EP2180132A1

EP2180132A1 - Blind device

Info

Publication number: EP2180132A1
Application number: EP07790364A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mamoru Ohishi
Original assignee: Oiles Eco Corp
Current assignee: Oiles Eco Corp
Priority date: 2007-08-14
Filing date: 2007-08-14
Publication date: 2010-04-28
Also published as: CN101802339A; EP2180132A4; CN101802339B; KR101332011B1; KR20100052477A; WO2009022370A1

Abstract

A window blind apparatus 1 includes a frame 2; a plurality of slats 4 respectively extending in a lateral direction X and juxtaposed to each other in a vertical direction Z perpendicular to the lateral direction X in an opening 3 surrounded by the frame 2; a link mechanism 5 for linking the plurality of slats 4 to each other; a raising and lowering mechanism 6 for raising and lowering the plurality of slats 4 in the vertical direction Z, starting with a lowermost slat 4b among the plurality of slats 4; and a tilting means 7 which is disposed on a rear side of an uppermost slat 4a among the plurality of slats 4 in a front-back direction Y perpendicular to the lateral direction X and the vertical direction Z, and which tilts the plurality of slats 4 in an R1 direction and an R2 direction on the basis of the raising and lowering of the slats 4 by the raising and lowering mechanism 6.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a window blind apparatus which is disposed in a window of a building to hinder sight and shut out light for the interior of a room.

BACKGROUND ART

Patent Document 1: JP-A-2004-156289
Window blind apparatuses are known in which a plurality of slats are arranged vertically in a window of a building to hinder sight and shut out natural light or artificial light for the interior of a room by the raising/lowering and tilting of the slats. A raising and lowering device for raising and lowering the slats and a tilting mechanism for tilting the slats are provided in such a window blind apparatus. In addition, also in a window blind apparatus which is installed on the interior side or the exterior side, in a case where the window is fully opened, the plurality of slats superposed on each other and bundled are generally disposed on the ceiling side.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

PROBLEMS THAT THE INVENTION IS TO SOLVE

Incidentally, with the window blind apparatus, the plurality of slats, which, in the full opening of the window, are superposed on each other and bundled so as not to obstruct the field of view through the window and, where necessary, to allow sufficient daylight to be obtained, are preferably disposed on the ceiling side without greatly covering an upper portion of the window. However, there is a possibility that, owing to the occupying space of a slats raising-and-lowering device and a slats tilting mechanism, the upper portion of the window is greatly covered by these bundled slats unless the ceiling is made high.
In addition, in the window blind apparatus, since the tilting of the plurality of slats by the tilting means is effected with a fixed rotating shaft as a center in the front-back direction of the slats, front edge portions of the slats jut out forward, with the result that it is difficult to render the window blind apparatus itself and its installation area compact.
The present invention has been devised in view of the above-described aspects, and its object is to provide a window blind apparatus which is able to eliminate the possibility of the upper portion of the window being greatly covered by the plurality of slats, and which makes it possible to render the window blind apparatus itself and its installation area compact.

