Technical Field
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The present invention relates to an external screening arrangement for a roof window, said roof window comprising a frame and optionally a sash, the screening arrangement being configured to assume a supply condition, a mounted condition in which the screening arrangement is mounted on an exterior side of the roof window, and a condition of use, said screening arrangement comprising a top casing configured to be mounted at a top of the roof window and defining a screening arrangement width direction of the screening arrangement in the mounted condition, a bottom element extending substantially in parallel with the top casing and being accommodated in part or in its entirety within the top casing in the supply condition and being movable relative to the top casing in a screening arrangement length direction in the condition of use, a roller assembly accommodated in the top casing, comprising a roller bar connected to drive means, a screening body having a top portion connected to the roller assembly and a bottom portion fastened to the bottom element, two side rails having a substantially longitudinal configuration extending between a top end and a bottom end to define a longitudinal direction, said top end being configured to be connected to the top casing during mounting such that each side rail extends substantially in parallel with the screening arrangement length direction perpendicular to the screening arrangement width direction defined by the top casing in the mounted condition, a cord system including at least one cord connected to the roller assembly and accommodated in a respective side rail in the mounted condition, at least one return element for the respective at least one cord of the cord system, and a transportation assembly comprising means for holding components of the screening arrangement in the supply condition. The invention furthermore relates to a method of mounting an external screening arrangement.
Background Art
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Screening arrangements positioned in front of windows to cover the window opening from direct sunlight in the screening position are common. Such screening arrangements are typically either positioned on the interior or the exterior side of the window opening to be screened. Internal screening arrangements include roller blinds, Venetian blinds, pleated blinds are typically retailed through a variety of channels including web shops and DIY stores, and the mounting of the screening arrangement in the frame of the roof window is traditionally carried out by the customers themselves since the components of such internal screening arrangements are relatively light-weight and the installation site is normally immediately accessible from the inside of the building in which the roof window is installed. External screening arrangements are from the outset made from sturdier and heavier materials than internal screening arrangements, and the installation site involves handling components to the exterior of the building which renders mounting more complicated. This is particularly pronounced in external roof window screening arrangements, that is, screening arrangements that are configured to be installed on the exterior side of a roof window mounted in a roof having an inclination other than vertical.
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Since the components of external screening arrangements are relatively heavy and the installation conditions challenging, great efforts have been made to secure proper transportation and handling and to facilitate the installer's working conditions. One example is shown in Applicant's international application No.
WO 2006/074654 A1 . Here, a robust clamp of a plastic material provides protection during transportation and support during the mounting process. Two such clamps are provided, and once the mounting procedure has been completed, the clamps are discarded. While these clamps have proven to function very well over the years, both in terms of safe transportation and ease of installation as proven for instance by commercially available external screening products "SSS" and "MSL" by VELUX
®.
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However, there is an ever-increasing demand for providing products that are more environmentally friendly on several parameters.
Summary
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With this background, it is an object of the invention to provide an external screening arrangement, which has a smaller climate footprint, while maintaining safe and easy transportation and mounting.
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In a first aspect, this and further objects are met by an external screening arrangement of the kind mentioned in the introduction, which is furthermore characterised in that said transportation assembly comprises a set of cord holders, each cord holder being made from a planar blank of a paper-based material defining a blank length direction and a blank width direction, that each cord holder is formed to comprise at least a base section, a cord holding section adjoining the base section at a lower end thereof and provided with cord holding means, and a temporary abutment section adjoining the base section at an upper end thereof and being formed with an increased cross-sectional height relative to the base section in the supply condition of the screening arrangement, that the at least one return element is connected to the respective cord holder in the supply condition of the screening arrangement, and in that the base section is positioned in abutment with a top side of the bottom element and the temporary abutment section is held in abutment with an internal portion of the top casing opposite the bottom element in the supply condition of the screening arrangement.
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By providing the transportation assembly to include only disposable parts of a paper-based material, these parts are able to be collected with other recycling material, for instance together with any cardboard packaging material. This has proven to reduce the carbon footprint and to contribute to the overall sustainability of the product. In comparison to the clamps of the prior art, a further advantage is that in case only one cord is provided, only one cord holder is necessary, while two clamps are always present in the prior art.
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While the side rails of the screening arrangement are not part of a full package to be handled, the mounting process is still facilitated since the cord(s) of the cord system is/are in check on the respective cord holder. Adding to the facilitated installation is the fact that the weight and bulk of the side rails need no longer be handled together with the top casing.
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In this way, an external roof window screening arrangement is obtained, by which it is possible to offer an improved sustainability performance with facilitated installation conditions even taking the robust components of such a screening arrangement into account.
