GB1558645A

GB1558645A - Roller blind assembly

Info

Publication number: GB1558645A
Application number: GB20276/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Clopay Corp
Current assignee: Clopay Corp
Priority date: 1976-05-19
Filing date: 1977-05-13
Publication date: 1980-01-09
Also published as: SE423426B; CH603985A5; NO771746L; SE7705617L; AU508409B2; NZ183871A; PT66576B; MX144931A; NO145547B; AR212766A1; IT1085893B; FI62709B; FI771494A; FR2352147A1; GR61603B; IL51890A0; FI62709C; NL7705127A; DE2722740A1; ES458938A1

Description

(54) ROLLER BLIND ASSEMBLY (71) We, CLOPAY CORPORATION, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maryland, United States of America, of Clopay Square, Cincinnati, Ohio 45214, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a roller blind assembly; and, more particularly, to a window blind assembly which can be sized to a window when rolled without the need for cutting instruments.

The number of sizes of window openings into which window blind assemblies must be fitted is limitless. For these reasons, when a customer wants roller blind assembly, it is common practice to select an oversize roller blind assembly and cut its length to conform to the size of the window opening into which the roller blind as sembly is to be mounted.

One type of blind assembly roller now being manufactured includes a solid wooden roller or a hollow metal roller having, at one end, a spring motor connected between the roller and spear which is fixed against rotation in a slotted bracket. The other end of the roller has a cap containing a gudgeon pin which is fixed to the cap and which is adapted to be rotatably mounted in a bracket A principal outlet for roller blind assemblies of this type and the place in which much of the cutting to size is per formed is the variety, discount, or department store. The cutting of the roller blind assembly to size in such an establishment is at best an annoying undertaking. For example, in the case of a wooden roller, the operation requires, first, removing the pin and cap at the end of the roller, cutting through the blind material, unwinding the cut portion of the blind material, sawing the roller chamfering the cut end of the roller and thereafter replacing the cap and pin. To minimize the difficulty, a machine is usually eniployed in which all of the operations described above are performed. Even with the machine, however, the narrowing of win 'dow blind assemblies for the customer is regarded as a disagreeable and time-consuming task. Because of the number and difficulty of steps required to narrow the roller blind assembly, it is not customary for this operation to be performed by the consumer in his home.

The window blind assemblies described and disclosed in our U.S. Patent Nos.

3,203,468; 3,299,944; and 3,580,323, comprise two section, one being telescopable into the other for supporting the blind material so that the narrowing d the roller blind assembly can be effected merely by cutting the blind material and the slat running through the lower edge, sliding the cut material from the roller, and telescoping the projecting portion of the roller into its adjoining section. Roller blind assemblies of this type have eliminated niuch of the tedium theretofore attending the narrowing of blind assemblies by providing a structure which can be simply narrowed by telescoping one section of the roller into another section: Although the window blind assemblies described in the above patents offer significant improvements over prior devices with respect to the simplicity with which the shade can be narrowed, they nevertheless require cutting machines or instruments to alter the size of the material of the blind.

Such cutting operations require timecon- suming steps and care to permit proper sizing. While attempts have been made to provide window blind assemblies in which the blind material is adapted to be severed by hand, such proposals still require a number of operations in order to size the roller blind assemblies and have been found less than satisfactory.

In accordance with the invention, the blind is secured to a roller and has at one or both edges a plurality of spaced, hand-strip lines extending from end-to-end, i.e., top-tobottom, substantially parallel to its edges.

the strip lines permit hand-stripping of discrete, predetermined widths of the blind while the blind is rolled on the roller without cutting of the blind material. Furthermore, according to this invention, the roller is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced, circumferentially extending strip lines substantially coincident with the lines of the blind material to permit removal of discrete lengths of the roller corresponding to the reduction in width of the blind.

This invention thus eliminates the need Wor any cutting of the roller blind assembly and the need for employing cutting machines so that a window blind assembly may be simply and conveniently narrowed by the consumer in the home. Furthermore, the roller blind assembly may be narrowed without unrolling and the narrowed blind has smooth, straight edges and hangs without drooping or wrinkliing.

