EP3330476B1

EP3330476B1 - Tension cord mounting

Info

Publication number: EP3330476B1
Application number: EP17204741.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Robert Franssen
Original assignee: Hunter Douglas Industries BV
Current assignee: Hunter Douglas Industries BV
Priority date: 2016-12-01
Filing date: 2017-11-30
Publication date: 2020-04-15
Anticipated expiration: 2037-11-30
Also published as: EP3330476A1; DK3330476T3

Description

The following relates to a tension cord mounting, in particular a mounting for tension cords of an architectural covering to be held in place with respect to at an outside edge of the architectural structure.
A variety of different architectural coverings are known having shades which may be extended across an architectural structure. Many of these arrangements require cords to be extended across the architectural structure and secured at a periphery of the architectural structure.
EP 2 439 375 A describes a curtain having a guide cord with ends fastened with cord clamps at a frame sidepiece of a window running transverse to another frame sidepiece. The curtain is movably guided to the guide cord running parallel to the latter frame sidepiece of the window. The cord clamps are fastened by adhering at the former frame sidepieces by a cord clamp fastening device in a form of an adhesive carrier. A broad side surface of the carrier is coated with an adhesive layer and comprises trenches connected with each other.
DE 20 2012 100650 U1 describes a sliding curtain with a hanging on two parallel cords.
EP 1 526 246 A describes a mounting device for a guide cord. Two such mounting devices are used on opposite respective sides of a lower periphery of an architectural structure to secure the cords used for the downwardly extending blind.
DE 10 2014 018562 describes an adjustable cover device of a sliding curtain.
According to the present invention there is provided a tension cord mounting as defined in claim 1.
According to the present invention there is also be provided a method of mounting a tension cord as defined in appended claim 14.
In this way, it is not necessary to thread cords through respective cord openings. Instead, at the time of assembly, it is easy and convenient for the user to be able to slide a cord along a pathway and into its respective cord opening. An individual cord could be engaged to the cord holder by means of a feature of the cord, such as an additional component or a knot, larger than the cord opening, on the side of the inner surface of the cord holder. Alternatively, in some arrangements, a single cord could be looped between two cord openings.
At the position where the pathway joins with the cord opening, the width of the pathway may be less than the width of the cord opening. In this way, having slid a cord along the pathway and into the cord opening, the reduced width at the exit of the cord opening into the pathway will resist the cord becoming detached from the cord holder, for example during transport or assembly.
At the position where the pathway joins the cord opening, the cord opening may have a feature resisting a cord exiting the cord opening into the pathway.
By providing such a feature, for example a notch, catch, hook, projection or ledge, it becomes more difficult for the cord to escape from the cord opening. In this way, as above, the cord may be more securely held to the cord holder during transport or assembly.
The pathway extending from the side edge at an acute angle with the side edge provides for improved resistance to the cord escaping from the cord holder.
The value of the acute angle is not essential, but might preferably be larger than one of 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 degrees. It might be less than one of 60, 55, 50, and 45 degrees.
The cord holder and the base may be configured to slidably engage with each other in a direction substantially parallel with the inner and outer surface so as to secure the cord holder to the base.
Noting that the direction of engagement between the cord holder and the base is generally perpendicular to any force exerted by the cord, this is a convenient arrangement for engagement. One possible embodiment includes a base with undercut outer edges and a cord holder configured with flanges to extend into those undercut edges. Alternative embodiments include a base having inwardly facing slots into which corresponding outwardly facing portions of the cord holder slide.
When engaged, the cord holder and base resist separation in a direction perpendicular to the inner and outer base.
Any of the side edges of the cord holder could be used as the side edge from which the pathway extends. Indeed, different side edges could be used for different respective pathways.
Preferred side edges for use will be those which become enclosed as a result of the cord holder engaging with the base. Thus, where the cord holder slides into oppositely facing slots of the base, those opposite side edges could include the pathways.
In one preferred embodiment, the side edge of the cord holder is the front edge with respect to movement of the cord holder relative to the base during the slidable engagement.
In this way, the cord holder may be partially engaged with the base whilst still allowing access at the front edge to the pathways.
Preferably, the base and the cord holder are configured so that, when secured to each other, a portion of the base closes at least part of the pathway.