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The increased cross-sectional height of the temporary abutment section is preferably chosen such that the combined height of the temporary abutment section and the base section is at least the same as or exceeds the distance between the top side of the bottom element and the internal portion of the top casing opposite the bottom element.
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The temporary abutment section may be formed by the geometrical configuration of the planar blank of paper-based material in the form of a single sheet of paper-based material by for instance folding, or of a layered structure of a planar blank and one or more additional blanks or sheets.
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The paper-based material of the planar blank may be compressible, either in its entirety or formed with a compressible section of larger thickness.
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In the supply condition, the enlarged temporary abutment section formed by the planar blank provides a bias by the interaction of the adjoining base section with the top side of the bottom element and the abutment of the temporary abutment section with the opposing portion of the top casing, thus preventing unintentional retraction under normal handling conditions. The bias may be achieved either by the geometrical configuration of the cord holder, by the compressibility of the planar bland or other constituent additional blanks or sheets, or by a combination thereof. The bias is to be interpreted as the presence of any forces resulting in a resistance to being moved out of engagement from the top casing and the bottom element.
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As each cord holder is however only held in its supply condition temporarily, the cord holder is easily retracted from its position in the supply condition by pulling the cord holder downwards in its blank length direction, thus overcoming the bias and deforming the temporary abutment section to loosen the hold and allow complete retraction of the cord holder from the gap formed between the top side of the bottom element and the opposing portion of the top casing. The bottom element provides a well-defined support surface at its top side; however, it is conceivable also to allow the base section of the cord holder abut the screening body, at least partly.
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The return element associated to the cord is of a relatively limited size and is able to fit on or to a cord holder of a reasonable size; this contributes to the reduction of the carbon footprint while still maintaining due regard to facilitating the installation process.
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The connection between the return element and the cord holder may take place by overlapping the return element on the cord holder at least partly, or by allowing the return element to hang on to the cord holder via the associated cord.
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By the term "paper-based material" is meant such materials that are produced from vegetable or plant material. Typically, such plant materials comprise a suitable content of cellulose fibres. While paper is usually made from wood fibres, other plant fibres including fibres originating from straw, bamboo, bagasse, esparto, other grasses, hemp, flax, manila, jute, and cotton may also be used, including combinations of different types of fibres. The term "substantially from a paper-based material" encompasses a content of plant materials of at least 95%. The components of the transportation assembly may comprise small amounts of non-paper material, such as glue or adhesive, used for example for giving them a desired shape or for attachment to themselves or to other items; coatings for giving them desired surface properties; mixed in polymers serving as reinforcement or for making them weldable; or other non-plant material typically employed in paper sizing processes, etc. These non-paper materials, however, preferably do not constitute more than a maximum of 5% by weight of the component, and it is preferred that these materials are biodegradable.
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In an embodiment, each planar blank configured to form a respective cord holder is substantially rectangular with a width and a length. Rectangular blanks are easy to manufacture and handle. Preferably, the length of the blank is larger than the width, more preferably by a factor 2 to 5, even more preferably by a factor 2.5 to 4. A longer blank makes it possible to provide sufficient room for the windings of the cord and for the return element. It is also advantageous that the planar blank has such a length relative to the width that the cord holder is accessible by the installer when removing the cord holder from the top casing as part of the installation process. The relative smaller width contributes to the compactness of the screening arrangement in the vicinity of the opening of the top casing to allow unimpeded accommodation of the bottom element. However, other shapes are conceivable, including wholly or partly rounded shapes such as including rounded corners, oval shapes or formed as a circular disk.
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The above embodiment is particularly advantageous in combination with a further development in which each return element has a predefined width and wherein the width of the associated planar blank corresponds substantially to the predefined width of the return element. This configuration allows for a particularly compact packaging of the screening arrangement in the supply condition since the return element is then able to be placed transversely on the cord holder with optimum utilisation of the available space. Preferably, each return element comprises a main body of a generally semi-cylindrical configuration and having a predefined length, a predefined width, and a predefined height, more preferably the predefined width of each return element is larger than the predefined length and/or predefined height of the return element, most preferably by a factor 1.5 to 4.
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In a further embodiment, the temporary abutment section is formed by folding the planar blank along a first folding line such that the temporary abutment section forms at least one flange overlapping the adjoining base section partly. The folding of the planar blank is the simplest form of providing sufficient resistance towards unintentional withdrawal of the cord holder from the top casing. The top part or edge of the flange is able to hold the cord holder in place in combination with the squeezing action provided by the base section bracing against the top side of the bottom element. Nevertheless, the grip is easily loosened by a firm pull of the cord holder when the screening arrangement has been supplied and is ready to be installed.
