EP2476858B1

EP2476858B1 - Screening arrangement with side guidance means

Info

Publication number: EP2476858B1
Application number: EP12150343.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peder Solsø THOMSEN
Original assignee: VKR Holding AS
Current assignee: VKR Holding AS
Priority date: 2011-01-13
Filing date: 2012-01-06
Publication date: 2018-04-11
Anticipated expiration: 2032-01-06
Also published as: EP2476858A3; PL2476858T3; EP2476858A2

Description

The present invention relates to a screening arrangement having a supply condition and a condition of use, comprising a top element extending in a first longitudinal direction defining, in the condition of use, a width direction, said first longitudinal direction being substantially perpendicular to a second longitudinal direction, two side rails, each extending, in the condition of use, in the second longitudinal direction, a screening device with a cord system, said screening device has a first end edge and a second opposite end edge connected to a bottom element extending in the first longitudinal direction, each end of the bottom element is provided with a side guidance element having a cord protection section with a backside and a front side protecting, in said supply condition, a cord of the cord system.
It is well known that in such screening arrangements the cords of the cord system must be protected from the side rails as the side rails may have relatively sharp end edges. Therefore, when the side rails are mounted on the top rail by a customer or artisan at the customer's premises it is of high importance that the cords are not exposed so that they come in contact with the end edges of the side rails.
A known solution to this problem is found in WO2009/052822 , which discloses a screening arrangement with a parallel guidance cord system wherein the cords of the cord system is guided in openings positioned in an outer portion of side guidance elements mounted on respective ends of a bottom element. In a supply condition a cord of the cord system is guided and releasably fixed in an upstanding wall portion protruding on the backside of a cord protection section, which is positioned in a lower portion of the respective side guidance elements, and the cord is guided from the backside of the cord protection section to a cord supply fitting.
With this in mind it is the object of the present invention to provide a screening arrangement having a mechanically more simple construction that still allows the cord system to be protected during installation of the side rails.
This and further objects are achieved by means of a screening arrangement of the kind mentioned in the introduction, which is furthermore characterized in that in said supply condition, the cord is guided from an outer portion of the side guidance element along the backside of the cord protection section to an opening at an inner portion of the side guidance element facing the bottom element.
In the supply condition, the cord protection section protects the cord from the side rail so that an edge of the respective side rails does not come into contact with the cords when they are guided by the respective side guidance elements. By guiding the cord from an outer portion of the side guidance elements to an opening in the inner portion of the side guidance element, which opening is positioned at the portion of the side guidance elements facing the bottom element, a mechanically simple and advantageous solution of guiding the cord along the side guidance elements is provided. Hence the material consumption is reduced and the part of the side guidance element guiding the cord and consequently the portion of the cord guided therein is less prone to be damaged by the side rails during installation thereof on the top element.
In a preferred embodiment, in said supply condition, the cord is released from the inner portion of the side guidance element at a distance d in the second longitudinal direction from a lower edge of the bottom element or from a lower edge of the side guidance element.
This ensures that the lower edge of the bottom element is position below the opening at the inner portion of the side guidance element so that the blind properties are not impaired, i.e. if the lower edges of the side guidance elements are flush with the lower edge of the bottom element, the side guidance elements and the bottom element will screen the full width between the side rails.
In a further developed embodiment of the invention, the side guidance element comprises a further lower portion comprising a cord guide positioned at the outer portion of the side guidance element and guiding, in the condition of use, the cord in the second longitudinal direction.
Thereby the cords guided along the side guidance elements are even further protected during installation of the side rails, and the further lower portion of the side guidance elements may further serve to guide the cord in the condition of use. Especially the outer portion of the side guidance elements at which the cords are likely to be exposed during installation of the side rails is protected by the further lower portion, but the provision of a further cord guide is also advantageously as it may provide more guide friction between the side guidance elements and the cords of the cord system, which is desirable in order to obtain a proper functioning of different type of cord systems so that the bottom element may be moved to and kept at different positions along the longitudinal direction of the screening arrangement. Moreover, the further lower portion of the side guidance element may be configured with respect to a main body portion of the side guidance element so that when the cord is guided from the outer portion to the inner portion of the side guidance element, the cord is also protected on the backside of the side guidance element. Hence even if the side guidance element is guided in a guide means such as a track of the side rails before the cords are released form the supply condition, the cords are duly protected from the side rails.