In this way, once the cord holder and base are fully engaged, a cord is prevented from separating from the cord holder via the pathway.
The portion of the base may be configured to cover substantially one or both of a part of the pathway on the inner surface of the cord holder and a part of the pathway at the side edge of the cord holder. In this way, the portion of the base prevents the cord from separating from the cord holder via the pathway.
The tension cord mounting may itself be made of magnetic material or at least include an element of magnetic material. This may be provided to magnetically secure a movable rail against the architectural structure periphery to which the tension cord mounting is secured. The base and the cord holder may be configured to define a housing for the element when the cord holder is secured to the base. The element may be provided as part of either the cord holder or the base. However, with the cord holder fitted to the base, a secure housing may be formed for the element.
The base may define an aperture opposite the inner surface of the cord holder when the cord holder is secured to the base. The aperture may receive a fastener for securing the base to the periphery of the architectural structure. The fastener may extend out of the base and may be concealed by the cord holder.
In this way, the base may be secured to the periphery of the architectural structure and then the cord holder may be secured to the base, thereby concealing the fastener.
Alternatively, the base may define an aperture, similarly for receiving a fastener, offset from where the base and cord holder are engaged. The base may include an extension which extends laterally away from where the cord holder fits to the base. The aperture may be defined in the extension. In this way, it is possible to secure the base to the periphery of an architectural structure at a location which is more easily accessible to the installer than the desired location of the cord holder.
In order to prevent the tension cord mounting moving, for example rotating, relative to the periphery of the architectural structure, it is possible to provide the base with downwardly facing protrusions. However, in one preferred embodiment, the tension cord mounting includes a fixing member having a body defining an additional aperture configured to receive the fastener and at least one protrusion extending substantially perpendicular to the body. The base may define at least one through hole adjacent the aperture. The fixing member may be fitted against the base with the additional aperture aligned with the aperture of the base and with the at least one protrusion extending into and through the at least one through hole. In this way, when the fastener secures the base to the periphery of the architectural structure, the fastener presses the body of the fixing member against the base and presses the at least one protrusion through the at least one through hole so as to engage with the periphery of the architectural structure.
With this arrangement, it is possible to provide a fixing member with appropriate material properties for withstanding the force of the fastener and appropriately engaging with, for example by cutting into, the periphery of the architectural structure. For example, the fixing member may be a metal plate, such as spring steel.
One or more tension cord mountings may be provided in an architectural covering for fitment to an architectural structure. The architectural covering may include one or more cords as required and a shade to be extended and retracted from the architectural structure. One or more movable rails may be provided, for example guided and held in place by cords held by the tension cord mountings.
There may also be provided a method of mounting a tension cord of an architectural covering to the periphery of an architectural structure by using a tension cord mounting as described above. The method includes providing at least one cord opening between inner and outer surfaces of the cord holder and providing at least one respective pathway between the inner and outer surfaces and arranging that pathway to extend from the side edge of the cord holder to the at least one cord opening.
A method may also be provided of mounting an architectural covering to an architectural structure including mounting the base of the tension cord mounting to a periphery of the architectural structure, sliding a cord of the architectural covering along a pathway from the side edge to a cord opening and engaging the cord holder to the base.
The following description is given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates an architectural covering which may be installed to an architectural structure;
Fig. 2 illustrates a tension cord mounting;
Fig. 3A, 3B and 3C illustrates examples of cord openings and pathways for a tension cord mounting;
Fig. 4 illustrates an alternative tension cord mounting;
Fig. 5 illustrated the base of a tension cord mounting;
Fig. 6 illustrates an alternative tension cord mounting;
Fig. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate an alternative tension cord mounting;
Fig. 10 illustrates an alternative base for use in a tension cord mounting; and
Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate examples of cord openings and pathways.