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

The window blind apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises: a plurality of slats juxtaposed to each other in a vertical direction; a link mechanism for linking said plurality of slats to each other; a raising and lowering mechanism for raising and lowering said plurality of slats in the vertical direction, starting with a lowermost slat among said plurality of slats; and tilting means disposed on a rear side of said slat and adapted to tilt said plurality of slats on the basis of the raising and lowering of said slats by said raising and lowering mechanism, wherein said tilting means includes a slat supporting mechanism for supporting an uppermost slat among said plurality of slats rotatably and movably in a front-back direction and a moving mechanism which is rotatably connected to said uppermost slat at its rear edge portion located rearwardly of its portion supported by said slat supporting mechanism, said moving mechanism being adapted to move the rear edge portion of said uppermost slat in the vertical direction on the basis of the raising and lowering of said slats by said raising and lowering mechanism, so as to tilt said slats by a relative displacement of the rear edge portion of said uppermost slat in the vertical direction with respect to the portion of the uppermost slat supported by said slat supporting mechanism.
According to the window blind apparatus in accordance with the invention, the tilting means disposed on the rear side of the uppermost slat includes the slat supporting mechanism for supporting the uppermost slat among the plurality of slats rotatably and movably in the front-back direction, as well as the moving mechanism which is rotatably connected to the uppermost slat at its rear edge portion located rearwardly of its portion supported by the slat supporting mechanism, the moving mechanism being adapted to move the rear edge portion of the slat in the vertical direction on the basis of the raising and lowering of the slats by the raising and lowering mechanism, so as to tilt the slats by the relative displacement of the rear edge portion of that slat in the vertical direction with respect to the portion of the uppermost slat supported by the slat supporting mechanism. Therefore, the tilting means can be formed so as to tilt the plurality of slats even if the tilting means is not arranged above the plurality of slats, so that it is possible to prevent the possibility of the upper portion of the window being covered by the plurality of slats. Moreover, when the rear edge portion of the uppermost slat is moved in the vertical direction by the operation of the moving mechanism, the movement of the entire uppermost slat in the vertical direction can be limited by the slat supporting mechanism, while the movement of the entire uppermost slat in the front-back direction can be allowed, making it possible to rearwardly move the uppermost slat which is tilted on the basis of the operation of the tilting mechanism as well as the respective ones of the slats which are connected by means of the link mechanism. Thus, it is possible to render the apparatus itself and its installation area compact. In addition, according to the window blind apparatus in accordance with the invention, by virtue of the relative displacement of the rear edge portion of the slat in the vertical direction with respect to the portion of the uppermost slat supported by the slat supporting mechanism, the slats can be tilted such that the front edge portions of the slats do not jut out greatly toward the front side in conjunction with the tilting of the slats.
In a preferred example of the window blind apparatus in accordance with the invention, said slat supporting mechanism includes a slat supporting member for supporting said uppermost slat rotatably and movably in the front-back direction, and said moving mechanism includes a linearly movable member which is linearly movable in the vertical direction and is rotatably connected to the rear edge portion of said uppermost slat, said rear edge portion being located rearwardly of a portion of said uppermost slat which is supported by said slat supporting member, and a transmitting mechanism for releasably transmitting the operation of said raising and lowering mechanism to said linearly movable member so as to linearly move said linearly movable member in the vertical direction. According to such a preferred example, the linearly movable member can be linearly moved in interlocking relationship with the raising and lowering of the plurality of slats by the raising and lowering mechanism, so that the linearly movable member can be made to undergo a relative displacement in the vertical direction with respect to the slat supporting member.
In another preferred example of the window blind apparatus in accordance with the invention, said slat supporting member supports the portion located between a front edge portion and the rear edge portion of said uppermost slat, and said linearly movable member is connected to the rear edge portion of said uppermost slat.
In still another preferred example of the window blind apparatus in accordance with the invention, said slat supporting member is formed so as to be relatively movable in the front-back direction with respect to said uppermost slat or to be movable in the front-back direction together with said uppermost slat.
In a further preferred example of the window blind apparatus in accordance with the invention, said linearly movable member is disposed with a clearance with said slat supporting member in a lateral direction. According to such a preferred example, the linearly movable member can be linearly moved smoothly so as not to interfere with the slat supporting member.
In a still further preferred example of the window blind apparatus in accordance with the invention, said raising and lowering mechanism has a rotating shaft which rotates so as to raise and lower said plurality of slats, and said transmitting mechanism includes a rack and pinion mechanism for imparting a linearly moving force in the vertical direction to said linearly movable member on the basis of the rotation of said rotating shaft, a sliding mechanism which transmits the rotation of said rotating shaft to said rack and pinion mechanism while undergoing sliding with respect to said rotating shaft to release the transmission of that rotation when a rotational load of a predetermined level or higher has occurred, and a linear-movement inhibiting mechanism for releasably inhibiting the linear movement of said linearly movable member directed upward from a predetermined position. According to such a preferred example, it is possible to appropriately adjust the tilting start timing and the inclination angle of the slats.
In a further preferred example of the window blind apparatus in accordance with the invention, said raising and lowering mechanism includes a flexible elongated member which travels to raise and lower said slats and a coupling mechanism coupling said elongated member to said lowermost slat to allow the traveling of said elongated member to be transmitted to said plurality of slats, said coupling mechanism including an attaching member attached to said elongated member, a coupling arm having one end rotatably coupled to said lowermost slat and another end rotatably coupled to said attaching member so as to couple said attaching member and said lowermost slat, a hampering piece which is formed at the one end of said coupling arm and abuts against said attaching member so as to hamper the rotation of said coupling arm by more than a predetermined amount which occurs when said attaching member is raised relative to said lowermost slat by the traveling of said elongated member.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, it is possible to provide a window blind apparatus which is able to eliminate the possibility of the upper portion of the window being greatly covered by the plurality of slats, and which makes it possible to render the window blind apparatus itself and its installation area compact.
Next, a more detailed description will be given of an embodiment of the present invention on the basis of the embodiment illustrated in the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is an explanatory front elevational view of an embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 is an explanatory plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, with an upper horizontal frame partially omitted;
Fig. 3 is an explanatory vertical cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is an explanatory vertical cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is an explanatory vertical cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 6 is an explanatory vertical cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 7 is an explanatory partial plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 8 is an explanatory partial plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 9 is an explanatory partial plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 10 is an explanatory partial front elevational view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 11 is an explanatory perspective view of mainly a lateral edge portion support in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 12 is an explanatory perspective view of mainly the lateral edge portion support of an uppermost slat in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 13 is an explanatory perspective view of mainly the lateral edge portion support of a lowermost slat in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 14 is an explanatory diagram of mainly a sliding mechanism in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 15 is an explanatory diagram of mainly the sliding mechanism in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;
Figs. 16(a) and 16(b) are explanatory diagrams of mainly other slat supporting members in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 17 is a diagram explaining the operation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 18 is a diagram explaining the operation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 19 is a diagram explaining the operation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 20 is a diagram explaining the operation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 21 is a diagram explaining the operation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1; and
Fig. 22 is an explanatory front elevational view of the state shown in Fig. 19 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In Figs. 1 to 22, a window blind apparatus 1 in accordance with this embodiment is comprised of a frame 2; a plurality of slats 4 respectively extending in a lateral direction X and juxtaposed to each other in a vertical direction Z perpendicular to the lateral direction X in an opening 3 surrounded by the frame 2; a link mechanism 5 for linking the plurality of slats 4 to each other; a raising and lowering mechanism 6 for raising and lowering the plurality of slats 4 in the vertical direction Z, starting with a lowermost slat 4b among the plurality of slats 4; and a tilting means 7 which is disposed on a rear side of an uppermost slat 4a among the plurality of slats 4 in a front-back direction Y perpendicular to the lateral direction X and the vertical direction Z, and which tilts the plurality of slats 4 in an R1 direction and an R2 direction on the basis of the raising and lowering of the slats 4 by the raising and lowering mechanism 6.