Additionally, the mechanically more simple solution according to the invention also allows the user to see how the cords are guided along the side guidance elements in the supply condition so that it is readily understood how the cords should be released from the cord protection section during installation.
In a preferred embodiment which provides for a flush surface for abutting against a guide track of the side rails and which still allows the cord to be protected, the cord protecting section forms part of a front side of the side guidance element and the cord is guided, in the supply condition, on the backside of the side guidance element and released from an opening in the inner portion of the front side of the side guidance element. The opening may be positioned at a distance d from the lower edge of the bottom element or from the lower edge of the side guidance element.
Such configuration of the cord protection section and the front surface of the side guidance element also provide a mechanically simple construction protecting the cord both during installation and in the condition of use.
More specifically it is advantageous if, in the condition of use, an edge of the side rails extending in the second longitudinal direction and being adapted to guide the side guidance element extend across the front side the cord protection section.
Then the cord is protected during installation from any possible sharp edge of for instance a guide track of the side rails adapted to guide the side guidance elements in the condition of use.
In a further developed embodiment, the side guidance element comprises a first rib section extending away from the bottom element in the first longitudinal direction, said first rib section has a free distal end and a proximal end connected to the outer section of the side guidance element, and the side guidance element comprises a second rib section extending away from the bottom element in the first longitudinal direction, said second rib section has a free distal end and a proximal end connected to the outer section of the side guidance element.
This makes is easier to mount the cords of the cord system on the side guidance elements and guide them along or in the bottom element to and from the respective ends of the top element so that they can be stored and guided by a cord supply fitting in the supply condition or mounted at a lower corner of a sash in the condition of use, respectively. Moreover, the rib section provides and increased friction between the cords of the cord system and the side guidance elements so that the bottom element may be moved to and kept in a position along a longitudinal direction of the side rails.
In a further development which is especially useful for a parallel guidance cord system, the first rib section guides a cord received from the corresponding end of the top element, and the second rib section guides a cord received from the opposite end of the top element.
In an even further development of the invention, the side guidance element comprises an intermediate rib section extending away from the side guidance element in the first longitudinal direction between the first and second rib sections, said intermediate rib section has a free distal end and a proximal end connected to the outer section of the side guidance element.
A further rib section provides more friction between the cord and the side guidance elements, while the cord is guided from an upper part of the side guidance element to a lower part of the side guidance element where the cord, in the supply condition and partly during installation, may be guided to and stored in a cord supply fitting.
In an embodiment which is especially suitable for a parallel guidance cord system, the intermediate rib section guides a cord received from the opposite end of the top element.
In the following the invention will be described in further detail by means of examples of embodiments with reference to the schematic drawings, in which

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a screening arrangement in an embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 2 shows, on a larger scale, a perspective view of a supply condition of a part of the screening arrangement shown in Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 shows, on a larger scale, a partial perspective view of an embodiment according to the invention,
Fig. 4 shows, on a larger scale, a partial perspective view of another embodiment according to the invention,
Fig. 5 shows a different perspective view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a screening arrangement 1 according to the invention. The screening arrangement 1 is adapted to be mounted on a frame or a sash representing a window. It is noted that the terms "sash" or "frame" is to be understood as incorporating any substantially rectangular structure positioned in any opening in a building, whether in a wall or the roof, and surrounding an aperture to be screened. In the embodiment shown, the screening arrangement 1 comprises a top element 4 adapted to be positioned at the top of a sash or a frame, a screening body 6 and a bottom element 7. At an upper end edge, the screening body 6 is accommodated in the top element 4 and an opposed, lower end edge is fastened to the bottom element 7. In the embodiment shown, the bottom element 7 is adapted to act as a handle during operation of the screening arrangement 1, i.e. when moving the bottom element 7 and hence the screening body 6 between a non-screening position and a screening position, in which the screening body 6 covers the sash or frame aperture partly or fully. However, instead of being manually operated, the screening arrangement may be operated by other means, e.g. by electrical operating means.
