GB2261691A - Pleated blind - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides an improved pleated blind in which the distance between alternate folds is constrained so as to present a more pleasing appearance when the blind is unfolded. In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a connecting member 50 which is flexibly connected to alternate fold lines of a blind or element 16. The flexible securement is provided by a plurality of 1-section tags 52, each having a centre section 54 and cross pieces 56, 58 at each end thereof. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVED PLEATED BLIND This invention relates to an improved pleated blind in which the folding of the blind is uniform when it is extended over the full area to be covered by the blind.

A pleated blind is normally arranged so that its fabric is folded in a concertina fashion between a top rail and a bottom rail. One problem with such an arrangement is that the weight of the fabric will tend to pull the folds or pleats at the top of the blind comparatively straight whilst the folds at the bottom of the blind will remain in close proximity to the bottom rail.

Thus unless the fabric is maintained tensioned between the top and bottom rails it will have a tendency to hang unevenly and otherwise present an unpleasing appearance.

Furthermore if the blind is not rectangular e.g. triangular or circular, the fabric will not conform to the required shape if the pleats are not uniformly spaced when the fabric is extended.

It would be advantageous to provide an improved pleated blind in which the unfolding or hanging of the blind is regularised with respect to spacing between folds.

In a first aspect the invention provides an improved pleated blind having at least two rails and arranged therebetween a flexible sheet element having a plurality of folds so that the element can be folded between the rails when they are displaced towards one another, characterised in that the blind further includes at least one flexible connecting member flexibly secured to the flexible sheet element at or adjacent to one or more alternate folds such that the unfolding of the element is constrained by the connecting member to a pre-defined maximum spacing between adjacent fold lines.

The connecting member is attached flexibly to the element so that some "play" is possible. This arrangement permits the flexible element to move and fold more freely during opening or closing of the blind.

Advantageously the or each flexible connecting member is a cord preferably disposed at least between the two rails and the attachment points for securement of the flexible sheet element to the cord are equidistantly spaced along the cord length such that the folds will be similarly equidistantly constrained.

Preferably the cord may be provided with a plurality of loops releasably engaging flexible members carried by the flexible sheet element. This arrangement permits the releasable securement of the flexible element to the cord such that adjustment can be made where required. Additionally where the cord is damaged or required to be removed for maintenance purposes this can be accomplished easily without major disruption.

Preferably the loops are attached to the cord during manufacture thereof, the loops being inserted between the cords separate fibres during a weaving process.

Advantageously the loops are to be attached to a pleated blind's fold point so as to constrain independent movement of the sheet element.

Alternatively, the connecting member may be provided as a ribbon or similar thin strip of material. The ribbon is preferably connected to the sheet element by a plurality of I - section tags arranged to have one end engaged through a hole in the sheet element and a second end through a hole in the ribbon.

In a second embodiment of the invention there are provided a plurality of connecting sub-members each of a pre defined length and each being arranged to interconnect alternate folds of the sheet element such that unfolding of the sheet element is constrained to a spacing substantially equal to the length of a connecting sub-member.

Advantageously the connecting sub-members are each formed substantially as an I - section with preferably rigid end pieces connected by a flexible centre section or web.

In a preferred embodiment, the connecting sub-members are located in holes provided in folds of the sheet element, the sub-members being anchored at either end by engagement of the rigid end piece across a hole and with the centre section freely passing through a further hole in an intervening fold of the sheet element.

The invention will be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective end view of a first preferred embodiment; Fig. 2 is a sectional end view of a second embodiment; and Fig. 3 is a sectional end view of a third embodiment.

Referring to Fig. 1 a first preferred embodiment of the invention provides an improved pleated blind referred to generally by the reference numeral 10 and having a top rail 12 and a bottom rail 14. The bottom rail 14 is arranged to be displaceable by displacement means (not shown) between a lowered position and a raised position when it is substantially adjacent to the top rail 12. The figure shows the rail 14 in its lowered configuration for clarity in relation to the overall blind assembly 10.

A flexible sheet element 16, for example, of a cloth or other textile material, is secured at each end to the top rail 12 and to the bottom rail 14. The flexible element 16 is provided with a pluraltiy of pleats or folds 18 such that the element can be folded in a concertina-like fashion between the top and bottom rails. This construction is substantially identical to known pleated blind assemblies.

In use when the bottom rail 14 is lowered from the top rail 12, the flexible element 16 is unfolded so as to form a blind or cover between the two bottom rails. It will be understood however that where the flexible element 16 has an overall length greater than the distance between the top rail 12 and the bottom rail 14 there will remain a number of folds or pleats between the two rails even when fully opened. The weight of the flexible element 16 will have a tendency however, to pull the top portion of the sheet 16 into a substantially linear or laminar fashion with a greater number of pleats or folds occurring at the lower end of the element 16. Such an arrangement is not aesthetically pleasing and detracts from the overall appearance of the blind assembly.

In the first embodiment, and in order to overcome this problem, a flexible strip-like member 20, for example, a cord, string or ribbon, is arranged between the top rail 12 and the bottom rail 14. The cord 20 is attached to alternate folds 18 occurring on one side of the element 16 as can be seen in the illustration of the preferred embodiment.