As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the frame 2 includes a pair of vertical frames 11 and 12 provided uprightly in such a manner as to extend in the vertical direction Z; an upper horizontal frame 13 bridging upper portions of the pair of vertical frames 11 and 12 and extending in the lateral direction X; and a lower horizontal frame 14 bridging lower portions of the pair of vertical frames 11 and 12 and extending in the lateral direction X. As shown in Figs. 3 and 7, the vertical frame 11 includes an outer frame 15 extending in the vertical direction Z and an inner frame 16 fixed to the outer frame 15 and extending in the vertical direction Z. The outer frame 15 includes an outer frame body 17 of, for example, an L-shape in Fig. 7 and a slat guiding member 18 secured to a forward end portion in the front-back direction Y of the outer frame body 17 and having a slat guiding passage 37 on which a roller 36a provided on the slat 4 is disposed in such a manner as to be capable of traveling in the vertical direction Z. The inner frame 16 is constituted by a plate-like body 19 which is disposed with an interval in the lateral direction X with a plate portion 17a of the outer frame body 17 extending in the front-back direction Y, as shown in Fig. 7, and which is fixed to a plate portion 17b of the outer frame body 17 extending in the lateral direction X, as shown in Fig. 7, the raising and lowering mechanism 6 and the tilting means 7 being mounted on the plate-like body 19. As shown in Fig. 7, rear-edge- portion link members 83 and 84 are arranged to be disposed between the outer frame 15 and the inner frame 16. It should be noted that since the vertical frame 12 is formed in the same way as the vertical frame 11, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
The number of the slats 4 is appropriately set according to the size of the window or the like of the building in which the window blind apparatus 1 is installed as well as the length in the vertical direction Z of the opening 3. Each of the slats 4 includes a slat body 21 which is elongated in the lateral direction X and is curved in a cross-sectionally circular-arc shape, as shown in Fig. 3; a lateral edge portion support 23 attached to one lateral edge portion 22 of the slat body 21 by means of a bolt or the like to support that lateral edge portion 22; and a lateral edge portion support 25 attached to the other lateral edge portion 24 of the slat body 21 by means of a bolt or the like to support that lateral edge portion 24. The lateral edge portion supports 23 and 25 are formed as lateral edge portions of the slat 4. The lateral edge portion supports 23 and 25 may be respectively attached to the lateral edge portions 22 and 24 of the slat body 21 removably by means of a fitting means consisting of projections and recesses in substitution of the bolt or the like, or may be formed integrally with the slat body 21. Since the lateral edge portion supports 23 and 25 are formed in a mutually similar manner, a detailed description will be given hereinunder of the lateral edge portion support 23. As for the lateral edge portion support 25, the reference numeral will be allotted appropriately in the drawings, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
As shown in Figs. 8 and 11, the lateral edge portion support 23 made of a synthetic resin includes a main body 31 which is curved in a cross-sectionally circular-arc shape as in the slat body 21 and which is shorter than the slat body 21 in the horizontal state in the front-back direction Y; a recess 32 which is formed in such a manner as to extend in the front-back direction Y from a front edge 28 of the main body 31 so that pairs of front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74 are disposed therein; and an attaching plate 52 which is secured to a lateral end face 41 on the slat body 21 side of the main body 31 in such a manner as to extend rearwardly of the main body 31 in the horizontal state in the front-back direction Y, and which is attached to the lateral edge portion 22 of the slat body 21. One ends 71 of the front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74 are rotatably attached to a front edge portion 33 of the lateral edge portion support 23 by means of a shaft pin 34 disposed in the recess 32. One ends 81 of the rear-edge- portion link members 83 and 84 are rotatably attached to a rear edge portion 35 of the lateral edge portion support 23 by means of a shaft pin 36 disposed on the attaching plate 52. Both ends of the shaft pin 34 are rotatably fitted in a portion close to the front edge 28 of the main body 31 bifurcated by the formation of the recess 32. The roller 36a, which is disposed in such a manner as to be capable of traveling in the vertical direction Z along the slat guiding passage 37 extending in the vertical direction Z, is fitted to one end (distal end) of the shaft pin 36. The other end of the shaft pin 36 is rotatably attached to the rear edge portion 35 of the attaching plate 52. The respective rear edge portions 35 of the slats 4 are adapted to be guided in the vertical direction Z by the rollers 36a which travel in the vertical direction Z along the slat guiding passage 37. Instead of the recess 32, an elongated hole extending in the front-back direction Y may be formed in the lateral edge portion support 23. Although the shaft pin 34 is supported on both sides by the main body 31 in this embodiment, the shaft pin 34 may be cantilevered, in which case the width in the lateral direction X of the main body 31 can be formed more narrowly. The main body 31 and the attaching plate 52 may be formed integrally with each other.
The recess 32 in the lateral edge portion support 23 in the horizontal state has a length in the front-back direction Y of such a measure that the front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74 in a mutually folded state are disposed in that recess 32.
As particularly shown in Figs. 7 and 12, a lateral edge portion support 23a for supporting the lateral edge portion 22 of the slat body 21 of the uppermost slat 4a includes, in addition to the above-described structure of the lateral edge portion support 23, an attaching plate 53 interposed between the attaching plate 52 and the slat body 21 and attached to the lateral edge portion 22 of the uppermost slat body 21 by a bolt or the like; an interval holding member 54 interposed between the attaching plates 52 and 53 by being disposed on the front edge portion 33 so as to hold a mutual interval in the lateral direction X between the pair of the attaching plate 52 and the attaching plate 53; a support shaft 51 which is disposed between the attaching plates 52 and 53 and is attached at its both ends to the attaching plates 52 and 53 respectively rotatably, and which is supported by a slat supporting member 141 of a slat supporting mechanism 131 rotatably and movably in the front-back direction Y; a bifurcated portion 56 which is integrally formed at the rear edge portion 35 of the attaching plate 53, i.e., on the slat body 21 side surface of that attaching plate 53; and a coupling shaft 55 which is rotatably attached at its both ends to the bifurcated portion 56 and is rotatably coupled to a linearly movable member 161 of a moving mechanism 132. The attaching plate 53, excluding the bifurcated portion 56, is formed in the same way as the attaching plate 52. It should be noted that a rear corner portion on the lateral edge portion support 23a side of the uppermost slat body 21 is removed so that the bifurcated portion 56 is disposed therein.
The support shaft 51 is disposed at a portion between the front edge portion 33 and the rear edge portion 35 of the slat 4 which is in the horizontal state in the front-back direction Y, i.e., in a center-of-gravity portion 39 in this embodiment, and is positioned forwardly of the coupling shaft 55. In addition, the support shaft 51 is disposed upwardly of the front edge 28 and a rear edge 29 of the slat 4 in the vertical direction Z.
The coupling shaft 55 is positioned rearwardly of the support shaft 51 in the front-back direction Y in the case where the slat 4a is in the horizontal state. The coupling shaft 55 is disposed closer to the slat body 21 side than to the support shaft 51 in the lateral direction X. The linearly movable member 161 which is coupled to the coupling shaft 55 thus disposed is disposed with a clearance with the slat supporting member 141 in the lateral direction X, and is thereby disposed linearly movably in the vertical direction Z so as not to interfere with the slat supporting member 141.
As particularly shown in Figs. 9 and 13, a lateral edge portion support 23b for supporting the lateral edge portion 22 of the slat body 21 of the lowermost slat 4b includes, in addition to the above-described construction of the lateral edge portion support 23 shown in Figs. 8 and 11, a coupling pin 61 which is fitted to the attaching plate 52 by being offset from the center-of-gravity portion 39 of the slat 4 toward the front edge 28 side thereof, and which is coupled to the raising and lowering mechanism 6.
It should be noted that the shape of the attaching plate 52 is designed according to the presence or absence of the support shaft 51 and the coupling pin 61 and the positions thereof, and is formed into the shape shown in Figs. 11 to 13, for example.
As particularly shown in Fig. 6, the link mechanism 5 includes the pairs of front-edge-portion link members 73 and 74 which are each rotatably connected at their respective one ends 71 to the front edge portions 33 of the slats 4 that are adjacent to each other in the vertical direction Z, and which are rotatably connected at their other ends 72 to each other through a pin 76 so as to be foldable; the pairs of rear-edge-portion link members 83 and 84 which are disposed in juxtaposition to the pairs of front-edge-portion link members 73 and 74 in the front-back direction Y, and are each rotatably connected at their respective one ends 81 to the rear edge portions 35 of the slats 4 that are adjacent to each other in the vertical direction Z, and which are rotatably connected at their other ends 82 to each other through a pin 86 so as to be foldable; and a specifying means 90 for specifying respective folding directions of the pairs of front-edge-portion link members 73 and 74 and the pairs of rear-edge-portion link members 83 and 84 such that when the pairs of front-edge-portion link members 73 and 74 and the pairs of rear-edge-portion link members 83 and 84 are folded, the respective other ends 72 and 82 of the pairs of front-edge-portion link members 73 and 74 and the pairs of rear-edge-portion link members 83 and 84 are located rearwardly of the respective one ends 71 and 81 in the front-back direction Y.
The one end 71 of an upper front-edge-portion link member 73 between the pair of front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74 is rotatably connected through the shaft pin 34 to the recess 32 of the front edge portion 33 of the lateral edge portion support 23 of an upper slat 4, while the one end 71 of a lower front-edge-portion link member 74 between the pair of front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74 is rotatably connected through the shaft pin 34 to the recess 32 in the front edge portion 33 of the lateral edge portion support 23 of a lower slat 4.
