EP3472418B1

EP3472418B1 - Fastener for a window covering, and a method for fastening a window covering to a sheet element

Info

Publication number: EP3472418B1
Application number: EP17735613.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Arto Avelin
Original assignee: Osio Oy
Current assignee: Osio Oy
Priority date: 2016-06-16
Filing date: 2017-06-13
Publication date: 2021-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 2037-06-13
Also published as: FI128336B; FI20165501A; EP3472418A1; WO2017216422A1

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention is concerned with a sun protection system, a window covering, a fastener for a window covering, and a method for fastening a window covering to a sun protection system.

BACKGROUND

Window coverings are material used to cover a window to manage sunlight, to provide additional weatherproofing, to ensure privacy or sometimes security, or for purely decorative purposes. Window coverings can be on the interior side of windows, but exterior solutions are also available.
A window blind is a type of window covering. There are many different kinds of window blinds which use a variety of control systems. A typical window blind is made up of several long horizontal or vertical slats of various types of hard material, including wood, plastic or metal which are held together by cords that run through the blind slats. Window blinds can be adjusted by rotating them from an open position to a closed position with either a manual or remote control which allows the slats to overlap and block out most of the light.
There are also several other types of window coverings, such as shades or pleated blinds. Pleated blinds use a single piece of soft material, such as stiff paper, fabric, cloth or cell-constructed textiles, instead of slats. Pleated blinds have a different type of an opening and closing mechanism than usual blinds. In blinds, the lifting mechanism of each string or cord is separate but in a pleated blind they are combined. Pleated blinds are usually used for interior decoration.
Blinds and shades and pleated blinds are used both inside apartments at the windows of those and at the glass elements of balconies and terraces outside the real apartment.
A typical blind or shade comprises an upper support member, a lower support member, and slats there between. Each slat has holes, through which the lifting cord extends between the upper support member and the lower support member. The lower support member can be lifted up by means of lifting cords and the slats thus follow it up or down. In addition, there are adjusting cords at the holes on both edges of the slats. The adjusting cords are connected to an axle at the upper support member, whereby a rotation of the axle clockwise or counterclockwise causes a closing or opening of the slats. The axle is connected to an adjusting lever via wheels. The axle can be rotated by turning the adjusting lever.
The support members usually comprise a U-formed profile or a profile with the form of a right-angled box, the top side of which is open and the vertical sides of which, or the sc. "legs" or "branches" of which have folded ends. The form of profile of the upper support member is such that mechanical parts, such as an axle that steers the turning cords, wheels that are connected to the axle, and support constructions for the axle, can be placed inside. The primary function of the lower support member is to work as a weight or reinforcement, so that the blind or shade should set into right position when being drawn down.
When the blind or shade is mounted to the glass element of a balcony or terrace, the upper support member of it, and usually also the lower support member, are both fastened to an upper or lower list profile of the glass element, respectively, by means of a fastener. In similarity with the upper and lower support members, also the upper or lower list profiles of the glass element have a U-form or the form of a right-angled box, the top side of which is open and the vertical sides of which, or the sc. "legs" or "branches" of which have folded ends.
The glass elements have to be released when the blind or shade is connected to those, whereby the upper part of the fastener is placed from above to the upper or lower list profile to the profile opening of the upper support member or the lower support member.
The object of this invention is a solution enabling an easier mounting of a window covering.
EP patent application 1 221 530 A2 is mentioned as a solution of prior art for a fastener to be fastened on a list profile of a window or a door.
US patent 513,610 discloses another prior art solution for a window shade fixture.