The tension cord mounting may be embodied in an architectural covering for example as illustrated schematically in Fig. 1.
The architectural covering may be fitted to an architectural structure 101 and includes an upper movable rail 102 and a lower movable rail 104. A shade 106 of any appropriate form extends between the upper movable rail 102 and the lower movable rail 104. The shade 106 may take the form of a roman shade, a venetian blind, a cellular structure etc. Each of the upper movable rail 102 and lower movable rail 104 is movable across the architectural structure 101 towards and away from a respective edge. As the upper movable rail 102 and lower movable rail 104 move towards each other, the shade 106 is retracted, for example by concertina or rolling action. When the upper movable rail 102 and lower movable rail 104 are moved apart, the shade 106 is extended across the architectural structure 101.
So that the movable rails 102 and 104 are retained at the position where they are placed (by a user), a known cord tensioning system may be provided. For example, as illustrated, cords 108 extend parallel to the side edges of the architectural structure 101 and along the respective movable rails 102, 104.
The cords 108 are secured to the upper and lower sides of the architectural opening by means of tension cord mountings 110 that are secured to those edges of the architectural structure 101.
An example of an appropriate tension cord mounting 110 is illustrated in Fig. 2.
A base 112 is provided to be secured to the periphery of an architectural structure. A corresponding cord holder 114 is provided.
As illustrated, the cord holder 114 includes an inner surface for facing the base 112 and for facing an inner part of the inner tension cord mounting formed from the base 112 and cord holder 114. The cord holder 114 includes an outer surface 118 opposite to the inner surface 116 and includes at least one side edge 120 extending between the inner and outer surfaces 116, 118.
As illustrated, the base 112 defines an aperture 122 for receiving a fastener, such as a screw (see Fig. 7), for securing the base 112 to the outer periphery of the architectural structure. Other manners of engagement known or which become known may be used to couple the base 112 to the architectural structure. As illustrated, the cord holder 114 includes a corresponding aperture 124 which aligns with the aperture 122 of the base 112. In this way, a fastener, such as a screw, may additionally be used to secure the cord holder 114 to the base 112.
The cord holder 114 defines a cord opening 126 which extends between the inner surface 116 and outer surface 118.
A cord, such as cord 108 illustrated in Fig. 1, can pass through the cord opening 126 and be secured on the inner side of the tension cord mounting 110 adjacent the inner surface 116 of the cord holder 114. For example, by providing an enlarged feature, such as a knot at the end of the cord or an added element such as a glued bead or crimp, that end of the cord is prevented from passing through the cord opening 126 in the direction of the cord and the cord is engaged to the cord holder 114.
As illustrated, a pathway 128 extends from the side edge 120 to the cord opening 126. In this way, it is not necessary to thread a cord through the cord opening 126 in the direction of the cord. The pathway 128, like the cord opening 126, passes between the inner and outer surfaces 116, 118 and, hence, allows a cord to be slid from the side edge 120 of the cord opening 126 in a direction transverse to the length or extent of the cord. It is therefore not necessary to thread the cord through the cord opening 126.
As illustrated schematically in Fig. 3A, 3B and 3C, cord openings 126 and respective pathways 128 may be provided at any of the side edges 120 and in any appropriate number. Where more than one cord opening is provided, it is possible for a single cord to be looped between two cord openings. In other words, that single cord extends between two cord openings along the inner surface of the cord holder 114 and extends out of and from both cord openings.
It is possible to secure the cord holder 114 to the base 112 in any appropriate manner, for example using one or more fasteners different from the fastener intended for securing the base 12 to the architectural opening periphery.
Figure 4 illustrates an alternative arrangement in which the base 112 and cord holder 114 are configured to slidably engage with each other in a direction substantially parallel with the inner and outer surfaces 116, 118 of the cord holder 114. In particular, the base 112 defines two opposite inwardly facing channels 130 for receiving and retaining opposite edges of the cord holder 114. The cord holder 114 may thus be slid into engagement with the base 112 along the channels 130.