Furthermore, the screening arrangement 1 comprises two side rails 8, 9 adapted to be connected to respective side pieces of a sash or frame with fastening means such as screws and by means of a bracket 490 adapted to receive a cord end and a portion of a side rail, and to the top element 4. In the mounted position of the screening arrangement 1, opposite ends of the bottom element 7 and opposite side edges of the screening body 6 are guided along these side rails 8, 9. In the embodiment shown, the screening arrangement 1 comprises a roller blind having as its screening body 6 a cloth or fabric, and of which the top element 4 includes a spring-biased roller bar. However, other screening arrangements having other kinds of screening bodies and other configurations of the top element are conceivable as well.
In a preferred embodiment the screening body is a roller blind and the top element 440 comprises a roller shaft which is integral with one of the end pieces 410, 420. The integral connection between the roller shaft and the end piece is obtained by moulding the end piece 410, 420 and the roller shaft in one piece, i.e. without subsequent joining of any part, to form the one piece unit comprising the end piece and the roller shaft.
From Figs. 1 and 2 it is understood that the top element 4 has a left-hand end piece 420 and a right-hand end piece 410. The terms "left-hand" and "right-hand" refer to the orientation shown in for instance Fig. 1 and are utilized for reasons of convenience only. Similarly, the terms "front" and "black" are utilized to denote the sides of the screening arrangement 1, "front" being the side intended to face inwards into the interior of a building, and "black" the outwards facing side. The terms "upper" and "lower" refer to the orientation of the screening arrangement installed in a frame, where "upper" refers to the top piece of the frame and "lower" refers to the bottom piece of the frame.
In the mounted position of the screening arrangement 1, the top rail 440 is joined to side rails 8, 9 in mitred joints by means of angular brackets 20. To that end the top rails 440 has two mitred ends 432, 433, of which one mitred end 432 is shown in Fig. 2 to be joined to a respective mitred end of the left-hand side rail 9.
The top rail 440 has a predetermined height and each side rail 8, 9 has a predetermined width, and in the embodiment shown the predetermined height is substantially the same as the predetermined width. The mitre joint is preferably a 45° mitre joint, but other angles are conceivable.
The side edges of the screening body 6 are guided by the side rails 8, 9 in a manner known per se, for instance by means of a number of guide beads mounted at a distance from each other along each side edge. Hence, the side rails 8, 9 serve the purpose of improving the light-proofing properties of the screening arrangement, as they overlap the side edges of the screening body in the mounted position of the screening arrangement. Eventually, depending on the type of screening body and the installation situation, the side rails may contribute to holding the screening body in position. The bottom edge of the screening body 6 is connected with the bottom element 7 in any suitable manner, and the ends of the bottom element are advantageously guided by the side rails as well.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the screening arrangement comprises a parallel guidance cord system comprising two cords (not shown), one cord being adapted to extend from the left-hand lower corner of the sash, up through or along the bottom element 8 and further up to the top element 4. The other cord is routed in a mirror-inverted manner. At the top element 4, each cord is connected with a respective pre-tensioning device adapted to be connected with the top element 4. The pre-tensioning devices entail that the cords are held at a suitable tension all the time during use, thereby ensuring that the bottom element 7 at all times is kept substantially in parallel with the top and bottom pieces of the sash or frame. The invention may be envisaged with other types of cord systems wherein a portion of the cords are to be guided by side guidance elements during installation and operation.
In Fig. 2 a part of a screening arrangement 1 is shown in the supply condition. From each end of the top element 4 a cord is guided to an upper portion of side guidance elements 700 and along a backside 706 (cf. Fig. 5) of the side guidance elements 700 to the bottom element 7, along or trough the bottom element to the side guidance element 700 in the respective opposite side. At the side guidance element 700 of the respective opposite site the cords are guided adjacent to each other on the backside 706 of the respective side guidance elements and guided to a lower portion where the cords are guided on the backside 751 of respective cord protection sections 750 to a cord supply fitting 10. In the embodiment of Fig. 2 the cord protection sections 750 are configured so that the cords are released from an opening in the front surface of the side guidance elements 700, said opening is positioned at an inner portion of the side guidance element facing the bottom element. The opening is positioned at a distance d from a lower edge of the side guidance element 700.