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In a preferred further development, the temporary abutment section is formed to comprise a substantially planar flange forming an acute angle with the base section. Folding back the temporary abutment section to a planar flange renders the manufacture of the cord holder particularly easy and provides a reliable grip of the cord holder in the supply condition.
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Alternatively to forming the planar blank to form a flange which is simply planar as the rest of the blank as in the above, the temporary abutment section may be formed to comprise a curved flange, a tangent of which at the first folding line forms an acute angle with the base section. Such a curved flange also provides good holding properties in the supply condition while being easily deformed to allow retraction.
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Regardless of the shape of the flange, the temporary abutment section may be formed to comprise additional flanges joining the flange forming an acute angle with the base section. In this way, the temporary abutment section may easily be formed with a desirable thickness to ensure proper holding of the cord holder.
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In a mechanically simple embodiment, the cord holding section adjoining the base section at a lower end thereof is substantially parallel to the base section. In this way, the cord holder may be formed as a hook-shaped element with the base section and cord holding section in a continuous plane. This configuration also renders the portion of the cord holder outside the top casing immediately accessible
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To improve compactness and thereby ease packaging and handling of the screening arrangement, an alternative embodiment is devised in which the cord holding section adjoins the base section at a second folding line at a lower end of the base section and forms an angle relative to the base section. The compactness is optimised if the cord holding section is folded in an opposite direction relative to the increased cross-sectional height of the temporary abutment section.
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In a further embodiment, the cord holder comprises an insert section adjoining the cord holding section at a lower end thereof and configured to interact with a bottom portion of the bottom element. In this way, the lower portion of the cord holder may be tucked away and partially accommodated within the top casing. This configuration allows for packaging of other components of the screening arrangement, or any auxiliary co-packaged equipment, close to the top casing without interference with the cord holder(s). Preferably, said insert section adjoins the cord holding section at a third folding line to form at least a first insert section part, more preferably the insert section is folded also at a fourth folding line to form a second insert section part. The provision of such folding lines facilitates assembly of the screening arrangement in preparation of the supply condition.
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Depending on the length of the screening body, the length of the cord(s) may be quite substantial. As a consequence, the windings of the cord on the respective cord holder may take up quite some length of the cord holding section - or conversely, the cord holding section may be provided with a substantial length. In order to still provide a degree of compactness, the cord holding section may be folded on itself along a fifth folding line.
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While the base section of the cord holder should advantageously be kept free of any windings of the cord and the return element itself, the position of the return element on the cord holder may in principle be chosen arbitrarily. In one embodiment, the return element is connected to the cord holder in the cord holding section. In this way, the cord may be utilised to keep the return element safely on the cord holder.
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To obtain full flexibility in the positioning of the return element, each return element may be positioned with its width, length or height direction along the length direction of the planar blank or along the width direction of the planar blank.
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In one embodiment, the cord holding means of each cord holder comprise locking means for the associated cord of the cord system, preferably in the form of at least one cut in the longitudinal edge(s) of the planar blank. This provision contributes to the structural integrity of the components of the external screening arrangement in the supply condition.
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In a further development of this embodiment, the locking means for the associated cord comprise at least one set of cuts in opposing longitudinal edges of the planar blank. Such cuts for receiving parts of the cord provides for a well-known and reliable locking. In combination with embodiments comprising folding lines, the set(s) of cuts preferably substantially coincide(s) with such folding lines.
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In one embodiment, which is particularly advantageous not only from a transportation and supply point of view but also during installation, each return element is configured to be inserted into an end cap of the associated side rail, said end cap being located at a longitudinally opposite end to the top casing. The side rails are provided separately, outside the unit comprising the top casing with roller assembly, drive means, rolled-up screening body, bottom element, and the cord holder(s) with associated cord and return element, and may in principle be mounted as soon as the top casing is in place on the roof window.
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The return element may take any suitable form allowing proper performance in its function of providing the desired path of the cord. In one embodiment, each return element comprises a guide part around which the respective cord is guided to provide a change of direction of the cord.
-
In a further development of this embodiment, each cord is guided from a winding device connected to the roller assembly, around the respective return element and up to the bottom element in the mounted condition of the screening arrangement, a tensioning device being preferably provided in the bottom element.
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Contrary to internal screening arrangements, the inertia of the relatively heavy components of the external screening arrangement will in principle be sufficient to ensure structural integrity in the supply condition. However, it is also conceivable to configure the drive means such that they block the roller bar from rotating in the supply condition, thereby preventing the bottom element to move out of the top casing.