As illustrated, at least one of the side edges 120 having a pathway 128 is provided as a front edge with respect to the direction of insertion of the cord holder 114 into the base 112. Once fully engaged, with the cord holder 114 slid fully into the base 112, an opposing wall 132 of the base 112 acts to cover or block the opening to the pathway 128. As a result, a cord extending through the cord opening joined to the pathway 128 is prevented from exiting the pathway 128 in a direction transverse to the length or extent of the cord.
Actually, in the illustrated embodiment, an additional cord opening 126 and pathway 128 are provided on a lateral edge of the cord holder 114 with respect to the direction of insertion/sliding. With this particular arrangement of securing the cord holder 114 to the base 112, the pathway 128 on this lateral edge is also closed by the base 112 (by the walls defining the channel 130) when the cord holder 114 is slidably engaged with the base 112.
In order to help secure the base 112 to the periphery of an architectural opening, it is possible to roughen or provide protrusions on the underside of the base 112 resulting in a surface which is not smooth. This will resist movement and/or rotation of the base 112.
Alternatively, as illustrated in Fig. 5, a fixing member 140 may be provided for use with the base 112.
The fixing member 140 includes a main body 142 having, for example, a generally planar form and defining an aperture 144 to match the aperture 122 in the base 112. A fastener for securing the base 112 to the architectural opening may thus additionally clamp the fixing member 140 down onto the upper surface of the base 112.
As illustrated, the fixing member 140 is additionally provided with a number of protrusions 146 extending generally perpendicular to the body 142.
Adjacent the aperture 122, the base 112 defines through holes 148 corresponding to the protrusions 146.
In use, the base 112 is placed on the architectural structure periphery, and the body 140 is fitted to the base 112 with its aperture 144 aligned with the aperture 122 of the base 112 and the protrusions 146 extending into the through holes 148 of the base 112. A fastener, such as a screw (illustrated in Fig. 7) is then fitted through the aligned apertures 144, 122 so as to affix the base 112 to the architectural structure periphery. The fastener, for instance, by means of its head, clamps the body 142 of the fixing member 140 against the base 112 and presses the protrusions 146 through the through holes 148 so as to engage with the surface of the architectural structure periphery. Because the base 112 then engages with the architectural structure periphery via the body 142 in at least two places, rotation of the base 112 is prevented.
Returning to the architectural covering discussed in relation to Fig. 1, it may be desirable to locate magnetic material at the outer periphery of the architectural structure for magnetically attracting corresponding magnetic material in the movable rail 112, 114. In particular, this can be useful in magnetically securing the movable rail against the corresponding periphery of the architectural structure.
Fig. 6 illustrates the use of a magnetic element 150 which can be provided as part of the tension cord mounting. Magnetic material could be provided as part of the base 112 or the cord holder 114 itself. However, in the illustrated embodiment, the base 112 and cord mount 114 together define a housing 152 for the element 150. Referring to Fig. 6, the element 150 can be placed in a recess 154 formed in the base 112 and then enclosed and held in place by a portion 156 of the cord holder 114 once secured to the base 112.
Figs. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate an embodiment including many of the features discussed above.
In this embodiment, rather than having inwardly facing channels 130, the base 112 includes outwardly facing lips 160 on opposite sides of the base 112 extending in the sliding direction and defining respective undercut portions. The cord holder 114 is shaped correspondingly with inwardly facing respective flanges that fit under the lips 160 when the cord holder 114 is slidably engaged with the base 112.
As explained above, a magnetic element 150 may be housed between the base 112 and cord holder 114 and a fixing member 140 may fit with a lower upwardly facing surface of the base 112. As illustrated in this embodiment, the fixing member 140 may have protrusions 146 on either side of the aperture 144.