The pairs of front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74 are each rotatably connected to each other at the respective one ends 71 in correspondence with the number of the slats 4 which are adjacent to each other in the vertical direction Z, and are thus linked in a plural number. Such plural pairs of front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74 constitute a front edge link row. The respective ones of the front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74 are constituted by link arms or the like.
The one end 81 of an upper rear-edge-portion link member 83 between the pair of rear-edge- portion link members 83 and 84 is rotatably connected through the shaft pin 36 to the rear edge portion 35 of the upper slat 4, while the one end 81 of a lower rear-edge-portion link member 84 between the pair of rear-edge- portion link members 83 and 84 is rotatably connected through the shaft pin 36 to the rear edge portion 35 of the lower slat 4.
The pairs of rear-edge- portion link members 83 and 84 are each rotatably connected to each other at the respective one ends 81 in correspondence with the number of the slats 4 which are adjacent to each other in the vertical direction Z, and are thus linked in a plural number. Such plural pairs of rear-edge- portion link members 83 and 84 constitute a rear edge link row. The respective ones of the rear-edge- portion link members 83 and 84 are constituted by link arms or the like.
In order to specify the respective folding directions of the pair of front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74 and the pair of rear-edge- portion link members 83 and 84, the specifying means 90 includes hampering pieces 75 and 85 which are respectively provided integrally at the other end 72 of the front-edge-portion link member 74 and the other end 82 of the rear-edge-portion link member 84, and which respectively hamper the mutual rotation of the pair of front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74 by more than a predetermined amount and the mutual rotation of the pair of rear-edge- portion link members 83 and 84 by more than a predetermined amount by respectively coming into contact with the other end 72 of the front-edge-portion link member 73 and the other end 82 of the rear-edge-portion link member 83.
As the mutual rotation of the pair of front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74 by more than a predetermined amount is hampered by the hampering piece 75, even in a case where the pairs of front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74 are extended, as shown in Fig. 19, a bending angle θ1 of less than 180 degrees is maintained therebetween. As for the pair of rear-edge- portion link members 83 and 84, as their mutual rotation by more than a predetermined amount is hampered by the hampering piece 85, even in a case where the pairs of rear-edge- portion link members 83 and 84 are extended, as shown in Fig. 19, a bending angle θ2 of less than 180 degrees, which is equivalent to the bending angle between the pair of front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74, is maintained therebetween.
It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the specifying means 90 includes the hampering piece 75 which is integrally provided at the other end 72 of the front-edge-portion link member 74 and the hampering piece 85 which is integrally provided at the other end 82 of the rear-edge-portion link member 84. In substitution thereof, however, the specifying means 90 may include a hampering piece which is integrally provided at the other end 72 of the front-edge-portion link member 73 and hampers the mutual rotation of the pair of front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74 by more than a predetermined amount by coming into contact with the other end 72 of the front-edge-portion link member 74, as well as a hampering piece which is integrally provided at the other end 82 of the rear-edge-portion link member 83 and hampers the mutual rotation of the pair of rear-edge- portion link members 83 and 84 by more than a predetermined amount by coming into contact with the other end 82 of the rear-edge-portion link member 84.
As shown in Figs. 2 to 5 and 7 to 9, the raising and lowering mechanism 6 disposed rearwardly of the plurality of slats 4 in the front-back direction Y includes an ended chain 101 serving as a flexible elongated member, a coupling mechanism 102 coupling one end 98 of the chain 101 to the coupling pin 61 of the lowermost slat 4b, and a traveling means 103 for causing the chain 101 to travel in A and B directions.
The traveling means 103 includes a sprocket wheel 104 serving as a rotator around which the chain 101 is wound so as to be engaged therewith and which is rotatable in r1 and r2 directions; a rotating shaft 105 of a cross-sectionally hexagonal shape to which the sprocket wheel 104 is secured, and which extends in the lateral direction X and is supported by the inner frame 16 rotatably in the r1 and r2 directions; and an electric motor 106 with a reducer which is connected to the rotating shaft 105 and serves as a rotational power source for rotating the rotating shaft 105 by being operated. As the electric motor 106 is operated, the traveling means 103 is adapted to rotate the rotating shaft 105 in the r1 and r2 directions, which rotation, in turn, rotates the sprocket wheel 104 in the r1 and r2 directions, causing the chain 101 to travel in the A and B directions by this rotation.
In order to allow the traveling of the chain 101 to be guided in the vertical direction Z, the chain 101 is sandwiched by each pair of guide protrusions 111 and 112 formed integrally with the inner frame 16 and extending in the vertical direction Z, so as to prevent unnecessary deflection thereof.
The chain 101 is pressed by a chain presser 113 which is disposed around the sprocket wheel 104 above the guide protrusions 111 and 112 and is fixed to the inner frame 16, so as to prevent unnecessary deflection thereof. The other end 99 of the chain 101 disposed rearwardly of the one end 98 of the chain 101 in the front-back direction Y is a free end, and a projection 223 of the tilting means 7 is attached to this other end. As the chain 101 travels in the A direction, the chain 101 is adapted to lower the one end 98 and raise the other end 99. Meanwhile, as the chain 101 travels in the B direction, the chain 101 is adapted to raise the one end 98 and lower the other end 99. The guide protrusions 111 and 112, which extend from an upper end to a lower end of the vertical frame 11, are partially removed in a discontinuous manner at those portions where the chain presser 113 is disposed, and the chain presser 113 is disposed in those portions where the guide protrusions 111 and 112 are removed, so as to be able to press the chain 101 around the sprocket wheel 104.
The sprocket wheel 104 and the rotating shaft 105 are disposed rearwardly of the plurality of slats 4 in the front-back direction Y, and are disposed downwardly of the uppermost slat 4a and the slat supporting member 141 in the vertical direction Z.
The coupling mechanism 102 includes a plate-like attaching member 116 attached to the one end 98 of the chain 101; a coupling arm 120 having one end 118 rotatably coupled to the coupling pin 61 and another end 119 rotatably coupled to the attaching member 116 through a shaft pin 117 so as to couple the attaching member 116 and the slat 4b; a hampering piece 121 which is integrally formed at the other end 119 of the coupling arm 120 and hampers the rotation of the coupling arm 120 with respect to the attaching member 116 by more than a predetermined amount; and a rolling roller 123 which is rotatably fitted to the attaching member 116 and is disposed in a guide passage 122 formed by the one guide protrusion 111 and the other guide protrusion 111 and extending in the vertical direction Z so as to travel along that guide passage 122. The coupling mechanism 102 is moved in the vertical direction Z while being guided by the rolling roller 123 which travels along the guide passage 122 by the traveling of the chain 101 in the A and B directions, so as to move the lowermost slat 4b in the vertical direction Z by this movement.
On the vertical frame 12 side as well, the raising and lowering mechanism 6 includes a chain, a sprocket wheel, and a coupling mechanism which are formed in the same way as the chain 101, the sprocket wheel 104, and the coupling mechanism 102 on the vertical frame 11 side, and is adapted to raise and lower the slat 4b on the basis of the rotation of the rotating shaft 105 by the operation of the electric motor 106. The rotating shaft 105 extends in the lateral direction X from the vertical frame 11 to the vertical frame 12, and is also secured to the sprocket wheel on the vertical frame 12 side which is formed in the same way as the sprocket wheel 104.
With the above-described raising and lowering mechanism 6, the electric motor 106 is operated to rotate the sprocket wheel 104 in the r1 direction through the rotating shaft 105, which rotation causes the chain 101 to travel in the A direction, and the lowermost slat 4b is lowered through the coupling mechanism 102 by this traveling. Thus, the plurality of slats 4 are lowered, starting with the lowermost slat 4b. On the other hand, the electric motor 106 is operated to rotate the sprocket wheel 104 in the r2 direction through the rotating shaft 105, which rotation causes the chain 101 to travel in the B direction, and the lowermost slat 4b is raised through the coupling mechanism 102 by this traveling. Thus, the plurality of slats 4 are raised, starting with the lowermost slat 4b.
As shown in Figs. 2 to 5, 7, 8, and 10, the tilting means 7 includes the slat supporting mechanism 131 for supporting the uppermost slat 4a rotatably and movably in the front-back direction Y, as well as the moving mechanism 132 which is rotatably connected to the slat 4a at its portion (rear edge portion 35 of the slat 4a) located rearwardly of its portion (center-of-gravity portion 39 of the slat 4a) supported by the slat supporting mechanism 131, the moving mechanism 132 being adapted to move the rear edge portion 35 of the slat 4a in the vertical direction Z on the basis of the raising and lowering of the slats 4 by the raising and lowering mechanism 6, so as to tilt the slat 4a by the relative displacement of the rear edge portion 35 in the vertical direction Z with respect to the center-of-gravity portion 39 of the slat 4a supported by the slat supporting mechanism 131.
As shown in Figs. 4, 5, 7, and 10, the slat supporting mechanism 131 includes the slat supporting member 141 for supporting the uppermost slat 4a rotatably and movably in the front-back direction Y, as well as an attaching means for attaching the slat supporting member 141 to the vertical frame 11, i.e., in this embodiment, an attaching means 142 for attaching the slat supporting member 141 to the inner frame 16 movably in the vertical direction Z in a predetermined range.
The slat supporting member 141 includes a plate-like main body 147 projecting in the front-back direction Y from an attaching portion 145, which is attached to the inner frame 16 by the attaching means 142, to the center-of-gravity portion 39 of the slat 4a, as well as a coupling portion 148 provided on the main body 147 and coupled to the support shaft 51 of the slat 4a.