The blind is preferably provided at the hem with a plurality of tabs, preferably formed of a single thickness of the blind material itself, whose edges generally coincide with hand-strip lines. The tabs extend between the hem line and free end of the blind and are adapted to be grasped and pulled by the hand to separate the overlap ping portions of the blind. Thereafter, the blind can be conveniently hand-stripped, without unrolling of the blind material.

The tabs may be contoured between strip lines to further facilitate the locating of the tab and its grasping.

The steps required to narrow the roller blind assembly include simply grasping the blind at its base with the blind being in its rolled position on the roller, stripping off a desired width of blind material by unwinding the blind along a chosen strip line, and removing a corresponding width of material from the roller. The roller blind assembly is thus conveniently narrowed by hand.

The roller upon which the blind material is mounted may take several forms. For instance, the roller may simply comprise a length of material such as a tube of paper or plastic. Such a roller tube may further comprise motor and pin ends mounting means which are adapted for end mounted ing. Another roller form comprises telescoping members having at one or both ends, strippable sections. Also, a telescoping roller assembly is provided with a tube of material onto which the blind material is secured. These forms and other forms of this invention will be discussed in more detail later in this description.

In one preferred form of the invention, the roller blind assembly comprises a roller including a first tubular roller member, a second member having one end telescopingly seated within the first member and a tube surrounding the axially projecting portion of the second member and abutting the end of the first member to provide a smooth outer roller surface. The blind material is secured to the larger roller member and to the tube along substantially its entire width.

The attachment of the blind to both the larger roller member and the tube fixes the tube against rotation with respect to the larger roller member. However, the attachment does not interfere with telescoping of the roller members. The fixed tube with the blind material attached prevents the blind material from drooping along the side depending from the smaller roller member.

The tube has at its end the longitudinally spaced, circumferentially extending strip lines substantially coincident with the strip lines of the blind such that on sizing of the blind when the excess blind material is hand-stripped, a corresponding length of tube may be removed by sliding it over the end of the smaller roller member. The operation is complete by pushing the smaller roller member under the larger roller section.

In another embodiment of the invention the telescoping roller members are provided with a tube surrounding both roller members and extending the entire length of the roller again providing a smooth outer roller surface. The blind is attached to the tube along its outer length. The tube is affixed to the larger roller member and extends about the smaller roller member to support blind material along the side depending from the smaller roller member. At this end, the tube is likewise provided with the circumferential strip lines for removal of a discrete tube length on sizing of the roller blind assembly.

This invention may be used with window blind assemblies having a transversely symmetrical design whereby an equal amount of blind material may be hand-stripped from each edge of the blind and a like length of roller tube removed from each end of the roller to maintain the symmetry of the blind design in the narrowed roller blind assembly.

The roller tube may have a removable pin and motor whereby replacem'ent blinds may be purchased without a pin and motor and be sized by hand-stripping as heretofore described in accordance with the invention, after which the pin and motor are inserted in the blind roller ends.

A roller blind assembly in accordance with this invention is thus in constrast to other blind assemblies including features of a telescoping roller and a hand-strippable blind material. In known roller blind assemblies of this type, the blind material is initially attached only to the larger roller section with a contact adhesive concealed beneath a strip of paper being provided on the smaller roller section for eventual securing of the unattached blind portion to the smaller roller. The blind is narrowed by completely unrolling the blind to expose the roller, holding the blind and the roller up to the window and adjusting the telescoping roller to fit the window brackets. The roller is thereafter removed from roller brackets and the roller and the excess blind material are removed by grasping the blind at a slit in the edge of the blind adjacent the roller. After the excess blind material is removed by pulling down along a strip line coinciding with the slit, the protective paper strip on the projecting end of the smaller roller is then removed, and the unattached portion of the blind material is pressed down on the adhesive The blind must now be manually rolled up. Although this type of roller blind assembly permits narrowing without cutting, it requires a relatively large number of steps and is characterized by several distinct disadvantages. That is, in order for the roller blind assembly to be sized, the blind material must be completely unrolled with the excess blind material being removed by stripping from the roller end of the blind toward its base. The blind must then be manually attached to the smaller end of the roller and then manually wound on the roller. One of the primary disadvantages, however, is that in roller blind assemblies of this type the blind has a tendency to droop over the larger roller onto the smaller roller making the blind unattractive in appearance and causing possible wrinkling of the blind on rolling.