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In a second aspect, a method of mounting an external screening arrangement is devised.
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In such a method, the top casing of the screening arrangement will be connected to the top of the roof window. Only after the top casing is in place, the cord holder(s) of the transportation assembly will be removed from the position assumed in the supply condition. This makes it possible to perform the connecting operation without the risk of the cord(s) becoming entangled, thus complicating the mounting or even endangering the integrity of the cords. The side rails may be connected independently to the top casing; once connected, the return element(s) may be connected to the end cap of the respective side rail.
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Other presently preferred embodiments and further advantages will be apparent from the subsequent detailed description and drawings.
-
A feature described in relation to one of the aspects may also be incorporated in the other aspect, and the advantage of the feature is applicable to all aspects in which it is incorporated.
Brief Description of Drawings
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In the following description embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings, in which
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art screening arrangement mounted on a roof window;
- FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic views showing steps during installation of a prior art screening arrangement;
- FIGS. 4 to 6 are perspective views of a screening arrangement in an embodiment of the invention during mounting on a roof window;
- FIG. 7 is a partial sectional perspective view of a screening arrangement in an embodiment of the invention;
- FIG. 8 is a sectional end view of the screening arrangement of FIG. 7;
- FIGS. 9 to 11 are perspective views of a screening arrangement in an embodiment of the invention during mounting on a roof window;
- FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view of a screening arrangement in an alternative embodiment of the invention;
- FIGS. 13 to 18 are schematic side views showing alternative configurations of the cord holder and
- FIG. 19 is a plan view of a planar blank configured to form a cord holder of an external screening arrangement in an embodiment of the invention.
Description of Embodiments
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In the following detailed description, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described. However, it is to be understood that features of the different embodiments are exchangeable between the embodiments and may be combined in different ways, unless anything else is specifically indicated. It may also be noted that, for the sake of clarity, the dimensions of certain components illustrated in the drawings may differ from the corresponding dimensions in real-life implementations.
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It is noted that terms such as "up", "down", "left-hand", "right-hand", "exterior", "interior", "outer", "inner" are relative and refers to the viewpoint in question. By "front side" and "back side", respectively, are meant sides of elements facing the interior and the exterior, respectively. Correspondingly, terms such as "top", "bottom", "side" etc. denote the position of components in a mounted condition. In general, when referred to an exterior side, this relates to a side of a roof window or a screening arrangement in the mounted condition facing the outdoors or external side of the building. Conversely, an interior side refers to a side facing the internal side of the building, i.e. typically a subjacent room including any light shaft. Terms such as "outwards" and "inwards" are directions generally perpendicular to an interior-exterior direction, taking as its base point a centre of the roof window or screening arrangement.
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Referring initially to FIG. 1, a prior art screening arrangement generally designated 10' is shown, mounted on a roof window 1 comprising a frame 2. In the shown configuration, the roof window 1 comprises a sash 3 carrying a pane 4 and which is pivotable about a centre axis by means of a set of hinges 5. The sash 3 may also be top-hung or fixed relative to the frame 2, which is fastened stationarily to a roof structure (not shown).
-
Alternatively, the pane 4 may be fixed directly to the frame 2, thus rendering the sash 3 redundant.
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The frame 2 and sash 3 are here formed as substantially rectangular structures, each comprising a top member 2.1, 3.1, two parallel side members 2.2, 2.3, 3.2, 3.3, and a bottom member 2.4, 3.4.
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FIG. 1 corresponds in substance to Fig. 2a in each of Applicant's international applications
WO 2021/104593 A1 and
WO 2021/104594 A1 and reference is made to the accompanying counterpart description of each of these documents.
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FIGS. 2 and 3 show excerpts of an installation manual "VELUX Solar SSS/MSL" of commercially available products SSS and MSL by VELUX®. Details shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 correspond in substance to corresponding details of the contents of Applicant's above-mentioned WO publications.
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Only details of relevance to the present invention are indicated and will be described in detail. Elements having the same or analogous function as in the present invention are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawing figures, unless indicated by ' for highlighting differences.
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In the present context, the prior art screening arrangement 10' and an external screening arrangement 10 in embodiments of the invention will be described jointly as screening arrangements to be mounted on the exterior side of the roof window, i.e., the side facing the surroundings.
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The screening arrangement 10'; 10 is configured to assume a supply condition, a mounted condition in which the screening arrangement is mounted on an exterior side of the roof window 1, and a condition of use.