Attachment of the cord 20 is preferably by way of a plurality of loops 22 attached at fixed positions equidistantly along the length of the cord 20. These loops are then engaged, for example, by use of a thread, e.g. sewing or by a flexible plastic I-shaped element to alternate fold lines 18 on the element 16. It will thus be appreciated that the maximum distance between alternate folds 18 is therefore constrained by the distance between the loops 22 on the cord 20.

Thus when the bottom rail 14 is displaced away from the top rail 12 and the flexible element is unfolded the spacing between alternative folds is fixed and thus the blind adopts an aesthetically pleasing configuration irrespective of the amount of displacement of bottom rail 14 in relation to the top rail 12.

In order to provide a unitary construction it is preferable to form the cord 20 and the loops 22 simultaneously by inserting the loops into the cord during its manufacturing process. As such cords 20 are commonly made of a plurality of fibres woven together the insertion of a number of loops 22 at predetermined spacings can easily be accomplished during the cord's manufacture. With such a construction it is relatively difficult for the loops to separate from the cord in use.

In Fig.2 a second embodiment is illustrated in which the connecting member, referred to generally by the reference numeral 30 is provided by a plurality of individual connecting sub-members 32, 34, 36 and 38. Each connecting sub-member is formed substantially as an I - section having rigid end pieces 40, 42 and a flexible centre section 44. Such a construct could be be formed of a plastics material.

In use the connecting member 32, 34, 36 and 38 etc are assembled as shown in Fig. 2 in which a pleated blind comprising a folded sheet element 16 is arranged between top and bottom rails 12, 14 substantially as previously illustrated in Fig. 1. Each panel of the sheet element 16 is provided with a hole 46 at least at one end of each panel.

The holes 46 are arranged on a common axis and each have a diameter less than the length of the rigid end pieces 40, 42 of each connecting sub-member.

Interconnection of alternate panels of the sheet element 16 is accomplished by threading a sub-member 32 through the holes in three adjacent panels such that the end pieces 40, 42 are engaged with the outermost pair of panels. This procedure is repeated with subsequent sub-members 34, 36 and 38 etc with each adjacent sub-members end piece sharing an engaged hole. In this way alternate panels are interlinked such that the maximum distance between alternate fold lines is substantially equal to the length of each sub-member.

This construction is easier to assemble than the first embodiment as it does not require direct connection of alternate fold lines to the connecting member.

Furthermore, in use, the assembly is more flexible and less prone to damage.

Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of a third embodiment of the invention generally similar to Fig. 1. In this embodiment the flexible member is provided by a ribbon 50 arranged between the top and bottom rails. The ribbon is attached to the sheet element 16 by a plurality of I - section tags 52 each having a centre section 54 and cross pieces 56, 58 at each end thereof.

One end of each tag 52 is secured through a hole 60 in the element and the other end of the tag engages a corresponding hole 62 in the ribbon 50. Tags 52 interconnect the ribbon and the sheet element at alternate fold lines as in the first embodiment.

The invention is not confined to the foregoing details and variations may be made thereto within the scope of the invention. For example, in an alternate construction the top and bottom rails could be arranged at an angle to each other or arranged to fold as would be required in triangular shaped window. The flexible element may be of any convenient material such as plastics or similar material. Other variations are also possible.

Claims (11)

1. An improved pleated blind having at least two rails and, arranged therebetween, a flexible sheet element having a plurality of folds so that the element can be folded between the rails when they are displaced towards one another, characterised in that the blind further includes at least one flexible connecting member flexibly secured to the flexible sheet element at or adjacent to one or more alternate folds such that the unfolding of the element is constrained by the connecting member to a pre defined maximum spacing between adjacent fold lines.

2. A blind as claimed in claim 1 in which the or each flexible connecting member is a cord disposed at least between the two rails and the attachment points for securement of the flexible sheet element to the cord are equidistantly spaced along the cord length such that the folds will be similarly equidistantly constrained.

3. A blind as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the member is connected to the element by a plurality of I section tags arranged to have one end engaged through a hole in the sheet element and a second end through a hole in the ribbon.

4. A blind as claimed in claim 2 in which the cord is provided with a plurality of loops releasably engaging flexible members carried by the flexible element.

5. A blind as claimed in claim 4 in which the loops are attached to the cord during manufacture thereof by insertion between the cords' separate fibres during a weaving process.

6. A blind as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 in which the loops are attached to a pleated blind fold lines so as to constrain independent movement thereof.

7. A blind as claimed in claim 1 in which there is provided a plurality of connecting sub-members each of a pre defined length and each being arranged to interconnect alternate folds of the sheet element such that unfolding of the sheet element is constrained to a spacing substantially equal to the length of a connecting sub member.

8. A blind as claimed in claim 7 in which the connecting sub-members are each formed substantially as an I section with preferably rigid end pieces connected by a flexible centre section.

9. A blind as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 in which the connecting sub-members are located in holes provided in folds of the sheet element, the sub-members being anchored at either end by engagement of the rigid end piece across a hole.

10. A blind as claimed in claim 10 in which the centre section freely passes through a further hole in an intervening fold of the sheet element.

11. An improved pleated blind substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.