Tn summary, the roller blind assemblies of the present invention overcome the disadvantages associated with known blind assemblies heretofore described and permit narrowing of the roller blind assembly in substantially fewer steps while eliminating any drooping or wrinkling of the blind material.

The invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section showing a preferred form of the invention; Figs. 2 to 4 illustrate the steps d narrowing a roller blind assembly in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the invention in which a tubular roller member extends the entire length of the roller.; Fig. 6 is an exploded view illustrating another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 7 is an elevational view illustrating another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 8 is an elevational view illustrating another embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 9 is a pictorial view of another em sediment particularly illustrating a roller blind assembly having tabs.

Referring to Fig. 1, the roller blind assembly includes a roller 10 comprising a first tubular roller member 12, a second member 14, having one end thereof telescopingly seated within the first member 12, and a tube 16 surrounding the axially pro electing portion of the second member 14.

The tube 16 has the same inside and outside diameter dimensions as the first member 12, and the inside diameter is slightly ]arger than the diameter of the second member 14 allowing the second member 14 to freely telescope into the first member 12. The tube 14 abuts at one end 18 to the inner end 20 of the first member 12 forming a smooth outside roller surface extending from end -to-end of the roller 10. A roller of the type shown in Fig. 1 is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,203,468.

A blind 22 is attached to the roller 10 along one end 23. The particular method of attachment is not critical, and a suitable method is by means of an adhesive strip as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,599,410. Alternatively, the blind could be attached in other known ways.

The left end of the roller 10, as viewed in Fig. 1, is adapted to receive a spring motor 24 which includes a torque rod 26 connected to one end of rewind spring 28. The torque rod 26 is fixed to a spear 30 which projects from the left end of the roller 10 and is engageable with a fiat slot of a roller blind assembly bracket by which the roller Wind assembly is supported in the window opening. A cap 32 encloses a clutch and other operating mechanism (not shown) through which the spring and torque rod are connected to the roller to rotate the roller in winding the blind 22 on the roller 10.

At the right hand end of the blind, the roller 10 is adapted to receive a pin end plug or cap 34. Projecting from the pin end cap 34 is a cylindrical gudgeon pin 36 which is engageable with and rotates in the other of the window brackets supporting the roller blind assembly in the window opening. Preferably, the pin end cap 34 has the same or slightly smaller diameter as the second member 14 to permit the tube portion separated in the shortening operation to be slid off the roller without obstruction by the pin end cap.

The particular means by which the telescoping second member 14 is seated in the first member 12 is not critical. For example, with a metal tubular first member and a wooden dowel or plastic cylinder forming the second member, the dowel may be held in the steel roller principally by dimples 38 which are depressed into the surface of the metal roller a distance sufficient to cut into the soft wooden dowel as it is forced into the metal roller. The dimples prevent both axial and rotative movement of the second member with respect to the first. With an all metal roller, a convenient form of mounting is that described in U.S. Patent No. 3,203,468, particularly in relation to Fig. 10, wherein the smaller roller formed from sheet metal is seamed to provide a longitudinal groove adjacent the seam into which the seam of the larger roller member is keyed. The cooperation between the seam and the groove prevents relative rotation of the two roller members.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the tube 16 is not affixed to the second member 14. The adhesive securing the blind 22 to the first roller member 12 and to the tube 16 holds the tube 16 in proper position with respect to the first roller member 12 so that the tube 16 forms in effect an extension of the first member 12. The adhesive prevents the paper tube from rotating with respect to the first member, and the tube prevents any drooping of the blind material.

