is provided in the head rail 4 adjacent the active end cap 6.
  • the releasable end stop 26 includes a longitudinally-movable release plate, generally 27, between the end plug 23 of the active end cap 6 and the trailing spacer 13' of the most trailing carrier 11' as shown in Figures 3-9.
  • the trailing end 14B' of the trailing spacer 13' of the most trailing carrier 11' is affixed in a conventional manner to an adjacent, laterally-extending, first end surface 29 of the release plate 27.
  • the releasable end stop 26 includes a pair of longitudinally-extending, flexible resilient tongues, generally 31, on a laterally-extending second end surface 33 of the active end plug 23, adjacent the release plate 27 as shown in Figures 5-8 and 10.
  • the tongues 31 are vertically aligned with each other and with a pair of vertically aligned horizontal surfaces 34 of the release plate 27.
  • the horizontal surfaces 34 can be on the top and bottom of the release plate 27, or as shown in Figure 9, one or both of such horizontal surfaces 34 can be within a longitudinally-extending hole through the release plate.
  • Each tongue 31 has a hook 35 at its longitudinal end, adjacent the release plate 27, and the hooks 35 of the two tongues extend towards each other.
  • the tongues 31 are adapted to be flexed vertically when the horizontal surfaces 34 of the release plate 27 are moved longitudinally above and below the hooks 35 on the lower and upper tongues respectively as described below, either: i) towards the active end plug 23 to attach the release plate to the active end plug or ii) away from the active end plug to detach the release plate from the active end plug.
  • the hooks 35 are adapted to hold the release plate 27 adjacent the active end plug 23, against longitudinal movement of the release plate away from the active end cap 6 and towards the passive end cap 5 with longitudinal movement of the spacers 13 and carriers 11 away from the active end cap and towards the passive end cap to close the blind 1.
  • the hooks 35 are also adapted to move vertically apart when their tongues 31 are flexed vertically, and thereby to become detached from the release plate 27 so that the release plate can be moved away from the active end cap 6.
  • first notches 37 can be provided in the first end surface 29 of the release plate 27.
  • Each notch is vertically adjacent one of the horizontal surfaces 34 of the release plate where it can be engaged and held by one of the hooks 35 on the flexible tongues 31 of the active end plug 23 simply by moving the release plate 27 longitudinally against the end plug 23.
  • the hooks 35 can engage and detachably hold the first notches 37 when moving the carriers 11 and louvers 3 towards the active end cap 6 to open the blind 1.
  • a downwardly- and laterally-extending tab 39 is preferably provided on the bottom of the release plate 27 and preferably extends below the head rail 4.
  • the tab 39 allows one to grasp easily the release plate 27, beneath the head rail 4, and push the release plate longitudinally away from the active end cap 6 to detach the release plate from the hooks 35 of the flexible tongues 31 of the active end plug.
  • pushing the tab 39 of the release plate 27 away from the active end cap 6 initially causes the upper horizontal surface 34 of the release plate to move along the bottom surface of the upper tongue 31 towards the active end cap 6 and to urge the upper tongue upwardly, as the bottom of the release plate is moved with the tab 39 away from the active end cap 6 and the lower horizontal surface 34 of the release plate moves over the lower hook 35.
  • the release plate 27 can thereafter be moved longitudinally, with the adjacent carriers 11 and louvers 3, further away from the active end cap 6 in order to service or clean the active end of the head rail. Subsequently, the release plate 27 can be moved, with the adjacent carriers 11 and louvers 3, towards the active end cap 6 so that the release plate is engaged and held again by the hooks 35. This can be done simply by pulling on the pull cord 15 to open completely the blind 1.
  • the tongues 31 are made highly flexible, so that their hooks 35 are moved vertically in and out of engagement with the notches 37, to attach and detach the hooks from the release plate 27, and moved longitudinally above and below the horizontal surfaces 34 of the release plate without pushing too hard on the tab 39 or pulling too hard on the pull cord 15.
  • a longitudinally-extending hole 41 also is preferably provided through the release plate 27 to accommodate the draw cords 17.
  • a longitudinally-extending smooth second notch or groove 43 is preferably provided through a rear portion of the release plate 27 as shown in Figures 7-10.
  • the second notch 43 accommodates a mounting member 44 for the tilt rod 21, which member extends longitudinally from the second end surface 33 of the active end plug 23.
  • a frontally-extending projection 45 is provided on the front surface of the release plate 27 as shown in Figures 7-10.
  • the bottom of the projection 45 is horizontal and smooth and is located so as to slide easily along the longitudinally-extending track 25 on the front of the interior of the head rail 4 when the release plate 27 is moved longitudinally.
  • the second notch 43 is preferably adapted also to slide easily along the tilt rod 21 when the release plate 27 is moved longitudinally.
  • the louvers 3 of the vertical blinds 1 could be replaced by other vertical sections of an architectural covering, for example by: i)vertical sections of a conventional drapery fabric or a vaned fabric as described in PCT publication WO 96/35854 or ii) vertical vanes as described in PCT publication WO 96/35881.
  • the blind 1 could have two sets of louvers 3 and, at each longitudinal end, an active end cap 6 with a releasable end stop 26, so that the blind can be closed by moving the sets of louvers towards each other and towards the longitudinal center of the blind, and the blind can be opened by moving each set of louvers towards one of the active end caps.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Blinds (AREA)
EP20000310847 1999-12-14 2000-12-06 Fin de course amovible Expired - Lifetime EP1111184B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20000310847 EP1111184B1 (fr) 1999-12-14 2000-12-06 Fin de course amovible