Each end of the top element 4 is provided with a coupling means 410, 420, which are adapted to be mounted on respective brackets positioned on the upper portion side pieces of a sash. Hence during installation of the screening arrangement 1, the coupling means 410, 420 are mounted on the brackets and then a further bracket 490 (cf. Fig. 1) is mounted at each side of the lower portion of the sash, which further brackets are adapted to receive a part of a side rail and a cord end of the cord system. Then the side rails 8, 9 are mounted on the top element 4 by inserting one end of the angular brackets 20 into a reception means on the backside of the respective side rails 8, 9. Therefore, a preferably mitred end of the side rails 8, 9 are moved in the longitudinal direction towards a corresponding mitred end of the top rail 440 in which the angular brackets 20 for receiving the side rails 8, 9 are mounted. While the side rails 8, 9 are moved towards the angular brackets, the respective side guidance elements 700 are positioned in a side guidance means (not shown) on the backside of the side rails 8,9, and then the side rails are mounted at the opposite end in the further reception means. Finally, when the side rails 8, 9 have been mounted, the cord supply fittings 10 may be released and the cords may be released from their position on the backside of the cord protection section 750 of each side guidance element 700 and mounted in the respective further brackets at the lower portion of the sash. Since the side rails 8, 9 preferably are made of aluminium and therefore may have relatively sharp edges, it is desirable that the cords are be protected in a simple manner in the supply condition and during installation so that the cord system is not damaged during installation of the side rails. When ends of the cords have been mounted in the further brackets 490, the bottom element 7 may be moved in the longitudinal defined by the length of the side rails 8, 9 and the side guidance elements 700 are then preferably guided in a track on the backside of the side rails 8, 9.
Fig. 3 shows a side guidance element 700 according to an embodiment of the invention where the cord system is a parallel guidance cord system. In this and the following Figs. only the a part of the cord system and the side guidance elements are shown in order to explain the invention, however the orientations applied are to be understood in relation to the remaining parts of the screening arrangements such as the side rails and the bottom element 7. The side guidance element 700 shown in Fig. 3 is adapted so that an inner edge 703 is to be mounted at the left-hand side of a bottom element 7 and in the following, this and further embodiments will be described with respect to this particular left hand side guidance element 700. It is understood that a corresponding side guidance element 700 and cords 91, 92 of the cord system is mounted and guided in a mirror inverted manner on the right-hand side of bottom element 1. Hence, the cords 91, 92 each have a first end 91a, 91b to be connected to the top element and a second end 92a, 92b to be connected to a cord supply fitting 10 in the supply condition and to a bottom bracket at a lower piece of a sash in a condition of use.
In Fig. 3 the cord system is only partly shown and the parts of the cords 91, 92 shown correspond to their position in the supply condition. A first cord 91 is received from the top element 4 and is guided from an upper section 704 along an outer portion 760 of the side guidance element 700 to a first opening 755 in the left-hand side outer portion 760 of the side guidance element 700. The first cord 91 is guided through the first opening 755 and on the backside of the side guidance element in the longitudinal direction of the bottom element. From the bottom element 7 a second cord 92 of the cord system is received, which cord 92 is guided on the backside of the side guidance element and through the first opening 755 to and along the outer portion 760 of the side guidance element 700. From the outer portion 760 of the side guidance element 700 the cord is guided on the backside 751 of a cord protection section 750 to a second opening 707 at an inner portion 770 of the side guidance element 700. Hence, the cord 92 is released from an opening in the front surface 705 next to the cord protection section and guided to a cord supply fitting (cf. Fig. 2). In the embodiment of Fig. 3, the second opening 707 is a cut-out made in the front surface of the side guidance element 700 so that the cut-out forms the cord protection section 752, which extends from the front surface 705 of the side guidance element. Generally, this allows the cord 92 to be guided on the backside 751 of the cord protection section 750 to an opening positioned at a distance d from a lower edge of the side guidance element 707. The second opening 707 may be slightly tapered so that the cord 92 is releasably fixed to the side guidance element 700 in the supply condition, but readily releasable when the second cord 92 is to be mounted on a lower sash portion. As shown in Fig. 3 the side guidance elements are adapted to be mounted on an end of the bottom element 7 so that the inner edge 703 abuts the bottom element 7.