The blind 22 at its one edge 40 includes a plurality of spaced, hand-strip lines 42 extending from one end, i.e., the base of the blind 44 to the opposite end 23 secured to the roller 10. The lines 42 are substantially parallel to the edge 40 of the blind and are separated by a predetermined distance to permit decreasing of blind width by any amount up to the total or sum of separations. For example, the blind may conveniently be formed with 24 strip lines separated by 1/2 inch increments thus permitting shortening of the blind from 112 inch up to 12 inches At the base 44 of the blind 22 is a hem 46 into which a slat 48 is inserted for grasping for raising and lowering the blind. The hem 46 is formed by joining the overlapping portions 22a, 22b of the blind at points 50 intermediate the hand-strip lines 42 and continuing on at equalled spaced intervals for the remainder of the blind width. The slat 48 includes a plurality of spaced lines 52,-e.g., perforations, serrations, or the like providing lines of weakness, preferably coincident with the strip lines, to permit the convenient breaking off of excess slat length on narrowing of the roller blind assembly. The slat may be telescoping.

The particular manner of forming the strip lines in the blind 22 is not critical to the invention and may comprise any of a number of known methods of weakening material along a line permitting hand-stripping of the material along the line while leaving a smooth straight edge. For example, in woven blinds, strip.lines may be formed during the weaving process by some means of fibre orientation or thereafter by perforating or serrating the shade material along a line.

In blinds formed of plastic material, the lines may be formed by weakening the material along a line or by such mechanical means as perforating or serrating or by decreasing the thickness of the blind material along continuous lines. Although any means is suitable when a smooth blind material is provided, it is desirable that the lines be invisible to maintain the aesthetic appeal of the blind. Where the blind material is patterned or embossed the lines may form a part of the pattern and thus, even though visible, do not noticeably affect the aesthetics of the blind.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the blind 22 is formed of plastic with the overlying portions 22a, 22b of the blind at its base 44 being joined by heat sealing at points 50 intermediate the strip lines 42 to form the hem 46.

The tube 16 is also provided with a plurality of strip lines 54 longitudinally spaced along the tube 16 and extending about the circumference of the tube to permit removal of a discrete length of roller tube corresponding to the decrease in blind width.

These lines are so aligned as to be substantially coincident with the strip lines 42 of the blind when the blind is secured to the roller 10. These lines 54 may be formed by perforating, serrating or otherwise weakening the tube. For example, if the tube is formed of a cuttable paper material it may be conveniently serrated or perforated about its circumference. Tubes formed of plastic or metal may be mechanically weakened along circumferential lines, for example, to allow separation of tube length by grasping of the blind assembly and twisting off the unwanted section or sections.

In narrowing the roller blind assembly to the desired size only a few simple steps are required. The desired blind width is determined by measuring the window opening or by placing the blind assembly against the window opening to determine the strip line 42 corresponding to the window opening at which the blind is to be narrowed. The slat 48 is slid axially out of the hem 46 a distance sufficient to allow the excess blind material to be stripped. With the blind in the rolled condition, the material is grasped at the base 44 and separated along the chosen strip line. As shown in Fig 2, stripping commences at the base 44 of the blind and proceeds by unwinding of the blind material with the material following the strip line 42 until it reaches the roller tube 16. This operation can be done quite rapidly. At the tube 26, the material is ripped to separate it from the adhesive thus exposing its corresponding length or roller tube 16 to be removed (Fig. 3). This section of roller tube 16 is removed by, for example, twisting the tube section off or, in the case of a cuttable paper tube, by cutting the tube along the circumferential strip line with a household paring knife. Since the tube 16 has an inside diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the second member 14, the excress tube length is easily slid over the end eof the second member and the pin end cap '34. The last step required is illustrated in (Fig. 4 and consists of merely pushing the second member 14 into the hollow first member 12. The force required to push the second member 14 into the first member is slight enough to be done by hand. The hem slat is now replaced and the excess length is broken off at the closest line of weakness.

Referring now to Fig. 5, a second em embodiment of the invention is illustrated wherein the roller tube 16 is replaced with a similar tube 56 which extends the entire length of the roller 10. That is, the tube 56 has an inside diameter slightly greater than that of the first roller member 12 allowing it to be slid over the first member 12. An adhesive is applied between the inside diameter of the tube 56 and first member 12 to secure the tube thereto to prevent relative rotative movement between the two elements. The first and second roller members 12 and 14, respectively, are identical to those described in relation to Fig. 1.

The tube 56 extends from the motor cap 32 over the axially projecting portion of the second member 14 to the pin end cap 34 providing a smooth outer roller surface.