The coupling portion 148 is disposed at a projecting portion 146 of the main body 147 which projects as mentioned above. The coupling portion 148 in this embodiment has an elongated hole 149 into which the support shaft 51 is inserted and which extends in the front-back direction Y. The support shaft 51 of the slat 4a, which is inserted in the elongated hole 149, is movable in the front-back direction Y along the elongated hole 149, and the movement of the support shaft 51 in the front-back direction Y relative to the slat supporting member 141, accompanying the linear movement of the rear edge portion 35 of the slat 4a in the vertical direction Z, is allowed, while its movement in the vertical direction Z relative to the slat supporting member 141 is inhibited by its abutment against the main body 147 in which the elongated hole 149 is defined. Additionally, the support shaft 51 is rotatably disposed in the elongated hole 149.
As the support shaft 51 is disposed in the elongated hole 149, the slat supporting member 141 which is attached to the vertical frame 11 by the attaching means 142 supports the salt 4a rotatably and movably in the front-back direction Y.
It should be noted that since the moving range of the support shaft 51 of the slat 4a in the front-back direction Y is limited to a predetermined range in the light of its relationship with the linear movement of the rear edge portion 35 of the slat 4a in the vertical direction Z, the coupling portion 148 may have, instead of the elongated hole 149, a slit 149a which extends in the front-back direction Y and is open at a projecting end 146a of the main body 147, as shown in the part (a) of Fig. 16. Further, the slat supporting member 141 may have, instead of the coupling portion 148, a coupling portion 148a which is coupled to the support shaft 51 of the slat 4a so as to inhibit the movement of the slat 4a in the front-back direction Y relative to the slat supporting member 141, as shown in the part (b) of Fig. 16. In such a case, the slat supporting mechanism 131 may have, instead of the attaching means 142, an attaching means (not shown) for attaching the slat supporting member 141 to the vertical frame 11 so that the slat supporting member 141 becomes movable in the front-back direction Y relative to the vertical frame 11, and the slat supporting member 141 having the aforementioned coupling portion, which is attached to the vertical frame 11 by that attaching means, is made movable in the front-back direction Y together with the uppermost slat 4a. Alternatively, as shown in the part (b) of Fig. 16, elongated holes 142a each extending in the front-back direction Y are formed in the attaching portion 145 so that the slat supporting member 141 itself becomes movable in the front-back direction Y relative to the attaching means 142, and the slat supporting member 141 is attached to the vertical frame 11 through these elongated holes 142a by means of the attaching means 142.
The attaching means 142 in this embodiment includes a pair of rollers 151 serving as attaching members which are fixed to the attaching portion 145 of the slat supporting member 141, which are fitted to those portions of the one guide protrusions 111 and 112 that are above the chain presser 113 so as to be guided in the vertical direction Z, and which are movable in the vertical direction Z, as well as a limiting means 152 for limiting further lowering of the slat supporting member 141 below a predetermined position with respect to the vertical frame 11. Since the pair of rollers 151 are disposed above the chain presser 113, the pair of rollers 151 do not interfere at all with the chain 101 which is disposed below the chain presser 113.
The limiting means 152 in this embodiment is embodied by an abutment surface 153 constituted by an end face of a fixing member 184 which is disposed below the slat supporting member 141 in the vertical direction Z. This abutment surface 153 is disposed such that, when the slat supporting member 141 is at a predetermined position to which the slat supporting member 141 has been lowered by a predetermined amount with respect to the vertical frame 11, the abutment surface 153 abuts against the slat supporting member 141 to limit further lowering thereof below the aforementioned position by this abutment. It should be noted that the lifting of the slat supporting member 141 by more than a predetermined amount is limited by abutment of the slat supporting member 141 against the upper horizontal frame 13.
The attaching means 142 attaches the slat supporting member 141 in the vertical direction Z by the pair of rollers 151, and limits the movement of the slat supporting member 141 in the vertical direction Z to a predetermined range by the limiting means 152.
It should be noted that, in substitution of the attaching means 142 which allows the movement of the slat supporting member 141 in a predetermined range in the vertical direction Z, the slat supporting mechanism 131 may have an attaching means such as a fixing screw for coupling the slat supporting member 141 to the vertical frame 11 immovably in the vertical direction Z. In such a case, the limiting means 152 may be omitted.
The moving mechanism 132 includes the linearly movable member 161 which is linearly movable in the vertical direction Z and is rotatably connected to the rear edge portion 35 of the slat 4a, the rear edge portion 35 being located rearwardly of the center-of-gravity portion 39 supporting the slat 4a by the slat supporting member 141; a guide means 162 for guiding the linearly movable member 161 in the vertical direction Z; an inhibiting means 164 for inhibiting further lowering of the linearly movable member 161 below a predetermined position; and a transmitting mechanism 163 for releasably transmitting the operation of the raising and lowering mechanism 6 to the linearly movable member 161 so as to linearly move the linearly movable member 161 in the vertical direction Z.
The linearly movable member 161 includes a substantially rectangular plate-shaped main body 171 disposed with a clearance with respect to the slat supporting member 141 in the lateral direction X and supported by the inner frame 16 through the guide means 162 linearly movably in the vertical direction Z, as well as a coupling portion 172 provided at an upper front portion of the main body 171 and rotatably coupled to the rear edge portion 35 of the slat 4a.
The coupling portion 172 includes a projecting portion 175 which is integrally provided at the upper front portion of the main body and projects forward up to the rear edge portion 35 of the slat 4a, as well as a recess 176 formed in a projecting end 175a of the projecting portion 175. The coupling shaft 55 is rotatably disposed in the recess 176.
The guide means 162 includes an elongated hole 181 formed in the main body 171 and extending in the vertical direction Z, a pair of rollers 182 and 183 fittingly inserted in the elongated hole 181, the fixing member 184 interposed between the chain presser 113 and the linearly movable member 161 and fixing the pair of rollers 182 and 183 to the inner frame 16, and a sliding contact plate 186 which is fitted to distal ends of the rollers 182 and 183 and is in contact with the linearly movable member 161 slidably in the vertical direction Z.
The pair of rollers 182 and 183 are adapted to guide the linearly movable member 161 in the vertical direction Z in the elongated hole 181.
The fixing member 184 includes a plate-like main body 191 which is interposed between the chain presser 113 and the linearly movable member 161 in the lateral direction X and to which the pair of guide rollers 182 and 183 are attached; a fixing plate portion 192 which is integrally provided at an upper end of the plate-like main body 191, extends to the inner frame 16, and is fixed to that inner frame 16 by means of a bolt or the like; a fixing plate portion 193 which is integrally provided at a lower end of the plate-like main body 191, extends to the inner frame 16, and is fixed to that inner frame 16 by means of a bolt or the like; and an insertion hole 194 through which the rotating shaft 105 is inserted and which is formed in the plate-like main body 191. The fixing plate portion 192 is fixed to the inner frame 16 above the chain presser 113, while the fixing plate portion 193 is fixed to the inner frame 16 below the sprocket wheel 104.
The inhibiting means 164 has a rolling element 185 serving as an inhibiting member which is provided at un upper rear portion of the main body 171 and which, when the linearly movable member 161 is at a predetermined position, abuts against the fixing member 184 to thereby inhibit its further lowering below that position.
The transmitting mechanism 163 includes a rack and pinion mechanism 201 for imparting a linearly moving force in the vertical direction Z to the linearly movable member 161 on the basis of the rotation of the rotating shaft 105; a sliding mechanism 199 which transmits the rotation of the rotating shaft 105 to the rack and pinion mechanism 201 while undergoing sliding with respect to the rotating shaft 105 to release the transmission of that rotation when a rotational load of a predetermined level or higher has occurred; and a linear-movement inhibiting mechanism 200 for releasably inhibiting the linear movement of the linearly movable member 161 directed upward from the predetermined position.
The rack and pinion mechanism 201 has a rack 203 formed on the linearly movable member 161 and extending in the vertical direction Z and a pinion 204 meshing with the rack 203 and adapted to impart a linearly moving force to the linearly movable member 161 in the vertical direction Z through the rack 203 by the rotation based on the operation of the raising and lowering mechanism 6. The pinion 204 is rotatably disposed in an elongated hole 205 formed in the main body 171 of the linearly movable member 161 in such a manner as to extend in the vertical direction Z. The pinion 204 is fitted to the rotating shaft 105 through a bearing 206, and is rotatable relative to the rotating shaft 105. The rack 203 is formed on a prescribed surface 207 of the main body 171, which surface defines the elongated hole 205 and extends in the vertical direction Z. Such a rack and pinion mechanism 201 is so adapted that when the rotation of the rotating shaft 105 is transmitted to the pinion 204 through the sliding mechanism 199, the pinion 204 is rotated, which rotation causes the rack 203 to move in the vertical direction Z, thereby causing the linearly movable member 161 to linearly move in the vertical direction Z.
As particularly shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the sliding mechanism 199 includes a substantially hollow cylindrical rotating body 211 secured to the rotating shaft 105 so as to rotate together with the rotation of the rotating shaft 105; a coil spring 212 which is in frictional contact with the rotating body 211 by being wound around an outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 211; a retaining portion 215 with a C-shaped cross section which is larger in diameter than the rotating body 211 and is disposed so as to cover the rotating body 211 and the coil spring 212, and which retains one end 213 and the other end 214 of the coil spring 212; and a hollow disk-shaped securing portion 218 for integrally securing a side surface 216 of the retaining portion 215 to a side surface 217 of the pinion 204.