Fig. 4 shows a further developed embodiment of a side guidance element 700 according to the invention. The view of the embodiment of Fig. 4 corresponds to the view of Fig. 3 and hence the cords 91, 92 are guided in the same manner to from the top element 4 and to and from the bottom element 7. However, the further developed embodiment of Fig. 4 comprises a further lower portion 702 comprising a cord guide 723 positioned at the outer portion 760 of the side guidance element 700 and guiding, in the condition of use, the cord 92 in the second longitudinal direction. The further lower portion 702 thus form the lower part of the side guidance element 700 and even further protects the cord 92 during installation of the side rail 8, since at the left-hand outer portion 760 of the side guidance element 700 a rib section 740 with said cord guide 723 forms a further protection of the cord 92 when it guided from the outer portion 760 of the side guidance element 700 under the cord protection section 750 to the opening 707 at the right-hand side inner portion 770 of the side guidance element 700. Again the cord 92 is guided on the backside 751 of the cord protection section 750 to an opening positioned next to the cord protection section at a distance d from the lower edge of the side guidance element 707. Alternatively, when a lower edge of the further lower portion 702 is flush with a lower edge of the bottom element 7, the distance d may be measured from the lower end edge 7a of the bottom element 7. The actual length of the distance d depend on the height of the bottom element and the side guidance element, but in a preferred embodiment the distance d correspond to about half or a little less the height of the bottom element which in an exemplary embodiment measures about 2.5 cm.
The cord protection section 750 is a tongue extending from the front side 705 of the side guidance element 700 and the further lower portion 702 substantially extends from the backside 706 of the side guidance element 700. Together they form a channel in the main body of the side guidance element in which the cord 92 is guided from the outer section 704 to the inner section 703 of the side guidance element 700. Hence the cord 92 is guided in a plane extending between the front surface 705 and the backside 706 of the side guidance element 700. In order to ensure that the cord 92 is kept in the supply condition during transport, the channel may for instance be tapered so that the cord 92 is releasably fixed behind the cord protecting section, alternatively between the cord protection section 750 and the further lower portion 702.
In order to provide a smooth surface adapted to be guided in a track of a side rail 8, the cord protecting section 750 is flush with the front side 705 of the side guidance element 700 and the cord 92 is guided, in the supply condition, on the backside 751 of the cord protecting section 750 and released from an opening 707 in the inner portion 770 of the front side 705, which opening 707 is positioned at a distance d from the lower edge of the bottom element 7 or an lower edge of the side guidance element 700. This is especially advantageous in the condition of use, wherein an edge of the side rails 8, 9 extending in the second longitudinal direction and being adapted to guide the side guidance element 700 extend across the front side 752 the cord protection section 750.
In the further developed embodiment of Fig. 4, which facilitates mounting and guiding of the cords on the side guidance element 700, the side guidance element 700 comprises a first rib section 710 extending away from the side guidance element 700 in the first longitudinal direction, said first rib section has a free distal end 711 and a proximal end 712 connected to the outer section 760 of the side guidance element 700, and the side guidance element 700 comprises a second rib section 720 extending away from the bottom element 7 in the first longitudinal direction, said second rib section has a free distal end 721 and a proximal end 722 connected to the outer section 760 of the side guidance element 700. In the embodiment of Fig. 4, the first rib section 710 guides a cord 91 received from the corresponding end of the top element 4, and the second rib section 720 guides a cord 92 received from the opposite end of the top element 4. In this way the outer section 760 is formed by the rib sections along which the cords 91, 92 are guided.