The blind is secured to the roller tube 56 along its entire length. The tube 56 is formed of such material and thickness to provide support for the blind secured thereto so as to prevent drooping from' the second member. As described in relation to Fig.

1, one end 58 of the tube 56 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally, spaced circumferentially extending strip lines 60 substantially coincident wth the strip lines 42 of the blind 22 whereby discrete lengths of the tube may be removed after stripping of the blind material in the same manner as described in relation to Figs. 2 and 3.

Thereafter, as described in relation to Fig.

4, the second member 14 may be pushed into the first member 12.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, there is provided a hand-strippable roller blind assembly having provision for permitting the roller blind assembly to be narrowed to conform to the size of the window opening into which the roller blind asembly is to be mounted while maintaining the transverse symmetrical design of the blind. This embodiment employs the telescoping roller described and disclosed in U.S. Patent No.

3,580,323. This roller 62 includes a first tubular roller member 64 having a motor receiving end 66, a second roller member 68 telescopingly seated at one end within the first roller member 64 and having a pin receiving opposite end 70, a first tube 72 surrounding the axially projecting portion of the second member 68 and abutting the end 74 of the first member 64 at its end 76, and a second tube 78 extending the length of the roller members surrounding both the first roller member 64 and the first tube 72. Again, the roller members 64 and 68 may be identical to the construction described above in relation to Fig. 1 with the end 70 of the second member 68 carrying a conventional gudgeon pin 80 and the end 66 of the first member having the usual flat spear 82 by which the assembly may be mounted in conventional roller blind assembly brackets.

The second tube 78 is secured to the first roller member 64 so as to prevent relative rotative movement between the two elements by means of a plurarlity of spaced rubber bands 84 inserted therebetween, the rubber bands 84 frictionally engaging both tubes to prevent rotation. However, they do permit axial movement of the second tube 78 with respect to the first roller member 64. The blind 86 is secured along one end, e.g., by means of an adhesive strip, to the second tube 78 which either alone or in combination with the second tube 72 prevents drooping of the blind 86.

As further shown in Fig. 6, the blind 86 at its lateral edges 88 is provided with the spaced, hand-strip lines 90 extending from end to end substantially parallel to the edges 88 of the blind. The second tube 78 is provided at both ends with the plurality of longitudinally spaced, circumferentially extending strip lines 92 which are substantially coincident with the hand-strip lines 90 of the blind when the blind is secured to the roller. The first tube 72 is also provided at its one end with like, coincident strip lines 94. Provison of strip lines at both edges of the blind 86 and ends of the roller g2 allows a roller blind assembly having a transverse symmetrical design, e.g., a scalloped base illustrated in Fig. 6, to be sized to a window opening without destroying the symmetry. That is if sizing could only be done from one edge then the sizing operation would destroy the symmetry of the design. However, by ramb;ving equal widths of blind material from both edges, the symmetry is maintained.

In the sizing operation, the amount of excess blind material to be removed is first determined by measuring the window opening or by placing the roller blind assemblv in its rolled condition up against the window to determine the width of blind material to be removed from both edges. The hem slat, if present, is removed and the blind is grasped at the hem at the chosen strip line, and the blind is unwound along this strip line. This operation is repeated at the opposite edge of the blind. With both edges stripped, the ends of the second tube are now exposed and the excess tube length at both ends may be separated along a coincident strip line and the excess slid over the ends of the roller members. This exposes the excess tube length at the end of the first tube and it is removed in the same manner. The telescoping second member is now pushed into the first member 64 and the second tube 78 is adjusted axially on the first member 64 such that the blind extends from end-to-end of the roller 62.

The embodiment of the invention in Fig. 6 thus permits the removal of equal amounts of blind material from each edge of the blind to preserve the overall symmetry of the design. It will be appreciated, however, that the narrowing operation may be made by hand-stripping material from one edge only when preserving design symmetry is not required. It will be further appreciated that employment of the first tube 72 is optional and that means other than rubber bands 84 may be employed as long as the means has the characteristic of permitting relative longitudinal shifting movement between the first roller member 64 and the second tube 78 while preventing relative rotational movement between these two elements.