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The screening arrangement 10'; 10 comprises a top casing 11 configured to be mounted at a top of the roof window 1 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, namely to the top member 2.1 of the frame 2.
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The top casing 11 here comprises a cover portion 110, an end portion 111 and a solar panel 112, since the prior art screening arrangement 10' and the screening arrangement 10 of the shown embodiment are solar driven. However, it is also possible to provide the screening arrangement 10'; 10 in a version powered by the main supply of the housing.
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A bottom element 14 of the screening arrangement 10'; 10 extends substantially in parallel with the top casing 11 and is in the embodiment shown accommodated in its entirety within the top casing 11 in the supply condition as shown in FIG. 4. It is also conceivable to allow the bottom element 14 to protrude from the top casing 11 such that a part of the bottom element 14 is accommodated within the top casing 11. The bottom element 14 is movable relative to the top casing 11 in the condition of use as indicated in FIG. 1.
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Also indicated in FIG. 4 are the coordinate directions of the frame 2, namely a length direction L parallel to the side members 2.2, 2.3, a width direction W parallel to the top member 2.1 and bottom member 2.4, and a height direction H substantially perpendicular to a frame plane spanned by the length direction L and the width direction W.
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Turning briefly to FIG. 7, a roller assembly 20 is accommodated in the top casing 11, comprising a roller bar 20a connected to drive means 20b. A counterpart roller assembly is present in the prior art screening arrangement 10'.
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A screening body 15 having a top portion connected to the roller assembly 20 and a bottom portion fastened to the bottom element 14 provides partial or full screening of the window opening in the condition of use. The screening body 15 may comprise a roller shutter panzer or as shown in FIG. 1, a so-called soft shutter screening body with a flexible cloth and discrete lamellas.
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Two side rails 12, 13 are configured to be connected to the top casing 11 during mounting such that each side rail 12, 13 extends substantially perpendicularly to the top casing 11 in the mounted condition.
-
A cord system including at least one cord 28 is connected to the roller assembly 20 and accommodated in a respective side rail 12, 13 in the mounted condition. One cord 28 is visible in the prior art screening arrangement 10' of FIG. 3, and the counterpart cord 28 of the screening arrangement 10 in an embodiment of the invention in FIGS. 5 and 6.
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A return element 29 for each associated cord 28 of the cord system of the screening arrangement 10 in an embodiment of the invention is provided as indicated in FIGS. 5 and 6. As shown in FIG. 4, there are two cords and two return elements; however, the invention is applicable also for embodiments of the screening arrangement 10 in which only one cord and one return element are present. In the prior art screening arrangement 10', the return elements are located in the side rails at or near a free end thereof in the supply condition.
-
The prior art screening arrangement 10' of FIG. 1 is of a type in which the top casing 11 is connected rotatably to the top member of the frame 2 and the side rails 12, 13 are rigidly connected to the top casing, such that the top casing 11 and the side rails 12, 13 rotate with the movement of the sash 3. However, the principles underlying the invention is also applicable to other types of external screening arrangements including those having a top casing fixed to the top of the frame and in which the side rails rotate relative to the top casing.
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Finally, a transportation assembly comprising means for holding components of the screening arrangement in the supply condition is provided.
-
In the prior art screening arrangement 10', the transportation assembly 16' comprises two robust clamps of a plastic material. In the following description below, focus will be on embodiments of the external screening arrangement 10 of the invention:
Referring first to FIGS. 4 to 6, the transportation assembly 16 comprises a set of two cord holders 17, on which the respective cord 28 and return element 29 are held.
-
Turning now to FIG. 19 for an overview of the configuration of an overview of the configuration of a cord holder in an exemplary embodiment of an inventive screening arrangement, it is seen that each cord holder 17 is made from a planar blank 170 of a paper-based material defining a blank length direction LB and a blank width direction BW.
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Throughout the embodiments, each planar blank 170 configured to form the respective cord holder 17 is shown as being substantially rectangular with a width BW and a length BL. The length BL of the blank 170 is advantageously larger than the width BW, for instance by a factor 2 to 5, even more preferably 2.5 to 4, here about 2.7.
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Each cord holder 17 is formed to comprise at least a base section 171, a cord holding section 173 adjoining the base section 171 at a lower end thereof and provided with cord holding means, and a temporary abutment section 172 adjoining the base section 171 at an upper end thereof.
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The cord holding section 173 is formed with straight longitudinal edges around which the cord 28 is wound in the supply condition. This may in itself be sufficient to keep the cord 28 on the cord holder 17; however, in the embodiment shown, the cord holding means comprise locking means for the cord 28, here shown as comprising a set of cuts 179 in opposing longitudinal edges of the planar blank 170.