SUMMARY

The fastener of the invention for a window covering comprising an upper support member, a lower support member and a piece of soft material or slats there between is adapted to join the upper support member to a list profile of a sheet element. The fastener is a clamp to be engaged to the list profile of the sheet element so that the list profile is clamped between the ends of the fastener. The fastener comprises a base, below which there is a narrower part for tightly fastening the lower part of the fastener to the upper support member. There is an upper part above the base, wherein the upper part is provided with an upper end part comprising a hook, which is formed by an angled portion. The upper part and the base have a shape for allowing opposite surfaces of the fastener and the list profile to fit each other thereby enabling a tight fastening.
The invention is also concerned with a window covering comprising such a fastener.
The window covering is for example a blind, a sunshade or another kind of a shade and the sheet element is usually a glass element.
Furthermore, the invention is concerned with a sun protection system, which comprises one or more installed sheet elements, and a window covering of the above kind.
Still further, the invention is concerned with a method for fastening such a window covering to a sheet element of a sun protection system of the above kind, by placing one of the ends of the fastener against the upper or lower part of the list profile of the sheet element and then pressing the other end part of the fastener against the lower or upper part of the list profile of the sheet element in order to join together the support profile of the sheet element and the list profile of the sheet element in the system in such a way that the opposite surfaces of the fastener and the list profile fit each other thereby enabling a tight fastening.
The preferable embodiments of the invention have the features of the sub claims.
One fastener can e.g. be connected to the upper list profile fastened to the upper support member of a window covering and one other fastener to the lower list profile fastened to the lower support member of a window covering.
The fastener can be an upper fastener to be fastened to the upper list profile of a sheet element or a lower fastener to be fastened to the lower list profile of a sheet element.
The end(s) of the fastener have a shape that allows opposite surfaces of the fastener and the list profile to fit each other thereby enabling a tight fastening.
The fastener can be a kind of a clamp to be engaged to the list profile of the sheet element, whereby it clamps and/or squeezes the list profile between its ends.
The shapes of the fastener and of the list profile to which the fastener is fastened and/or its ends have angled, straight, curved, odd or irregular portions
The window covering of the invention can thanks to the inventive fastener be fastened to a list profile simply by pressing it on place without the need of demounting any other construction pieces. In a conventional solution, the glass elements of a balcony have to be opened and the fastener has to be pressed to the upper or lower list profile of the glass element from above. Thus, the window covering of the invention can be fastened afterwards in connection with the inner surface of a glass element without the need of disengaging existing constructions.
The fastening even allows for a removing of the window covering without opening or down-mounting any parts of the glass construction.
The fastener of the invention can be fastened to the upper or lower list profiles of any panel, glass element, glass panel, sheet, window or glazing that have upper or lower list profiles to which these are fastened. Primarily, however, the invention is meant to be used in connection with glass elements of glass terraces and of balcony glasses.
The fastener of the invention can thus be an upper fastener to be fastened to the upper list profile of a glass element or a lower fastener to be fastened to the lower list profile of a glass element.
The idea of the fastener is that the shape of the fastener and/or the ends thereof enable(s) a tight fastening to the list profile of the glass element or other sheet element.
The fastener of the invention works as a kind of a clamp, nip, or nipper that remains engaged to a list profile of the glass element by clamping and/or squeezing the list profile between its ends.
Instead of functioning like pliers consisting of a pair of levers joined at a fulcrum and creating short jaws on one side of the fulcrum, the function of the fastener of the invention reminds of a hairband that holds the hair of a person on place by being tightly fitted around the head in that the fastener of the invention is tightly around the list profile in a similar way.
The function of the fastener of the invention is even improved when it is fitted around the shape of the list profile and/or when its ends are fitted around the shape of the list profile or around parts of the list profile or around ends or edges thereof. The shape of the list profile (and so the fastener and/or its ends) can have angled, straight, curved, odd or irregular portions.
The fastener of the invention or parts thereof can be tightly fitted around and/or against a list profile the whole way along the opposite surfaces of the fastener and the list profile or only along a part of the surfaces.
The tight fastening can be further improved by a bent, angled, curved or indented end part or other type of shape in the upper and/or lower part of the fastener, such as a hook, or other type of shape joining the surface of a part of the list profile and the fastener together.
Thus, the bent, angled, curved or indented end part, such as the hook, can be adapted to hold against an edge of the list profile and can go over the edge or surround it. The edge can be a fold in the list profile of a sheet element.
The end(s) of the fastener can further have a type of an angled prolonged portion, a barb or point to at least partly surround, follow or go over an edge in the upper profile.
There can be such an edge when the list profile of a glass element is U-formed or has the form of a right-angled box with an open top side (having an upper profile opening) and the vertical sides of which, the sc. "legs" or "branches" of which have folded ends. The bent, folded or angled end, the hook, point or barb of the fastener of the invention can at least partly surround said fold and thereby provide an especially stable and strong fastening.
In the fastening method of the invention and in the design of the fastener, there is made use of the existing shape and form of the list profiles to which the fastener is fastened.
The fastener of the invention can have different forms and be fastened to different types of upper profiles, examples of which are presented in the figures.
In the following, different embodiments of the invention will be described by referring to figures.

