GB2267432A

GB2267432A - A counterweight for use with adjustable blinds

Info

Publication number: GB2267432A
Application number: GB9211599A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Baarle Sheila Anne Van; Josephine Mary Byrne
Original assignee: BAARLE SHEILA ANNE VAN
Current assignee: BAARLE SHEILA ANNE VAN
Priority date: 1992-06-02
Filing date: 1992-06-02
Publication date: 1993-12-08
Also published as: GB9211599D0

Abstract

A blind adjustment system including a vertically movable blind 3 (eg a "Festoon" blind), cords 4 and a vertically movable counterweight 6. The weight of the counterweight 6 is selected to counterbalance the weight of the movable portion of the blind 3. By moving the counterweight 6 vertically, the vertical position of the blind 3 may be changed. Once the desired position of the blind 3 is achieved, the counterweight 6 is simply released. The counterweight 6 counterbalances the weight of the blind 3, maintaining the blind in the chosen position without the need to secure the cords 4 to the wall. The counterweight is attachable to the cord and may take the form of a receptacle with a hollow portion for receiving mass (see figures 2 & 3). <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO BLINDS This invention relates to a blind adjustment system and to a counterweight for such a system.

With cord operated vertically movable blinds, including the types commonly known as "Festoon" or "Austrian" blinds or "Roman" blinds, to date a form of mechanical locking means has been provided for the cords to secure the blind in the desired position. The desired position may be fully up, fully down, or a position in between. The mechanical locking means have generally involved the provision of a cleat-type securing, fixed to the wall, or some other suitable surface, in the vicinity of the side of the blind. In use, once the blind has been adjusted to its desired position by moving the cords, the cords are required to be wound around the cleat to prevent downward movement of the blind under the effect of gravity.

In addition to cleats being unsightly, difficulties can exist in easily and securely attaching the cords to the cleat.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a blind adjustment system comprising generally vertically movable blind means, cord means for attachment to the blind means and, for attachment to the cord means, generally vertically movable counterweight means, movement of the counterweight means in a first direction being arranged, in use, to move at least a portion of the blind means in a second, generally opposite direction to allow setting of the blind in a chosen position, the weight of the counterweight means being selected to substantially counterbalance the effective weight of the blind means, as determined by the tension in the cord means, whereby to hold the blind means in the chosen position.

The overall weight of the counterweight means is, advantageously, adjustable by the addition or removal of mass. The counterweight means may comprise a substantially hollow receiving portion, arranged to receive therein additional masses.

The counterweight means may include a lid portion for the substantially hollow receiving portion, the lid portion being provided with means for attaching the counterweight means to the cord means.

Advantageously, the counterweight means is provided around its periphery with projecting means of cushioning material to minimise the risk of damage to, for example, the wall surrounding the blind should the counterweight means swing into contact with the same.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a counterweight for a blind adjustment system, the counterweight comprising a mass receiving receptacle, the receptacle being adapted for attachment, via cord means, to a generally vertically movable blind and being provided with a substantially hollow portion arranged to receive additional mass such that the combined weight of the receptacle and any received additional mass may be chosen to be substantially equal to the effective weight of the blind, as determined by the tension in the cord means, so that, after adjusting the position of the blind to a chosen position by moving the receptacle, the combined weight of the receptacle and any additional mass received therein substantially counterbalance the effective weight of the blind to hold it in its chosen position.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows, in front elevation, a counterweight for a blind adjustment system, in use in a blind adjustment system in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows, enlarged and exploded, the counterweight of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows, enlarged, the counterweight of Figure 1 in sectional side elevation; and Figure 4 shows three downward plan views, viewed along the lines A-A, B-B and C-C in Figure 2.

In Figure 1, a blind adjustment system is shown fitted to a wall 1 having a window 2. The system comprises a vertically movable blind 3, of the so-called "Festoon" or "Austrian" type. The blind may be moved vertically by pulling on, or releasing, cords 4, which cords, at one end, extend vertically downwardly and are attached to the blind, run through guides (not shown) in or adjacent the horizontal header support 5 which may be a rail or track, and, at their opposite end, extend outwardly and downwardly, over a guide (not shown), from one end of the support 5. The blind, cords and support are of a type well known in the art. As is usual, the top edge of the blind is fixed to the support 5.