A screw 170 is illustrated as an example of a fastener for fastening the base 112 to the periphery of an architectural structure.
In the arrangements discussed above, the base 112 has approximately the same footprint/shape and size as the cord holder which fits to it. In this respect, arrangements, such as that of Fig. 2 are possible in which a fastener passes through both the cord holder 114 and the base 112 so as to secure the base 112 to the outer periphery of an architectural structure. Also, as with the other described arrangements, the fastener may pass through the base 112 to secure the base 112 to the outer periphery of the architectural structure, with the cord holder 114 fitting to the base in such a way as to conceal the fastener. It is also possible to provide a base which extends beyond the footprint/area of the cord holder 114. In particular, it extends beyond the features of the base configured to engage with the cord holder 114.
Fig. 10 illustrates an example of such a base 212. This particular example of the base 212 includes features such as outwardly facing lips 260 so that it might be used with the same cord holder 114 (and magnetic element 150) as described with reference to Fig. 9. It will be appreciated that other bases may similarly be provided with the alternative features described above for engaging with a cord holder 114.
By providing an extended base in this way, the position at which the base 112 is secured to the architectural structure can be distanced from the cord holder 114 and, in particular, the position from which cords extend from the cord holder 114. This allows the cord holder 114 and associated cords to be positioned at locations of an architectural structure where it may be difficult for a user to gain sufficient access to secure the base to the architectural structure (at the position of the cord holder 114). For example, narrow and/or profiled peripheries (with narrow and/or profiled glazing beads) sometimes pose a problem to the installer to have the base secured at a position on the periphery that allows alignment of the cords of the shade in a proper manner (i.e. close to the sides of the shade). By using a base 212 with an extension 214 (extending away from the cord holder 114 and the features engaging with that cord holder 114), it becomes possible to facilitate mounting. Furthermore, the extension 214 may be provided with a slanted edge 214a allowing it to be positioned and secured to the horizontal periphery and yet be closely adjacent to the vertical periphery of an architectural opening. As illustrated, the extension 214 of the base 212 is, like the arrangements discussed above, provided with an aperture 122 for receiving a fastener, such as a screw (see Fig. 7) for securing the base 212 to the outer periphery of the architectural structure. Furthermore, through holes 148 may be provided around the aperture 122 allowing use of a fixing member 140 (with protrusions 146) such as discussed above.
As illustrated in Fig. 9, the pathways 128 for the respective cord openings 126 are angled with respect to the side edge 120, rather than extending substantially or generally perpendicular to that side edge 120. The pathways may be angled inwardly or outwardly relative to the adjacent edges of the cord holder 114, but, as illustrated, are both angled inwardly. With an acute angle for the pathways, for example between 15 and 60 degrees, a cord within a cord opening 126 has less tendency to escape the cord holder 114 by traversing the respective pathway 128.
In order to further resist a cord leaving its respective cord opening 126 and traversing the respective pathway 128, other steps may be taken to shape and dimension the cord opening 126 and pathway 128. For example, as illustrated schematically in Figs. 11A and 11B the width of the pathway 128 may be less than the cross-section or width of the cord opening 126, at least where the pathway 128 meets the cord opening 126. Additionally or alternatively, as illustrated in Figs. 12A to 12E, a feature 180 may be provided at the entrance to the cord opening 126 to act as a notch, latch, hook, projection, ledge, etc. In arrangements, for example as illustrated in Fig. 12B and E, the resulting form of the pathway 128, feature 180, and cord opening 126 takes the form of a U-turn.
These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be readily apparent from the detailed description, the scope of the invention being set out in the appended claims.