FIGURES

Figure 1 presents the innovative part of the sun protection system of the invention
Figures 2 - 13 present different embodiments of the innovative fasteners connected to different types of list profiles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 illustrates the innovative part of an embodiment of the sun protection system of the invention, which comprises glass elements of a glass system in a balcony. The upper part of a window covering, like a blind or shade, can be seen in figure 1 from the side. The window covering comprises a fastener 60 of the invention also seen from the side. Seen from the front the fastener has a breadth of only a few centimeters, preferably 2cm - 3cm, such as 2,5 cm, while the breadth of the window covering has approximately a breadth corresponding to the breadth of the window it is supposed to cover.
The glass system of the balcony comprises glass elements 10, which are matched with an upper profile list 51, which is connected to the glass element 10.
The window covering, which has an upper support member 21, is connected to the upper list profile 51 via a protective part 1 by means of a fastener 60. Thus, the protective part 1 is fastened both to the upper support member 21 of the blind and to the inventive fastener 60 of the glass element 10. The protective part 1 has a body part 2, upper fastener parts 3 and lower fastener parts 4.
There can be a lower profile list, at the lower part of the glass element 10, which is not shown.
The upper list profile 51 is fastened directly or via a separate adjusting profile to the ceiling of the balcony and the lower profile list (not shown) is fastened to the front wall of the balcony.
The window covering comprises an upper support member 21, a lower support member (not shown) and slats (not shown) there between. Furthermore, it comprises a turning mechanism (not shown), with which the slats can be opened and shut and a lifting mechanism (not shown), with which the slats and the lower support member can be lifted up to an upper position and be lowered to a lower position. The lifting mechanism consists of two adjusting cords (not shown). Each slat has holes on a distance from the ends of the slats. Each lifting cord extends through these holes from the upper support member 21 to the lower support member. The lifting cords have been lead out from the upper support member 21 to the side so that the lower support member with the slats can be lifted up and down again by means of them. The adjusting cords are connected to an axle in the upper support member 21, whereby a rotation of the axle clockwise and counterclockwise causes opening and shutting of the slats.
The axle is connected to an adjusting lever via wheels. The axle can be rotated by turning the adjusting lever. There are mechanical parts inside the profile of the upper support member 21, such as an axle that steers the turning cords, the wheels that are connected to the axle and support constructions for the axle. The lifting mechanism and the turning mechanism used in the window covering are standard solutions well known for one skilled in the art and they are therefore not explained here in detail.
All kinds of forms and profiles of the support members and the list profiles are included in the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims. They usually comprise a U-formed profile or a profile with the form of a right-angled box, which has an open top side and folded vertical sides. Typically, the height of the upper support member is bigger than that of the lower support member and typically, the folds of the lower support member are round-shaped.
The fastener 60 has a base 61, below which there is a narrower part 62, thanks to which the lower part of the fastener 60 can be tightly fastened to the protective part 1. The narrower part 62 can be compact or form a framework. The protective part 1 is of light metal, preferably aluminum. Thus, the protective part 1 is fastened both to the upper support member 21 of the blind and to the inventive fastener 60 of the glass element 10.
The protective part 1 has a body part 2, upper fastener parts 3 and lower fastener parts 4. The upper fastener parts 3 consist of edge parts, which are vertical to the horizontal body part 2 and which have folded side ends, which are pressing the narrow part 62 when the fastener 60 is placed to the protective part 1. The lower fastener parts 4 of the protective part 1 consist of vertical protrusions.