Referring now to Fig. 7, there is shown another embodiment of the invention comprising a tubular roller 96 having a pin re receiving end 98 and a motor receiving end 100. The ends 98 and 100 are adapted to receive a removable pin 99 and motor 101, respectively, such that both elements may be inserted in the ends of the tube 96 and removed therefrom simply by grasping the pin or spear and pulling outwardly. The mounting means for the pin and motor is not critical to the invention but includes suitable means for maintaining their axial positions while preventng rotaton of these elements when inserted in the tube ends.

A blind 102 is attached to the tube 96 and includes the plurality of spaced, handstrip lines 123 extending from end-to-end substantially parallel to the edge 104 of the blind. The tube 96 is provided at one end with substantially coincident, longitudinally spaced, circumferentially extending strip lines adapted to permit removal of discrete lengths of the tube in accordance with the invention.

In this embodiment of the invention,~the roller blind assembly is narrowed in the same manner as heretofore described. That is, the blind is grasped at the base and the excess blind width is hand-stripped along the strip line to the roller tube 96 exposing the tube. The corresponding length of tube is then removed over the end 98 of the roller. After removal of this tube length, the pin 99 is then pushed into the tube 96.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 7, narrowing is accomplished at only one end of the roller. However, it will be appreciated that the motor end may be made removable also with narrowing of the blind accomplished at both edges in like manner.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 7 is par ticularly useful in permitting replacement of blinds without the need for purchasing rollers or mounted motors and pins. That is, the motor and pin in an existing blind can be simply removed and inserted in the ends of a replacement window blind with the tube being na strip lines 42. Contouring of the tabs serves to clearly define the plurality of tabs and their edges and provides for convenient stripping. As may be seen in Fig. 9, the vertex of each V-shaped recess having a de sired radius of curvature lies on a strip line thereby clearly indicating the locations of the strip lines 42.

Referring now to Fig. 9 in narrowing a roller blind assembly to the desired size according to this invention, only a few simple steps are required. The desired roller blind assembly width is determined by measuring the window opening or by placing the roller blind assembly against the window opening to determine the tab 56 whose edge lies on the strip line corresponding to the window opening along which the blind is to be stripped. The slat 48 is slid axially out of the hem a distance sufficient to allow excess blind material to be stripped. With the blind in the rolled condition, the mate tidal is grasped at the tab 56. As shown in Fig. 9, to commence striping the tab 56 is pulled so as to separate the overlapping portions 22a, 22b of the blind at the hem joint 50. Thereafter, the blind material is separated along the chosen strip line 42 by continued pulling on the tab 56. As shown in Figure 9, stripping commences at the tab of the blind and proceeds by unwinding of the blind matreial with the material separatng along and following the strip line 42 until it reaches the roller. This separation can be done quite rapidly, and the entire operation is accomplished essentially with one continuous pulling motion.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A roller blind assembly comprising, in combination, a roller and a blind secured to and extending between the ends of the roller the blind having at least one edge thereof a plurality of spaced hand-strip lines extending from end-to-end substantially parallel to the edge so that discrete widths of the blind material may be removed along the strip lines, the roller including at least at one of its ends a plurality of longitudinally spaced, circumferentially extending strip lines substantially coincident with the hand-strip lines of the blind and adapted to permit removal of discrete lengths of the roller.

2. A roller blind assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the roller has a pin member in one end and a motor member in the other end thereof.

3. A roller blind assembly as claimed in Claim 2, wherein at least one of the members is telescopingly seated in the roller.

4. A roller blind assembly as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein at least one of the members is removable from the roller.

5. A roller blind assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the blind has a plurality of spaced hand-strip lines at both edges thereof and the roller has at both ends thereof corresponding circumferentially extending strip lines.

6. A roller blind assembly as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the roller includes a pin member and a motor member, both of the members being telescopingly seated in the roller.

7. A roller blind assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the roller comprises a first tubular roller member, a second member having one end thereof telescopingly seated within the first member, a tube surrounding at least the portion of the second member projecting axially from the first member, and means associated with the tube for resisting relative rotative movement between the tube and the first and second members, the tube having an inside diameter of a size permitting free axial sliding movement between the first and second members, the roller strip lines being formed on the tube.