Claims

A tension cord mounting for an architectural covering including:
a base (112) configured to be engaged to an outside edge of an architectural structure; and

a cord holder (114) for engaging one or more cords;

wherein:
the base (112) and cord holder (114) are configured to cooperate with each other to engage the cord holder (114) to the base (112);

the cord holder (114) includes an inner surface configured to face the base (112), an opposite outer surface, and a side edge extending between the inner surface and the outer surface;

the cord holder (114) defines at least one cord opening (126) between the inner surface and the outer surface, the cord opening (126) being configured to guide a cord from the inner surface to the outer surface; and

the cord holder (114) defines at least one respective pathway (128) between the inner and outer surfaces, the pathway (128) extending from the side edge to the at least one cord opening (126); characterised in that:
the at least one respective pathway (128) extends from the side edge at an acute angle with the side edge.
A tension cord mounting according to claim 1 wherein, at the position where the pathway (128) joins with the cord opening (126), the width of the pathway (128) is less than the width of the cord opening (126).
A tension cord according to claim 1 or 2 wherein, at the position where the pathway (128) joins with the cord opening (126), there is provided a feature resisting exit of a cord from the at least one cord opening (126) to the at least one respective pathway.
A tension cord mounting according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the acute angle is greater than one of 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40° and/or less than one of 60, 55, 50, and 45°.
A tension cord mounting according to any preceding claim wherein the cord holder (114) and the base (112) are configured to slidably engage with one another in a direction substantially parallel with the inner and outer surfaces so as to secure the cord holder (114) to the base (112).
A tension cord mounting according to claim 5 wherein the cord holder (114) and the base (112) are configured, when engaged, to resist separation in a direction perpendicular to the inner and outer surfaces.
A tension cord mounting according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the side edge of the cord holder (114) is the front edge with respect to movement of the cord holder (114) relative to the base (112) during said slidable engagement.
A tension cord mounting according to claim 5, 6 or 7 wherein the base (112) and the cord holder (114) are configured so that, when secured to each other, a portion of the base (112) closes at least part of the pathway (128).
A tension cord mounting according to claim 8 wherein the portion of the base (112) substantially covers one or both of a part of the pathway (128) on the inner surface of the cord holder (114) and a part of the pathway (128) at the side edge.
A tension cord mounting according to any preceding claim further comprising an element of magnetic material (150), wherein the base (112) and the cord holder (114) are configured to define a housing for the element (150) when the cord holder (114) is secured to the base (112).
A tension cord mounting according to any preceding claim wherein the base (112) defines an aperture (144) opposite the inner surface of the cord holder (114) when the cord holder (114) is secured to the base (112) and the aperture (122) is configured to receive a fastener (170) to be concealed by the cord holder (114) and to extend out of the base (112) to secure the base (112) to the periphery of an architectural structure.
A tension cord mounting according to claim 11 further comprising a fixing member (140) having a body (142) defining an additional aperture (144) configured to receive the fastener (170) and at least one protrusion (146) extending substantially perpendicular to the body (142), wherein the base (112) defines at least one through hole (148) adjacent said aperture (144) and the fixing member (140) is configured to fit against the base (112) with the additional aperture (144) aligned with said aperture (122) and with the at least one protrusion (146) extending into and through the at least one through hole (148) so that, when the fastener (170) secures the base (112) to the periphery of an architectural structure, the fastener (170) presses onto the body (142) and thereby presses the at least one protrusion (146) through the at least one through hole (148) to engage with the periphery of the architectural structure.
An architectural covering for fitment to an architectural structure including one or more tension cord mountings according to any preceding claim.
A method of mounting a tension cord of an architectural covering to the periphery of an architectural structure by using a tension cord mounting having a base (112) configured to be secured to an outside edge of the architectural structure and a cord holder (114) to be secured to the base (112) and for securing one or more cords, the method including: providing at least one cord opening (126) between inner and outer surfaces of the cord holder (114); and providing at least one respective pathway between the inner and outer surfaces and arranging that pathway (128) to extend from a side edge of the cord holder (114), at an acute angle with the side edge, to the at least one cord opening (126).