-
The temporary abutment section 172 is configured to be formed with an increased cross-sectional height HT relative to the base section 171 in the supply condition of the screening arrangement 10. The increased cross-section height HT is only shown in Figs. 13 and 15 but applies throughout.
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In its simplest form, the increased cross-sectional height is achieved by forming the planar blank 170 with a fold, namely along a first folding line F1 indicated in FIG. 19 such that the temporary abutment section 172 forms a flange overlapping the adjoining base section 171 partly. The function of the temporary abutment section 172 will be described in further detail further on. It may be advantageous to allow the paper-based material to acclimatise for a period of time before performing the folding operation, such as 24h after being moved from an exterior or cold storage facility.
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In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 19, the return element 29 is connected to the respective cord holder 17 in the supply condition of the screening arrangement 10 in the cord holding section 173; alternative placements are conceivable as will be described in connection with further embodiments.
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The return element 29 has a predefined length RL and a predefined width RW and is placed with its width direction transversely to the blank length direction LB of the planar blank 170, i.e. along the blank width direction WB. As shown, the width BW of the planar blank 170 corresponds substantially to the predefined width RW of the return element 29. Typically, and as shown, the predefined width RW of the return element 29 is larger than a predefined height RH and/or length RL of the return element 29.
-
Turning now to FIGS. 7 and 8, the position of the cord holder 17 in the supply condition is shown in more detail.
-
As shown, the base section 171 is positioned in abutment with a top side 14a of the bottom element 14 and the temporary abutment section 172 is held in abutment with an internal portion 11a of the top casing 11 opposite the bottom element 14 in the supply condition of the screening arrangement 10.
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The internal portion 11a is in the embodiment shown formed as a stepped portion of the cover portion 110 of the top casing 11. In the shown embodiment, the cover portion 110 is formed as a profile element which has been roll-formed, but could just as well have been extruded, moulded, or made in any other way. The internal portion 11a forms part of a front section of the top casing 11. While the internal portion 11a is here formed in a stepped portion of the cover portion 110, a suitable abutment surface could be formed by any combination of flange(s) or similar structures.
-
The temporary abutment section 172 is in the embodiment shown formed to comprise a substantially planar flange forming an acute angle with the base section 171.
-
As is seen, the windings of the cord 28 are present in the cord holding section 173 and the adjoining base section 171 is thus kept substantially free of the windings of the cord 28. In this way, the underside of the base section 171 forms a support for the cord holder 17 on the top side 14a of the bottom element 14 in the gap formed between the internal portion 11a of the casing 11 and the top side 14a of the bottom element 14. In case the cord holder 17 is pulled slightly downwards direction along its blank length direction LB, the folding provided by the temporary abutment section 172 in combination with the abutment of the base section 171 on the bottom element 14 will create a bias that prevents unforeseen retraction of the cord holder 17. However, a firm pull capable of overcoming the bias will deform the temporary abutment section 172 and allow complete removal of the cord holder 17 with its cord 28 and return element 29.
-
Referring also briefly back to FIG. 19, the cord holder 17 in the embodiment shown comprises an insert section 174 adjoining the cord holding section 173 at a lower end thereof as indicated on the planar blank 170.
-
As shown most clearly in FIG. 8, the insert section 174 interacts with a bottom portion 14b of the bottom element 14. In this way, also the lower portion of the cord holder including the cord holding section 173 and the insert section 174 is tucked away in the supply condition, which reduces the risk of unintentional retraction of the cord holder 17 and saves place in the packaging to leave room for other components.
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In the embodiments shown in the above, the increased cross-sectional height of the temporary abutment section 172 relative to the base section 171 is achieved by folding of the planar blank 170. It is also conceivable to form the planar blank 170 from a compressible material, at least in the area which is to form the temporary abutment section 172 in the supply condition such that the increased cross-section height is achieved by the thickness of the temporary abutment section 172 by itself. Likewise, it is also possible to combine the planar blank 170 with additional sheets or blanks that are adhered to or mechanically connected to the planar blank 170 in the area which is to form the temporary abutment section 172 in the supply condition.
-
Regardless of how the cord holder 17 is formed, the increased cross-sectional height of the temporary abutment section 172 is chosen such that the combined height of the base section 171 and the temporary abutment section 172 at the point of contact between the cord holder 17 and the bottom element 14 on one side and the top casing 11 on the other is at least equal to the distance between the top side 14a of the bottom element 14 and the internal portion 11a of the top casing 11 at the relevant points of contact.