Moreover, the side guidance element 700 comprises an intermediate rib section 730 extending away from the bottom element 7 in the first longitudinal direction between the first and second rib sections 710, 720, said intermediate rib section has a free distal end 721 and a proximal end 722 connected to the outer section 760 of the side guidance element 700. The intermediate rib section 730 guides a cord 92 received from the opposite end of the top element 4.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view from behind of the side guidance element 700 of Fig. 4. As shown the rib sections 710, 720, 730, 740 are separated by gaps 735 so that the cords 91, 92 more easily may be guided along the outer section 760. Preferably, each rib section 710, 720, 730, 740 is provided with a cord guide 723, which is a recess provided on the front side or the backside of the individual rib sections 710, 720, 730, 740 so the that the cords 91, 92 are guided more secure along the side guidance element. The first cord 91 received from the top element is guided along the first rib section 710 and through a recess 724 formed by a portion of the first rib section 710 and the intermediate rib section 730 on the backside 706 of the side guidance element. In the supply condition of Figs. 4 and 5, the second cord having one end 92a connected to the cord supply fitting (cf. Fig. 2) is guided below the cord protecting section 750 to the backside of second rib section 720 along the front side of the intermediate rib section 730 to the recess 724, where the cord 92 is guided adjacent to the first cord 91. Hence the ends 91b, 92b of the cords are guided along or in the bottom element 7.
The invention should not be regarded as being limited to the described embodiments. Several modifications and combinations of the different embodiments will be apparent to the person skilled in the art. For instance, the cords of the cord system may be guided in a different manner along the outer section of the side guidance element.

Claims

A screening arrangement (1) having a supply condition and a condition of use, comprising
a top element (4) extending in a first longitudinal direction defining, in the condition of use, a width direction, said first longitudinal direction being substantially perpendicular to a second longitudinal direction,
two side rails (8, 9), each extending, in the condition of use, in the second longitudinal direction,
a screening device (6) with a cord system, said screening device (6) having a first end edge and a second opposite end edge connected to a bottom element (7) extending in the first longitudinal direction,
each end of the bottom element (7) being provided with a side guidance element (700) having a cord protection section (750) with a backside (751) and a front side (752) protecting, in said supply condition, a cord (92) of the cord system, characterized in that
the side guidance element (700) comprises an outer portion (760) and an opening (707) at an inner portion (770) facing the bottom element (7), the cord (92) being, in said supply condition, guided from the outer portion (760) of the side guidance element (700) along the backside of the cord protection section (750) to the opening (707).
A screening arrangement according to claim 1, wherein, in said supply condition, the cord (92) is released from the inner portion of the side guidance element (700) at a distance d in the second longitudinal direction from a lower edge of the bottom element (7).
A screening arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the side guidance element (700) comprises a further lower portion (702) comprising a cord guide (723) positioned at the outer portion (760) of the side guidance element (700) and guiding, in the condition of use, the cord (92) in the second longitudinal direction.
A screening arrangement according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the cord protecting section (750) forms part of a front side (705) of the side guidance element (700) and the cord (92) is guided, in the supply condition, on the backside (751) of the side guidance element (700) and released from an opening (707) in the inner portion (770) of the front side (705) of the side guidance element (700), which opening (707) is positioned at a distance d from the lower edge of the bottom element (7).
A screening arrangement (1) according to any previous claim, wherein, in the condition of use, an edge of the side rails (8, 9) extending in the second longitudinal direction and being adapted to guide the side guidance element (700) extend across the front side (752) the cord protection section (750).
A screening arrangement (1) according to any previous claim, wherein the side guidance element (700) comprises a first rib section (710) extending away from the bottom element (7) in the first longitudinal direction, said first rib section has a free distal end (711) and a proximal end (712) connected to the outer section (760) of the side guidance element (700), and
the side guidance element (700) comprises a second rib section (720) extending away from the bottom element (7) in the first longitudinal direction, said second rib section has a free distal end (721) and a proximal end (722) connected to the outer section (760) of the side guidance element (700).
A screening arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the first rib section (710) guides a cord (91) received from the corresponding end of the top element (4), and the second rib section (720) guides a cord (92) received from the opposite end of the top element (4).
A screening arrangement according to claim 6 and 7, wherein the side guidance element (700) comprises an intermediate rib section (730) extending away from the bottom element (7) in the first longitudinal direction between the first and second rib sections (710, 720), said intermediate rib section has a free distal end (721) and a proximal end (722) connected to the outer section (760) of the side guidance element (700).
A screening arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the intermediate rib section (730) guides a cord (92) received from the opposite end of the top element (4).