The coil spring 212 is adapted to be reduced in diameter by the rotation of the rotating body 211 and to be rotated together with that rotating body 211. Further, in a case where a rotational load of a predetermined level or higher has occurred to the coil spring 212, the coil spring 212 is adapted to undergo sliding with respect to the rotating body 211 so as not to rotate. The rotation of the coil spring 212 is transmitted to the pinion 204 through the retaining portion 215 and the securing portion 218. The rotational force from the one end 213 and the other end 214 of the coil spring 212 is adapted to be transmitted to the retaining portion 215.
The linear-movement inhibiting mechanism 200 includes a pin 219 secured to the linearly movable member 161; a latching member 221 which is latched to the pin 219 to releasably inhibit the lifting of the linearly movable member 161, and which is rotatably fixed to the fixing plate portion 193 of the fixing member 184 through a shaft pin 220; a torsion coil spring 222 serving as an urging member for urging the latching member 221 so as to maintain the state in which the latching member 221 is latched to the pin 219; and the projection 223, shown in Figs. 18 and 19, which is attached to the other end 99 of the chain 101 and abuts against the latching member 221 to rotate the latching member 221 against the urging force of the torsion coil spring 222, so as to release the state of the latching member 221 being latched to the pin 219. The torsion coil spring 222 has one end retained by the latching member 221 and the other end latched by the fixing member 184, and is wound around the shaft pin 220.
The latching member 221 includes a latching member body 231; a pawl portion 232 which is integrally provided at an upper end of the latching member body 231 and is releasably engaged with the pin 219; an abutment surface 233 which is disposed so as to abut against the projection 223, and is constituted by a rear edge face in the front-back direction Y of the latching member body 231; and a hampering portion 234 provided integrally at a lower end of the latching member body 231 and adapted to abut against the guide protrusion 111 of the vertical frame 11 so as to hamper excessive rotation of the latching member 221 about the shaft pin due to the urging by the torsion coil spring 222.
As shown in Fig. 18, as the projection 223, which is raised by the traveling of the chain 101 in the A direction, is abutted against the abutment surface 233, the latching member 221 is pressed toward a D direction and is adapted to rotate about the shaft pin 220 to disengage the pawl portion 232 from the pin 219, to thereby release the inhibition of the lifting of the linearly movable member 161.
In the opening open state of the window blind apparatus 1 in which the opening 3 is open, as shown in Fig. 3, the plurality of slats 4 are overlapped with each other and bundled in an upper portion of the opening 3; the front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74 constituting the front edge link row are folded and disposed in the recess 32, as shown in Fig. 6; the rear-edge- portion link members 83 and 84 constituting the rear edge link row are folded in such a manner as to project rearwardly of the plurality of slats 4 in the front-back direction Y, and are disposed between the outer frame 15 and the inner frame 16, as shown in Fig. 6; the slat supporting member 141 is disposed at a position away from the abutment surface 153 in a state in which the slat supporting member 141 is lifted up by the slat 4 below the uppermost slat 4a, as shown in Fig. 4; and the linearly movable member 161 is disposed in a lateral end portion of the upper horizontal frame 13 by being lifted up by the lower slat 4 adjacent to the uppermost slat 4a in the vertical direction Z. It should be noted that the slat supporting member 141 may be lifted up by abutting against the slat 4 below the uppermost slat 4a, or may be lifted up by the slat 4 below the uppermost slat 4a through the slat 4a abutting at its front edge portion 33 against the front edge portion 33 of that lower slat 4 and through the linearly movable member 161 abutting against the rear edge portion 35 of that lower slat 4. In addition, simultaneously as the slat supporting member 141 is lifted up by abutting against the slat 4 below the slat 4a, the slat supporting member 141 may be lifted up by that lower slat 4 through the slat 4a and the linearly movable member 161.
In the opening closed state of the window blind apparatus in which the opening 3 is closed, as shown in Fig. 19, the front edge 28 of the uppermost slat 4a abuts against the rear edge portion 35 of the slat 4 adjacent to that slat 4a; the rear edge portion 35 of the lowermost slat 4b is adjacent to the front edge 28 of the slat 4 adjacent to that slat 4b; the front edges 28 of the plurality of slats 4 between the slat 4a and the slat 4b respectively abut against the rear edge portions 35 of the slats 4 adjacent thereto, while the rear edge portions 35 of the plurality of slats 4 respectively abut against the front edges 28 of the slats 4 adjacent thereto; the front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74 constituting the front edge link row and the rear-edge- portion link members 83 and 84 constituting the rear edge link row are respectively extended; the slat supporting member 141 is disposed at the position where it abuts against the abutment surface 153 after having been lowered by being subjected to the load of the plurality of slats 4 and the link mechanism 5; and the linearly movable member 161 is disposed at the highest position among the respective positions in the vertical direction Z in which the linearly movable member 161 is disposed in its linear movement.
Next, referring to the drawings, a detailed description will be given of the operation concerning the closing of the opening 3 by the window blind apparatus 1 in accordance with this embodiment.
First, in the window blind apparatus 1 in the opening open state shown in Fig. 3, the electric motor 106 is operated to rotate the rotating shaft 105 in the r1 direction, thereby causing the chain 101 to travel in the A direction through the sprocket wheel 104. As a result of the traveling of the chain 101 in the A direction, the lowermost slat 4b connected to the one end 98 of the chain 101 through the coupling mechanism 102 and the plurality of slats 4 connected to that slat 4b through the link mechanism 5 are lowered. In conjunction with the lowering of the plurality of slats 4, the slat supporting member 141 is lowered until that slat supporting member 141 abuts against the abutment surface 153 and its lowering is limited. Although a rotational force in the r1 direction is imparted to the coil spring 212 by the rotation of the rotating shaft 105 in the r1 direction, since the latching member 221 is latched to the pin 219, as shown in Fig. 3, the coil spring 212 only undergoes sliding with respect to the rotating body 211 without being rotated in the r1 direction. Hence, the linearly movable member 161 assumes a state in which an upwardly-directed linearly moving force is imparted thereto through the transmitting mechanism 163, but does not undergo an upwardly-directed linear movement, and the rear edge portion 35 of the slat 4a is also not moved in the vertical direction Z. Since the slat supporting member 141 is lowered together with the plurality of slats 4, as described above, the center-of-gravity portion 39 of the slat 4a is also lowered while being moved backward in the front-back direction Y. This lowering causes the center-of-gravity portion 39 and the rear edge portion 35 of the slat 4a to produce a relative displacement in the vertical direction Z, with the result that such a slat 4a is tilted in the R1 direction. The tilting of the slat 4a caused by the lowering of the slat supporting member 141 is stopped by the abutment of the slat supporting member 141 against the abutment surface 153.
The uppermost pair of front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74 and the uppermost pair of rear-edge- portion link members 83 and 84, which connect the uppermost slat 4a supported by the slat supporting member 141 whose lowering below a predetermined position is limited by its abutment against the abutment surface 153 and the slat 4 below that slat 4a, are extended as the plurality of slats 4 below the uppermost slat 4a are further lowered. The pairs of front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74 and the pairs of rear-edge- portion link members 83 and 84 below the aforementioned front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74 and rear-edge- portion link members 83 and 84 are also consecutively extended. In consequence, overlappings of the plurality of slats 4 are consecutively canceled, starting with the upper slats 4, as shown in Fig. 17.
As shown in Fig. 18, when all the pairs of front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74 and pairs of rear-edge- portion link members 83 and 84 are extended, the projection 223, which is raised by the traveling of the chain 101 in the A direction, abuts against the abutment surface 233 of the latching member 221. When the projection 223 abutting against that abutment surface 233 is further raised by the traveling of the chain 101 in the A direction, the abutment surface 233 is pressed toward the D direction to rotate the latching member 221, which rotation releases the state of the latching member 221 being latched to the pin 219, as shown in Fig. 18. Thus, the inhibition of the upwardly-directed linear movement of the linearly movable member 161 is released. The linearly movable member 161 whose inhibition of the upwardly-directed linear movement is thus released is linearly moved upward in the vertical direction Z by the upwardly-directed linearly moving force wherein the rotation of the rotating shaft 105 in the r1 direction is transmitted to the linearly movable member 161 through the sliding mechanism 199 and the rack and pinion mechanism 201. This linear movement causes the linearly movable member 161 to undergo a relative displacement in the vertical direction Z with respect to the slat supporting member 141, which displacement causes the linearly movable member 161 to be disposed further upwardly of the slat supporting member 141, thereby causing the slat 4a to be also tilted further in the R1 direction.
In the case where all the pairs of front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74 and pairs of rear-edge- portion link members 83 and 84 are extended, as described above, if the chain 101 is caused to further travel in the A direction, the attaching member 116 of the coupling mechanism 102 is further lowered relative to the lowermost slat 4b to cause the coupling arm 120 to undergo a rotation in the F direction, which rotation causes the slat 4b to move backward in the front-back direction Y. It should be noted that the upwardly-directed linear movement of the linearly movable member 161, which is based on the release of the inhibition of the linear movement by the linear-movement inhibiting mechanism 200, and the rotation of the coupling arm 120 in the F direction are designed to be started synchronously in this embodiment (particularly in the design of the length of the chain 101 from the one end 98 to the other end 99 with the projection 223 provided thereon).