The profile of the upper support member 21 is such that mechanical parts can be inserted therein such as an axle that steers the turning cords, wheels that are connected to the axle and support constructions for the axle. The protective part 1 is placed in the upper support member 21 to protect the mechanical parts placed therein and in such a way that there is space enough for these mechanical parts below the protective part 1 and inside the profile of the upper support member 21. The upper support member 21 comprises a box-like right-angled profile, which has an opening on the top side and wherein there are curved folds 32 at the ends of the vertical "sides" or "legs" of the "box". These folds 32 press the protrusions 4 of the protective part 1 when the protective part 1 is placed in the upper support member 21. In solutions, which do not have any protective part, the lower part of the fastener 60 can be directly fastened to the upper support member 21 of the window covering.
The fastener 60 is also connected to the upper list profile 51 of the glass element 10. There is an opening 51b in the upper list profile 51. The hook or hook-like part 63a in the upper part 60a of the fastener 60 will lie against the edge 51a of the opening 52. The hook or hook-like part 63a can be curved or have an angle, such as a right angle (90 degrees). A corresponding hook or hook-like part 63b will lie below the upper list profile 51 pressed against it.
Thus, the fastener 60 works in the embodiment of figure 1 as a clamp that is engaged to the upper list profile 51 of the glass element 10 by clamping and/or squeezing the upper list profile 51 between its ends by means of the hooks 63a and 63b.
The fastener 60 has a shape allowing opposite surfaces of the fastener 60 and the upper list profile 51 to fit each other thereby enabling a tight fastening. In figure 1, the shape of the fastener has both angles and straight, curved, and irregular portions. The shape of the list profile 51 to which the fastener 60 is fastened has straight and curved portions. Thus, parts of the fastener 60 are tightly fitted around the upper list profile 51 along a part of the opposite surfaces of the fastener 60 and the upper list profile 51. There are portions at which the opposite surfaces of the fastener 60 and the upper list profile 51 that are tightly fit against each other are straight surfaces. The fastener thus joins the surface of a part of the list profile and the fastener together tightly and also between the hooks 63a and 63b.
In figure 1, the upper end part of the fastener 60 is a hook 63a, which is formed by an angled portion. The lower end part of the fastener is a similar hook 63b but both of them or at least one of them could also be just a part that fits along the surface of the upper list profile 50. The upper end part of the fastener 60 thus holds against and partly surrounds an edge 51a in the opening of the list profile 51, the edge being formed by a fold in the opening.
Figures 2 - 13 present different embodiments of the innovative fasteners connected to different types of list profiles 51, 52.
Figures 2 - 7 present different embodiments of fasteners connected to different types of upper list profiles 51.
In figures 2 and 6, the functioning of the fastener is the same as in figure 1 but the upper list profile 51 has a different form. Like in figure 1, the portions at which the opposite surfaces of the fastener 60 and the upper list profile 51 are tightly fit against each are straight surfaces.
Figure 3 corresponds to figure 1 being a part thereof, the functioning of the fastener being the same as in figure 1.
The functioning of the fastener of figures 4 and 5 is otherwise the same as in figure 1, but there is a hook 63a or a hook-like form only in the upper end of the fastener 60. The portions at which the opposite surfaces of the fastener 60 and the upper list profile 51 are tightly fit against each are curved surfaces. The lower end part of the fastener has no hook and just fits along the surface of the upper list profile 51.
In figure 7, the functioning of the fastener is the same as in figure 1 but the upper list profile has a different form. The portions at which the opposite surfaces of the fastener 60 and the upper list profile 51 are tightly fit against each are almost straight surfaces just a little curved. There is a hook 63a and 63b both in the upper and the lower end part of the fastener 60. Figures 8 - 13 present different embodiments of fasteners connected to different types of lower list profiles 52.
In figure 8, there is a hook both in the upper end and the lower end of the fastener 60 but the opposite surfaces of the fastener 60 and the lower list profile 52 do not face each other on other places.
In figures 9, 12, and 13, there is a hook 63b only in the lower end of the fastener 60 (that has angled lower part) and the opposite surfaces of the fastener 60 and the lower list profile 52 also face each other on other places, wherein the surfaces are straight. The upper end part of the fastener 60 has no hook and just fits along the surface of the lower list profile 52.
In figures 10 and 11, there is a hook only in the lower end of the fastener 60 and the opposite surfaces of the fastener 60 and the lower list profile 52 do not follow each other along on other places, just touch. The upper end part of the fastener 60 has no hook and just fits along the surface of the lower list profile 52.

