EP3978717B1

EP3978717B1 - Roman shades

Info

Publication number: EP3978717B1
Application number: EP20200046.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nick Gerhardus Johannes Otten
Original assignee: Solopro Netherlands Holding BV
Current assignee: Solopro Netherlands Holding BV
Priority date: 2020-10-05
Filing date: 2020-10-05
Publication date: 2024-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 2040-10-05
Also published as: EP3978717A1; EP3978717C0

Description

The invention relates to a Roman shade according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a Roman shade is known from GB 2 394 745 A .
The basic design of Roman blinds consists of a length of cloth with a number of eyes arranged at discrete positions along the height of the cloth. A pull cord is extending through these eyes and is arranged with one end to the bottom of the cloth. When the pull cord is pulled by a user or by using for example a winch, the bottom of the cloth is pulled upwardly, while the pull cord slides through the eyes until the bottom of the cloth reaches the first eye from the bottom. Because the bottom of the cloth cannot pass the eye, said eye will be pulled along towards the second eye and so on. The cloth part between the bottom and the first eye from the bottom will fold in a loop like structure when seen in width direction of the length of cloth. Each cloth part between subsequent eyes will fold into a loop like structure.
So, when the Roman shade according to the preamble is fully raised, a stack of loop like cloth parts is present near the head bar, which can by bulky depending on the thickness of the length of cloth used for the Roman shade.
It is an object of the invention to reduce or even remove the above mentioned disadvantages.
This object is achieved according to the invention with a Roman shade according to claim 1.
The arrangement of fold lines ensures a more defined folding of the length of cloth, such that cloth parts do no longer fold into loop like structures, when the Roman shade is raised, but fold more like a harmonica shaped structure due to the defined fold lines.
To allow the length of cloth with the fold lines to fold more like a harmonica shaped structure, the eyes through which the at least one pull cord extends are arranged at every second fold line, such that between two eyes, two cloth parts are present, which can fold on top of each other, when the length of cloth is raised.
The advantage of the invention is that a more compact folding of the length of cloth is achieved, such that less space is required near the head bar of the Roman shade. This is of advantage with for example tilt and turn windows, where the Roman shade needs to be raised sufficiently high for the window to tilt or turn open.
In a the Roman shade according to the invention adjacent cloth parts are alternatingly folded with both front sides or both back sides together and the respective fold line is formed by a seam arranged in the edge zone where the two adjacent cloth parts are connected to each other.
In this embodiment the length of cloth can be composed out of separate cloth parts, which are folded together and then connected to each other by a seam arranged in the edge zone. Another option is to use a single length of cloth and fold the length of cloth in a harmonica style and provide a seam at each fold in the edge zone, such that cloth parts of the single length of cloth, which are in direct contact with each other, i.e. with the front sides or back sides contacting each other, are provided with a seam near the fold, in the edge zone.
In a preferred embodiment of the Roman shade according to the invention the seams are provided by stitches extending through both respective cloth parts. As stitching is a common manufacturing step in the production of Roman shades, it can easily be included in the production process.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the Roman shade according to the invention the length of cloth is movable in a raised position and a lowered position by operating the at least one pull cord, wherein the rectangular cloth parts extend with their width in substantially vertical direction both in the lowered position as well as the raised position.
Having the cloth parts extending in substantially vertical direction in the raised position ensures that basically a single cloth part is visible from the room, as all the other cloth parts are arranged behind the first cloth part. Especially due to the fold lines present between the cloth part a neatly folded Roman shade is obtained. It is an option to reduce the width of the cloth parts gradually to further improve the compact arrangement in raised position.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the Roman shade according to the invention the adjacent cloth parts have an equal width. The equal width of the cloth parts provides an aesthetic appearance and ensures that adjacent cloth parts can nicely fold together when the length of cloth is raised.
In still another embodiment of the Roman shade according to the invention a winch is arranged in the head bar and the at least one pull cord is connected to the winch such that the at least one pull cord can be rolled on and rolled of from the winch in order to raise or lower the length of cloth.
These and other features of the invention will be elucidated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view from the backside of an embodiment of a Roman shade according to the invention.
Figure 2 shows the Roman shade of figure 1 from the front.
Figure 3 shows a side view of the Roman shade according to figure 1.
Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the Roman shade of figure 1 in raised position.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a Roman shade 1 according to the invention. The roman shades 1 have a head bar 2, which houses a winch for two pull cords 3, 4. A length of cloth 5 is suspended from the hear bar 2. The length of cloth 5 has a plurality of rectangular cloth parts 6, which are connected to each other via fold lines 7.
The two pull cords 3, 4 extend through eyes 8, which are arranged at every second fold line 7.
Figure 2 shows the Roman shade 1 from the front side and in lowered position. From this figure it is already clear that the cloth parts are alternatingly contacting each other with their front side or with their back side at the fold line 7. Each of the cloth parts 6 extend with their width in gravitational or vertical direction G.
Figure 3 shows the Roman shade 1 from the side in more detail. The cloth parts 6 each have a front side 9 and a back side 10. Clearly shown is that alternatingly the front sides 9 of two adjacent cloth parts 6 are contacting each other at the edge zone of the cloth parts 6 and are stitched together by a stitch 11 to form a fold line 7. Also shown is that the cloth parts 6 can be a part of a single, continuous length of cloth.
Figure 4 shows the Roman shade 1 in raised position. The cloth parts 6 are folded into a harmonica like structure, which is almost fully hidden behind the top cloth part 6. All the cloth parts 6 extend with their width in gravitational or vertical direction G.

Claims

A Roman shade (1) comprising:
- a head bar (2);

- a length of cloth (5) suspended from the head bar (2) ;

- at least one pull cord (3, 4) arranged with one end at the bottom end of the length of cloth and extending along one side of the length of cloth (5) through a number of eyes (8) arranged at discrete positions along the height of the length of cloth (5) and up to the head bar (2)

wherein the length of cloth (5) is composed out of rectangular cloth parts (6), each having a front side (9) and a back side (10), the cloth parts (6) extending with their length parallel to the head bar (2), wherein adjacent cloth parts (6) are connected to each other along a fold line (7) extending parallel to the head bar (2) and wherein an eye (8) of the number of eyes is arranged at every second fold line (7), characterized in that

adjacent cloth parts (6) are alternatingly folded with both front sides (9) or both back sides (10) together and wherein the respective fold line (7) is formed by a seam (11) arranged in the edge zone where the two adjacent cloth parts (6) are connected to each other.
A Roman shade (1) according to claim 1, wherein the seams are provided by stitches (11) extending through both respective cloth parts (6).
A Roman shade (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the length of cloth (5) is movable in a raised position and a lowered position by operating the at least one pull cord (3, 4), wherein the rectangular cloth parts (6) extend with their width in substantially vertical direction both in the lowered position as well as the raised position.
A Roman shade (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the adjacent cloth parts (6) have an equal width.
A Roman shade (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a winch is arranged in the head bar (2) and wherein the at least one pull cord (3, 4) is connected to the winch such that the at least one pull cord (3, 4) can be rolled on and rolled of from the winch in order to raise or lower the length of cloth (5).