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Once the cord holders 17, each with their accompanying cord 28 and return element 29, have been retracted from the gap between the internal portion 11a and the top side 14a of the bottom element 14 as indicated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the side rails 12, 13 are mounted one after the other as indicated in FIGS. 9 to 11.
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The side rails 12, 13 are in the embodiments shown provided separately, i.e. outside the unit comprising the top casing with roller assembly 20 with associated drive means, rolled-up screening body, bottom element, and the cord holder(s) with associated cord and return element to be connected to the roof window 1 at the top member 2.1 of the frame 2 as indicated in FIG. 4, but other supply forms are conceivable.
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Each side rail 12, 13 has a substantially longitudinal configuration extending between a top end 13.1 and a bottom end 13.4. In the mounted condition, the side rails 12, 13 extend substantially in parallel to in a screening arrangement length direction LS. A screening arrangement width direction WS is defined transversely to the screening arrangement length direction LS, and a screening height direction HS is substantially perpendicular to a screening plane spanned by the screening arrangement length direction LS and the screening arrangement width direction WS. In the screening arrangement width direction WS, the side rail 13 has an inner side 13.2 and an outer side 13.3. The other side rail 12 has a counterpart but mirror-imaged configuration such that the inner side 13.2 of the side rail 13 faces the inner side of the side rail 12.
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Connection of the side rails 12, 13 will be described with reference to one side rail 13 only. It is understood that connection of the other side rail 12 takes place in a corresponding way, including any return element and associated cord present.
-
First, the return element 29 is connected to the side rail 13 at the bottom end 13.4 thereof.
-
The connection of the return element 29 to the side rail 13 at the bottom end 13.4 thereof takes place by insertion of the return element 29 into the side rail 13 in a direction parallel to the screening arrangement width direction WS, i.e. perpendicularly to the screening arrangement length direction LS and to the longitudinal extension of the side rail 13.
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In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the return element 29 is connected to the side rail 13 at its bottom end 13.4. Once the return element 29 has been connected to the side rail 13, the cord 28 is guided in the side rail 13.
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With the return element 29 and cord 28 accommodated within the side rail 13, each side rail 12, 13 is slidably connected to the bottom member 3.3 of the sash 3, to allow the side rails 12, 13 to follow the movements of the sash 3 during opening and closing of the window in the condition of use of the screening arrangement 10.
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Although not shown, in some embodiments of the invention each return element 29 comprises a guide part around which the respective cord 28 is guided to provide a change of direction of the cord 28.
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Also not shown, but present in some embodiments of the invention, each cord 18 is guided from a winding device connected to the roller assembly 20, around the respective return element 29 and up to the bottom element 14 in the mounted condition of the screening arrangement 10, a tensioning device being advantageously provided in the bottom element 14.
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To keep the bottom element 14 inside the top casing 11 throughout transportation and handling, the drive means 20b may be configured to block the roller bar 20a from rotating in the supply condition, thereby preventing the bottom element 14 to move out of the top casing 11.
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As shown in FIG. 12 an alternative positioning of the return element 29 is such that the return element 29 is positioned with its width direction along the blank length direction LB of the planar blank 170. The cord 28 is wound around the associated return element 29 and the cord holding section 173 of the cord holder 17. Further alternative positions of the cord holder 29 are conceivable, cf. also the subsequent description.
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Turning now to FIGS. 13 to 18, a number of alternative configurations of the cord holder 17 will be described. While the cord 28 and return element 29 are held to the cord holder 17 in all practical embodiments, these elements are only shown in some of the drawing figures.
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In FIG. 13, the temporary abutment section is formed to comprise a substantially planar flange 172 forming an acute angle with the base section 171. The cord holding section 173 adjoining the base section 171 at a lower end thereof is substantially parallel to the base section 171. The return element 29 is placed in the cord holding section 173, on the underside of the cord holder 17. As indicated, the increased cross-sectional height HT is the height measured from a top side of the base section 171 to the uppermost point of the planar flange 172 forming the temporary abutment section.
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In FIG. 14, the temporary abutment section is formed to comprise an additional flange 172b joining a flange 172a corresponding to the above substantially planar flange 172 forming an acute angle with the base section 171. The additional flange 172b is folded back towards the base section 171.
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As an alternative to FIG. 14, FIG. 15 shows a flange 172d corresponding to the above substantially planar flange 172 forming an acute angle with the base section 171, but where an additional flange 172e is folded upwards instead.
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In FIG. 16, the temporary abutment section is formed to comprise a curved flange 172c, a tangent of which at the first folding line F1 forms an acute angle with the base section 171.