Claims

Fastener (60) for a window covering comprising an upper support member (21), a lower support member and a piece of soft material or slats there between, wherein the fastener (60) is adapted to join the upper support member (21) to a list profile (51, 52) of a sheet element (10),
wherein the fastener (60) is a clamp to be engaged to the list profile (51, 52) of the sheet element (10) so that the list profile (51, 52) is clamped between the ends of the fastener,

characterized in that

the fastener (60) comprises a base (61), below which there is a narrower part (62) for tightly fastening the lower part of the fastener (60) to the upper support member (21), and an upper part (60a) above the base (61), wherein the upper part (60a) is provided with an upper end part comprising a hook (63a), which is formed by an angled portion,

wherein the upper part (60a) and the base (61) have a shape for allowing opposite surfaces of the fastener (60) and the list profile (51, 52) to fit each other thereby enabling a tight fastening.
The fastener (60) of claim 1, characterized in that the fastener (60) is an upper fastener to be fastened to the upper list profile (51) of a sheet element (10).
The fastener (60) of claim 1, characterized in that the fastener (60) is a lower fastener to be fastened to the lower list profile (52) of a sheet element (10).
The fastener (60) of any of claims 1 - 3, characterized by the end(s) of the fastener (60) having a shape allowing opposite surfaces of the fastener (60) and the list profile (51, 52) to fit each other thereby enabling a tight fastening in such a way that the fastener (60) or parts thereof is/are tightly fitted against and/or surrounds the list profile (51, 52) the whole way along the opposite surfaces of the fastener (60) and the list profile (51, 52) or only along a part of the surfaces.
The fastener (60) of any of claims 1 - 4, characterized in that the shape of the upper and/or lower part of the fastener (60) and/or its ends has bent, angled, straight, curved, intended, odd, or irregular portions, or other type of shape joining the surface of a part of the list profile (51, 52) and the fastener (60) together.
The fastener (60) of any of claims 1 - 5, characterized in that at a lower end part of the fastener (60) is a hook (63b), an angled prolonged portion, a barb, or a point.
Window covering, comprising an upper member (21), a lower support member, a piece of soft material or slats there between, and a fastener (60) of any of claims 1-6.
Window covering according to claim 7, characterized in that the window covering is a blind, shade or a sunshade.
Sun protection system comprising one or more installed sheet elements (10), a list profile (51, 52) fastened to the one or more sheet elements (10) and a window covering of any of claims 7 and 8.
Sun protection system of claim 9, characterized in that the shape of the list profile (51, 52) to which the fastener (60) is fastened has angled, straight, curved, odd or irregular portions.
Sun protection system of claim 10 or 9, characterized in that an end part of the fastener (60) is held against an edge of the list profile (51, 52).
Sun protection system of any of claims 9 - 11, characterized in that an end part of the fastener (60) surrounds an edge of the list profile (51, 52).
Method for fastening a window covering according to claim 8 to a sheet element (10) of a sun protection system of any of claims 9-12, which comprises one or more installed sheet elements (10), a window covering with an upper support member (21), a lower support member and a piece of soft material or slats there between, the method comprising connecting a fastener (60) according to any of claims 1-6 to a list profile (51, 52) fastened to the sheet element (10), and characterized by placing one of the ends of the fastener (60) against the upper or lower part of the list profile (51, 52) of the sheet element (10) and then pressing the other end part of the fastener (60) against the lower or upper part of the list profile (51, 52) of the sheet element (10) in order to join together the fastener (60) and the list profile (51, 52) of the sheet element (10) in the system in such a way that the opposite surfaces of the fastener (60) and the list profile (51, 52) fit each other thereby enabling a tight fastening.
Method of claim 13, characterized in that the fastener (60) is connected to the upper list profile (51) fastened to the upper support member (21) of a window covering and/or one other fastener (60) is connected to the lower list profile (52) fastened to the lower support member of a window covering.