8. A roller blind assembly as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the tube has an outside diameter approximately equal to the outside diameter of the first member and has one end thereof abutting the end of the first member surrounding the second member.

9. A roller blind assembly as claimed in either Claim 7 or 8, wherein the tube is formed of a readily cuttable material.

10. A roller blind assembly as claimed in any of Claims 7 to 9, wherein the blind is secured to the roller by means of an adhesive extending between the ends of the roller.

11. A roller blind assembly as claimed in any of Claims 7 to 10 wherein the tube surrounds the first roller member and extends the length of the roller.

12. A roller blind assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the tube is formed by the blind being wrapped about itself.

13. A roller blind assembly as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the roller comprises a first tubular roller member, a second member having one end thereof telescopingly seated within the first member, a tube surrounding the members and extending the length of the roller, and means associated with the tube and the first roller member for resisting relative rotative movement between the tube and said first member ,while permitting relative longitudinal movement therebetween, the blind being secured to the tube and extending between the ends of the roller, the tube being provided with the strip lines.

14. A roller blind assembly as claimed

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. strip lines 42. Contouring of the tabs serves to clearly define the plurality of tabs and their edges and provides for convenient stripping. As may be seen in Fig. 9, the vertex of each V-shaped recess having a de sired radius of curvature lies on a strip line thereby clearly indicating the locations of the strip lines 42. Referring now to Fig. 9 in narrowing a roller blind assembly to the desired size according to this invention, only a few simple steps are required. The desired roller blind assembly width is determined by measuring the window opening or by placing the roller blind assembly against the window opening to determine the tab 56 whose edge lies on the strip line corresponding to the window opening along which the blind is to be stripped. The slat 48 is slid axially out of the hem a distance sufficient to allow excess blind material to be stripped. With the blind in the rolled condition, the mate tidal is grasped at the tab 56. As shown in Fig. 9, to commence striping the tab 56 is pulled so as to separate the overlapping portions 22a, 22b of the blind at the hem joint 50. Thereafter, the blind material is separated along the chosen strip line 42 by continued pulling on the tab 56. As shown in Figure 9, stripping commences at the tab of the blind and proceeds by unwinding of the blind matreial with the material separatng along and following the strip line 42 until it reaches the roller. This separation can be done quite rapidly, and the entire operation is accomplished essentially with one continuous pulling motion. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A roller blind assembly comprising, in combination, a roller and a blind secured to and extending between the ends of the roller the blind having at least one edge thereof a plurality of spaced hand-strip lines extending from end-to-end substantially parallel to the edge so that discrete widths of the blind material may be removed along the strip lines, the roller including at least at one of its ends a plurality of longitudinally spaced, circumferentially extending strip lines substantially coincident with the hand-strip lines of the blind and adapted to permit removal of discrete lengths of the roller.

14. A roller blind assembly as claimed

in Claim 13, wherein the tube is formed of a readily cuttable material.

15. A roller blind assembly as claimed in Claim 13 or 14, wherein the means associated with the tube and the first roller member comprises at least one rubber band seated on and extending circumferentially around the first roller member.

16. A roller blind assembly as claimed in any of Claims 13 to 15, wherein the roller includes a second tube surrounding the portion of the second member extending axially from the first member and having one end thereof abutting the end of the first member.

17. A roller blind assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the blind has a transversely symmetrical design thereon.

18. A roller blind assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the unsecured end of the blind is provided with a hem which has a plurality of tabs, the edges of which are substantially coincident with the hand-strip lines of the blind, the tabs being adapted to be grasped and pulled to separate the hem and initiate stripping along the hand-strip lines.

19. A roller blind assembly as claimed in Claim 18, wherein the hem is formed of overlapping portions of the blind joined along a line spaced from the free end of the blind and wherein the tabs are integral with one of the overlapping portions and extend between the line and the free end.

20. A roller blind assembly as claimed in Claim 19, wherein the overlapping portions are joined at spaced points intermediate the strip lines.

21. A roller blnd assembly as claimed in any of Claims 18 to 20, wherein the tabs are so contoured as to define V-shaped recesses therebetween with the vertices of the recesses being substantially coincident with the strip lines.

22. A roller blind assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of one of Figures 1 or 5 to 9.