The illustrated blind adjustment system is shown as comprising a counterweight 6, attached to the other ends of the cords 4. In the specific illustrated embodiment, the ends of the cords are attached to the counterweight by being passed through a hole 7 in the top of the counterweight and tied together to form a knot 8. Although not essential (as will be discussed below), in the illustrated embodiment the counterweight 6 comprises a generally hollow receptacle, with a separate main body 9 and cap 10. The receptacle and cap may be made of a suitable material such as metal or a plastics material and may advantageously be moulded or cast in such material. The junction of the main body 9 and cap 10 may, as shown, be provided with co-operating screw threads to allow their relative attachment and detachment (for reasons which will appear below).

Because the top edge of the blind is fixed to the support 5, some of the weight of the blind 3 will be supported by the blind material itself and the support 5 and not by the cords 4. The proportion of the blind's total weight that is supported in this way tends to increase as the blind is lowered. It is the effective weight of the blind, as determined by the tension in the cords 5 supporting the blind, that the counterweight counterbalances and not the total weight of the blind.

Depending on the method of fixing the blind material to the cord and the amount of ruching of the blind material, the counterweight 6 may need to have a weight equal to only part of the total weight of the blind, for example around half the total weight. To vary the position of the blind 3, the operator grasps the counterweight 6 and, by moving it vertically upwardly or downwardly, the lower portion of the blind 3 is caused to move in the opposite direction. Once the desired position of the blind is reached, the operator can simply release the counterweight 6. In its new position, the counterweight should continue to substantially counterbalance the effective weight of the blind 3, so maintaining the blind in the desired position.

Commonly, friction arises at the cord guides (not shown). This means that the counterweight 6 need not exactly counterbalance the effective weight of the blind 3 at any one position of the blind. Despite the fact that the effective weight of the blind 3 will vary according to the blind's position, for example an increasing proportion of the blind's total weight will be taken by the blind material itself and the support 5, rather than by the cords 4, as the blind is lowered, a single weight of the counterweight 6 can be found which will counterbalance the blind 3 for all its positions.

In the illustrated embodiment, the overall weight of the counterweight can be varied by the addition or removal of individual weights or mass pieces 11, which may, for example, be made of lead or steel.

These mass pieces 11, which may for example be of 114 grams mass each, may be placed in the hollow main body 9. Weight may be added in other ways such as, for example, by placing sand in hollow main body 9.

Alternatively, the counterweights 6 may be solid and supplied in a range of different weights for the user to select a counterweight that best suits the effective weight of the blind 3 to be counterbalanced thereby.

To reduce the risk of damage to the surface of the wall in the vicinity of the counterweight 6, the exterior of the main body 9 of the counterweight may be provided with cushioning means. In the illustrated example, the cushioning means take the form of a rubber O-ring 12, partially received in a groove provided in the external surface of main body 9.

The expression "generally vertically movable blind" is intended to include blinds where gravity acts to try and alter the blind position, resulting from the blind being normally movable in a direction having, at least, a vertical component.

Claims

Claims:

1. A blind adjustment system comprising generally vertically movable blind means, cord means for attachment to the blind means and, for attachment to the cord means, generally vertically movable counterweight means, movement of the counterweight means in a first direction being arranged, in use, to move at least a portion of the blind means in a second generally opposite direction to allow setting of the blind in a chosen position, the weight of the counterweight means being selected to substantially counterbalance the effective weight of the blind means, as determined by the tension in the cord means, whereby to hold the blind means in the chosen position.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the overall weight of the counterweight means is adjustable by the addition or removal of mass

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the counterweight means comprises a substantially hollow receptacle portion, arranged to receive therein the additional mass.

4. A system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the counterweight means includes a removable lid portion, said lid portion being provided with means for attaching the counterweight means to the cord means.

5. A system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the counterweight means is provided around its periphery with projecting means of cushioning material.

6. A counterweight for a blind adjustment system, the counterweight comprising a mass receiving receptacle, the receptacle being adapted for attachment, via cord means, to a generally vertically movable blind and being provided with a substantially hollow portion arranged to receive additional mass such that the combined weight of the receptacle and any received additional mass may be chosen to be substantially equal to the effective weight of the blind, as determined by the tension in the cord means, so that, after adjusting the position of the blind to a chosen position by moving the receptacle, the combined weight of the receptacle and any additional mass received therein substantially counterbalance the effective weight of the blind to hold it in its chosen position.

7. A blind adjustment system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A counterweight for a blind adjustment system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.