When the coupling mechanism 102 is lowered and is disposed at its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 19, the traveling of the chain 101 in the A direction is stopped, and this stop of traveling terminates the rotation of the coupling arm 120 in the F direction and the upwardly-direction linear movement of the linearly movable member 161. In the above-described manner, the window blind apparatus 1 is set in the opening closed state shown in Figs. 19 and 22.
Next, referring to the drawings, a detailed description will be given of the operation concerning the opening of the opening 3 by the window blind apparatus 1 in accordance with this embodiment.
First, in the window blind apparatus 1 in the opening closed state shown in Fig. 19, the electric motor 106 is operated to rotate the rotating shaft 105 in the r2 direction, thereby causing the chain 101 to travel in the B direction through the sprocket wheel 104. As a result of the traveling of the chain 101 in the B direction, the lowermost slat 4b connected to the one end 98 of the chain 101 through the coupling mechanism 102 is raised, as shown in Fig. 20. The rotation of the rotating shaft 105 in the R2 direction is transmitted to the linearly movable member 161 as a downwardly-directed linearly moving force through the sliding mechanism 199 and the rack and pinion mechanism 201. The linearly movable member 161 with this linearly moving force transmitted thereto moves linearly downward and undergoes a relative displacement with respect to the slat supporting member 141. The uppermost slat 4a is thereby tilted in the R2 direction, as shown in Fig. 20, and the plurality of slats 4 below the slat 4a are also tilted in the R2 direction in the same way as the slat 4a as the tilting force of the slat 4a is transmitted thereto through the link mechanism 5. When the plurality of slats 4 are tilted in the R2 direction in conjunction with the traveling of the chain 101 in the B direction, the coupling arm 120 is also rotated in a G direction opposite to the F direction to thereby move the plurality of slats 4 forward in the front-back direction Y. When the coupling arm 120 is rotated by a predetermined amount in the G direction, that rotation is hampered by the abutment of the hampering piece 121 against the attaching member 116, so that the coupling arm 120 thus hampered is set in a substantially horizontal state.
The lowermost pair of front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74 and the lowermost pair of rear-edge- portion link members 83 and 84, shown in Fig. 19, which connect the lowermost slat 4b and the slat 4 above that slat 4b, are folded as the slat 4b is raised, so that the slat 4b and the slat 4 above that slat 4b, which are connected by that pair of front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74 and that pair of rear-edge- portion link members 83 and 84 that are folded, are overlapped with each other. The plural pairs of front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74 and the plural pairs of rear-edge- portion link members 83 and 84 above the lowermost pair of front-edge- portion link members 73 and 74 and the lowermost pair of rear-edge- portion link members 83 and 84 are also consecutively folded. The plurality of slats 4 are thereby consecutively overlapped with each other, starting with the lower slats 4, as shown in Fig. 20.
The linearly movable member 161, which is linearly moved downward, is still linearly moved downward even if it is positioned below the pawl portion 232 of the latching member 221. When the plurality of slats 4 are set in the tilted state, as shown in Fig. 20, the rolling element 185 abuts against the fixing member 184 to thereby inhibit linear movement directed downward below that position.
When, owing to the raising of the slat 4b based on the traveling of the chain 101 in the B direction, the plurality of slats 4 tilted as shown in Fig. 20 are consecutively overlapped with each other, as described above, and are set in the state shown in Fig. 21, the linearly movable member 161 is linearly moved upward by abutting against and being lifted up by the rear edge portion 35 of the slat 4 below the projecting portion 175 of the linearly movable member 161, and the uppermost slat 4a is tilted in the R1 direction on the basis of the linear movement of the linearly movable member 161, and at its front edge portion 33 abuts against the front edge portion 33 of the lower slat 4. In the upwardly linear movement of that linearly movable member 161, a rotational load of a predetermined level or higher has occurred to the sliding mechanism 199, so that the sliding mechanism 199 undergoes sliding with respect to the rotating shaft 105, the state being such that the transmission of the rotation of the rotating shaft 105 to the linearly movable member 161 is released. The slat supporting member 141 is raised by being lifted up by the slat 4 below the slat 4a. In the above-described manner, the window blind apparatus 1 is set in the opening open state shown in Fig. 3. It should be noted that the slat supporting member 141 may be lifted up by abutting against the slat 4 below the uppermost slat 4a, or may be lifted up by the slat 4 below the uppermost slat 4a through the slat 4a abutting at its front edge portion 33 against the front edge portion 33 of that lower slat 4 and through the linearly movable member 161 abutting against the rear edge portion 35 of that lower slat 4. In addition, simultaneously as the slat supporting member 141 is lifted up by abutting against the slat 4 below the slat 4a, the slat supporting member 141 may be lifted up by that lower slat 4 through the slat 4a and the linearly movable member 161.
In the window blind apparatus 1 in accordance with this embodiment, arrangements similar to those of the link mechanism 5, the raising and lowering mechanism 6, the tilting means 7, and the like, excluding the rotating shaft 105 and the electric motor 106, are provided on the vertical frame 12 side as well. The rotating shaft 105 extends up to the vertical frame 12 side to supply the rotational force to the raising and lowering mechanism and the tilting means on the vertical frame 12 side. Thus, the raising and lowering mechanism and the tilting means on the vertical frame 12 side are adapted to operate in synchronism with the raising and lowering mechanism 6 and the tilting means 7 on the vertical frame 11 side.
The window blind apparatus 1 in accordance with this embodiment is comprised of the plurality of slats 4 juxtaposed to each other in the vertical direction Z; the link mechanism 5 for linking the plurality of slats 4 to each other; the raising and lowering mechanism 6 for raising and lowering the plurality of slats 4, starting with the lowermost slat 4b among the plurality of slats 4; and the tilting means 7 disposed on the rear side of the slat 4 and adapted to tilt said plurality of slats 4 on the basis of the raising and lowering of the slats 4 by the raising and lowering mechanism 6. The tilting means 7 includes the slat supporting mechanism 131 for supporting the uppermost slat 4a among the plurality of slats 4 rotatably and movably in the front-back direction Y, as well as the moving mechanism 132 which is rotatably connected to the uppermost slat 4a at its rear edge portion 35 located rearwardly of its portion supported by the slat supporting mechanism 131, the moving mechanism 132 being adapted to move the rear edge portion 35 of the slat 4a in the vertical direction Z on the basis of the raising and lowering of the slats 4 by the raising and lowering mechanism 6, so as to tilt the slats 4 by the relative displacement of the rear edge portion 35 of that slat 4a in the vertical direction Z with respect to the portion of the uppermost slat 4a supported by the slat supporting mechanism 131. Therefore, the tilting means can be formed so as to tilt the plurality of slats 4 even if the tilting means 7 is not arranged above the plurality of slats 4, so that it is possible to prevent the possibility of the upper portion of the window being covered by the plurality of slats 4. Moreover, when the rear edge portion 35 of the uppermost slat 4a is moved in the vertical direction Z by the operation of the moving mechanism 132, the movement of the entire uppermost slat 4a in the vertical direction Z can be limited by the slat supporting mechanism 131, while the movement of the entire uppermost slat 4a in the front-back direction Y can be allowed, making it possible to rearwardly move the uppermost slat 4a which is tilted on the basis of the operation of the moving mechanism 132 as well as the respective ones of the slats 4 which are connected to the uppermost slat 4a by means of the link mechanism 5. Thus, it is possible to render the apparatus itself and its installation area compact. In addition, by virtue of the relative displacement of the rear edge portion 35 of the slat 4a in the vertical direction Z with respect to the portion of the uppermost slat 4a supported by the slat supporting mechanism 131, the slats 4 can be tilted such that the front edge portions 33 of the slats 4 do not jut out greatly toward the front side in conjunction with the tilting of the slats 4.
According to the window blind apparatus 1, the slat supporting mechanism 131 includes the slat supporting member 141 for supporting the uppermost slat 4a rotatably and movably in the front-back direction Y, and the moving mechanism 132 includes the linearly movable member 161 which is linearly movable in the vertical direction Z and is rotatably connected to the rear edge portion 35 of the slat 4a, the rear edge portion 35 being located rearwardly of the portion of the slat 4a which is supported by the slat supporting member 141, as well as the transmitting mechanism 163 for releasably transmitting the operation of the raising and lowering mechanism 6 to the linearly movable member 161 so as to linearly move the linearly movable member 161 in the vertical direction Z. For this reason, the linearly movable member 161 can be linearly moved in interlocking relationship with the raising and lowering of the plurality of slats 4 by the raising and lowering mechanism 6, so that the linearly movable member 161 can be made to undergo a relative displacement in the vertical direction Z with respect to the slat supporting member 141.
According to the window blind apparatus 1, since the linearly movable member 161 is disposed with a clearance with respect to the slat supporting member 141 in the lateral direction X, the linearly movable member 161 can be linearly moved smoothly so as not to interfere with the slat supporting member 141.
According to the window blind apparatus 1, the raising and lowering mechanism 6 has the rotating shaft 105 which rotates so as to raise and lower the plurality of slats 4, and the transmitting mechanism 163 includes the rack and pinion mechanism 201 for imparting the linearly moving force in the vertical direction Z to the linearly movable member 161 on the basis of the rotation of the rotating shaft 105; the sliding mechanism 199 which transmits the rotation of the rotating shaft 105 to the rack and pinion mechanism 201 while undergoing sliding with respect to the rotating shaft 105 to release the transmission of that rotation when a rotational load of a predetermined level or higher has occurred; and the linear-movement inhibiting mechanism 200 for releasably inhibiting the linear movement of the linearly movable member 161 directed upward from the predetermined position. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately adjust the tilting start timing and the inclination angle of the slats 4.