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP99204295 1999-12-14
EP99204295 1999-12-14
EP20000310847 EP1111184B1 (fr) 1999-12-14 2000-12-06 Fin de course amovible

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1111184A2 true EP1111184A2 (fr) 2001-06-27
EP1111184A3 EP1111184A3 (fr) 2002-06-12
EP1111184B1 EP1111184B1 (fr) 2004-02-25

Family

ID=26073378

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20000310847 Expired - Lifetime EP1111184B1 (fr) 1999-12-14 2000-12-06 Fin de course amovible

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1111184B1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10301929A1 (de) * 2003-01-17 2004-07-29 Vkr Holding A/S Distanzstück und Verschattungseinrichtung, insbesondere Vertikaljalousien oder Vorhang, mit einem solchen Distanzstück
US11746590B2 (en) 2017-01-25 2023-09-05 Hunter Douglas Inc. Vertical cellular drape for an architectural structure

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102007030906A1 (de) 2007-07-03 2009-01-15 Vkr Holding A/S Abstandhalter für einen Laufwagen einer Verschattungsanlage sowie Verschattungsanlage
CN102704813B (zh) * 2012-06-28 2014-08-13 张德华 一种遮阳装置

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3157223A (en) * 1962-12-21 1964-11-17 Verticals Inc Vertical blinds
US4425956A (en) * 1982-05-20 1984-01-17 Graber Industries, Inc. Vertical blind mechanism
DE3620039A1 (de) * 1986-06-14 1987-12-17 Sunteca Sonnenschutz Endwagenstopper fuer vertikaljalousien
US4936369A (en) * 1989-06-01 1990-06-26 Graber Industries, Inc. Vertical blind with louver rotation control
US5351741A (en) * 1993-06-25 1994-10-04 Springs Window Fashions Division, Inc. Vertical blind with releasable carriage latch

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3157223A (en) * 1962-12-21 1964-11-17 Verticals Inc Vertical blinds
US4425956A (en) * 1982-05-20 1984-01-17 Graber Industries, Inc. Vertical blind mechanism
DE3620039A1 (de) * 1986-06-14 1987-12-17 Sunteca Sonnenschutz Endwagenstopper fuer vertikaljalousien
US4936369A (en) * 1989-06-01 1990-06-26 Graber Industries, Inc. Vertical blind with louver rotation control
US5351741A (en) * 1993-06-25 1994-10-04 Springs Window Fashions Division, Inc. Vertical blind with releasable carriage latch

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10301929A1 (de) * 2003-01-17 2004-07-29 Vkr Holding A/S Distanzstück und Verschattungseinrichtung, insbesondere Vertikaljalousien oder Vorhang, mit einem solchen Distanzstück
US11746590B2 (en) 2017-01-25 2023-09-05 Hunter Douglas Inc. Vertical cellular drape for an architectural structure

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1111184A3 (fr) 2002-06-12
EP1111184B1 (fr) 2004-02-25

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