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In FIG. 17, the cord holding section 173 adjoins the base section 171 at a second folding line F2 at a lower end of the base section 171 and forms an angle relative to the base section 171, here as shown in an opposite direction relative to the increased cross-sectional height of the temporary abutment section 172.
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In FIG. 18, the insert section 174 adjoins the cord holding section 173 at a third folding line F3 to form at least a first insert section part 174a, in the embodiment shown the insert section 174 is folded also at a fourth folding line F4 to form a second insert section part 174b.
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Furthermore, the cord holding section 173 is as shown in FIG. 18 folded on itself along a fifth folding line F5.
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In the following, steps devised for supplying and mounting an external screening arrangement in any of the above embodiments from a supply condition to a mounted condition on the roof window 1 as indicated are run through:
First, the screening arrangement 10 is provided comprising a top casing 11, a bottom element 14, a screening body 15, two side rails 12, 13, a cord system including at least one cord 28, at least one return element for the respective at least one cord 28 of the cord system, and a transportation assembly 16 comprising a set of cord holders 17 to which the respective cord 28 and return element 29 are connected, each cord holder 17 comprising a base section 171 positioned in abutment with a top side 14a of the bottom element 14 and the temporary abutment section 172 is held in abutment with a portion of the top casing 11 opposite the bottom element 14 in the supply condition of the screening arrangement 10.
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Second, the screening arrangement 10 is mounted by the steps of:
- connecting the top casing 11 to the top of the roof window 1,
- retracting each cord holder 17 successively from the top casing 11,
- releasing the cord 28 and the return element 29 from the cord holder 17, and
- connecting the cord holder 29 with the cord 28 to an end cap 13a of the associated side rail 13, thereby attaining the mounted condition of the screening arrangement 10.
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Specific embodiments of the invention have now been described. However, several alternatives are possible, as would be apparent for someone skilled in the art.
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Such and other obvious modifications must be considered to be within the scope of the present invention, as it is defined by the appended claims.
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Specifically, a list of additional embodiments comprises:
- A. An external screening arrangement, wherein each return element (29) is configured to be inserted into an end cap (13a) of the associated side rail (13), said end cap (13a) being located at a longitudinally opposite end to the top casing (11).
- B. An external screening arrangement, wherein each return element (29) comprises a guide part around which the respective cord (28) is guided to provide a change of direction of the cord (28).
- C. An external screening arrangement, wherein each cord (18) is guided from a winding device connected to the roller assembly (20), around the respective return element (29) and up to the bottom element (14) in the mounted condition of the screening arrangement (10), a tensioning device being preferably provided in the bottom element (14).
List of reference numerals
-
- 1
- roof window
- 2
- frame
- 2.1
- top member
- 2.2
- side member
- 2.3
- side member
- 2.4
- bottom member
- 3
- sash
- 3.1
- top member
- 3.2
- side member
- 3.3
- side member
- 3.4
- bottom member
- 4
- pane
- 5
- hinge
- 10'
- prior art screening arrangement
- 10
- screening arrangement
- 11
- top casing
- 11a
- internal portion
- 110
- cover portion
- 111
- end portion
- 112
- solar panel
- 12
- side rail
- 13
- side rail
- 13.1
- top end
- 13.2
- inner side
- 13.3
- outer side
- 13.4
- bottom end
- 14
- bottom element
- 14a
- top side
- 14b
- bottom portion
- 15
- screening body
- 16'
- prior art transportation assembly
- 16
- transportation assembly
- 17
- cord holder
- 170
- planar blank
- 171
- base section
- 172
- temporary abutment section
- 172a
- flange
- 172b
- additional flange
- 172c
- curved flange
- 172d
- flange
- 172e
- additional flange
- 173
- cord holding section
- 174
- insert section
- 174a
- first insert section part
- 174b
- second insert section part
- 179
- cord holding means
- 20
- roller assembly
- 20a
- roller bar
- 20b
- drive means
- 28
- cord
- 29
- return element
- L
- length direction
- W
- width direction
- H
- height direction
- LS
- screening arrangement length direction
- WS
- screening arrangement width direction
- HS
- screening height direction
- LB
- blank length direction
- WB
- blank width direction
- HT
- increased cross-sectional height of temporary abutment section
- BL
- length of planar blank
- BW
- width of planar blank
- RL
- predefined length of return element
- RW
- predefined width of return element
- RH
- predefined height of return element
- F1
- first folding line
- F2
- second folding line
- F3
- third folding line
- F4
- fourth folding line
- F5
- fifth folding line