Claims

A window blind apparatus comprising:
a plurality of slats juxtaposed to each other in a vertical direction;

a link mechanism for linking said plurality of slats to each other;

a raising and lowering mechanism for raising and lowering said plurality of slats, starting with a lowermost slat among said plurality of slats; and

tilting means disposed on a rear side of said slat and adapted to tilt said plurality of slats on the basis of the raising and lowering of said slats by said raising and lowering mechanism,
wherein said tilting means includes a slat supporting mechanism for supporting an uppermost slat among said plurality of slats rotatably and movably in a front-back direction and a moving mechanism which is rotatably connected to said uppermost slat at its rear edge portion located rearwardly of its portion supported by said slat supporting mechanism, said moving mechanism being adapted to move the rear edge portion of said uppermost slat in the vertical direction on the basis of the raising and lowering of said slats by said raising and lowering mechanism, so as to tilt said slats by a relative displacement of the rear edge portion of said uppermost slat in the vertical direction with respect to the portion of said uppermost slat supported by said slat supporting mechanism.
The window blind apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said slat supporting mechanism includes a slat supporting member for supporting said uppermost slat rotatably and movably in the front-back direction, and said moving mechanism includes a linearly movable member which is linearly movable in the vertical direction and is rotatably connected to the rear edge portion of said uppermost slat, said rear edge portion being located rearwardly of a portion of said uppermost slat which is supported by said slat supporting member, and a transmitting mechanism for releasably transmitting the operation of said raising and lowering mechanism to said linearly movable member so as to linearly move said linearly movable member in the vertical direction.
The window blind apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said slat supporting member supports the portion located between a front edge portion and the rear edge portion of said uppermost slat, and said linearly movable member is connected to the rear end portion of said uppermost slat.
The window blind apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said slat supporting member is formed so as to be relatively movable in the front-back direction with respect to said uppermost slat or to be movable in the front-back direction together with said uppermost slat.
The window blind apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said linearly movable member is disposed with a clearance with said slat supporting member in a lateral direction.
The window blind apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein said raising and lowering mechanism has a rotating shaft which rotates so as to raise and lower said plurality of slats, and said transmitting mechanism includes a rack and pinion mechanism for imparting a linearly moving force in the vertical direction to said linearly movable member on the basis of the rotation of said rotating shaft, a sliding mechanism which transmits the rotation of said rotating shaft to said rack and pinion mechanism while undergoing sliding with respect to said rotating shaft to release the transmission of that rotation when a rotational load of a predetermined level or higher has occurred, and a linear-movement inhibiting mechanism for releasably inhibiting the linear movement of said linearly movable member directed upward from a predetermined position.
The window blind apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said raising and lowering mechanism includes a flexible elongated member which travels to raise and lower said slats and a coupling mechanism coupling said elongated member to said lowermost slat to allow the traveling of said elongated member to be transmitted to said plurality of slats, said coupling mechanism including an attaching member attached to said elongated member, a coupling arm having one end rotatably coupled to said lowermost slat and another end rotatably coupled to said attaching member so as to couple said attaching member and said lowermost slat, a hampering piece which is formed at the other end of said coupling arm and abuts against said attaching member so as to hamper the rotation of said coupling arm by more than a predetermined amount which occurs when said attaching member is raised relative to said lowermost slat by the traveling of said elongated member.