GB2304362A

GB2304362A - Venetian blind with groups of independently tiltable lamellae

Info

Publication number: GB2304362A
Application number: GB9517136A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Maxwell Goodwin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-08-22
Filing date: 1995-08-22
Publication date: 1997-03-19
Also published as: GB9517136D0

Abstract

A venetian blind has groups of lamellae 2, 5 which can be tilted independently of lamellae in other groups. The tilting mechanism is driven by rotation of rods 11, 12 of varying diameter so that they may be mounted within each other to form a single unit 7. Disks 9, 10 at the top of the rods 11, 12 are connected by a link (22, figure 4) to rotatable disks (13-16, figure 5) about which tilt cords 19, 20 are wound. The upper surface of the slats may be silvered or highly reflective.

Description

AN INNOVATION ON THE VENETIAN BLIND This invention relates to an adjustable venetian blind.

Venetian blinds are currently used in both commercial and domestic buildings to cut out glare from the sun and also to provide privacy. They comprise of a series of blades which rotate together to allow varying degrees of light into the space. They are used on the inside of windows, in between window panes in multipane glazing systems and also externally.

According to the present invention there is provided a Venetian blind which is divided into a multiplicity of sections of blades. Each section can be rotated independently of the other blades, thereby allowing the user to adjust the blind to their own requirements.

This allows the user to optimise the amount of light entering the room whilst still providing the amount of privacy and protection from sun glare required.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example of a venetian blind split into two sections of blades, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG 1 shows in perspective the blinds with the upper section open and the lower section closed.

FIG 2 illustrates the mechanism used to turn the two sections with one rod inside the other.

FIG 3 shows the cord used to rotate the lower section going through the slits in the blades of the upper section.

FIG 4 illustrates in plan the head mechanism.

FIG 5 illustrates in elevation the head mechanism.

FIG 6 illustrates in perspective the discs in the head mechanism used to lower or raise the cords which drop down to the blades.

FIG 7 shows in section the blind with the upper section open and the lower section closed.

Referring to the drawings, the blind comprises of blades in the upper section, (for example 2) and the blades in the lower section (for example 5). The blades in each section are suspended by cords on the back and the front. 4 is an example of a cord in the lower section and 3 is an example of a cord for the upper section. The blind is raised and lowered using the cords (8) attached to a weighted unit (6) as in a conventional Venetian blind. The mechanism used to rotate each section (7) is mounted at the side of the blind.

This mechanism (7) shown in detail in fig 2 comprises of an inner rod (11) and on outer rod (12). The inner rod is used to rotate the lower section of the blind and the outer rod is used to rotate the upper section of the blind.

The discs at the top of this unit (9,10) which are contained within the head of the blind (1) rotate the discs (13, 14, 15, 16) shown in fig 4 by means of a link (22). This link would consist of either cord or a chain with corresponding teeth on the discs.

This system is shown in elevation in fig 5. The strings which rotate the section in the blind (for example 3 and 4) are attached to the lower sections of the rotating discs (1316). When the disc rotates, the string from one side of blades unwinds from the disc and the other side winds round the disc and visa versa. The blades in each section thereby rotate. This system is shown in detail in fig 6, with the cords (19,20) attached to the rotating disc running over a pivot (18,20) and then going down to the blade (17).

Claims

1. A Venetian blind comprising a multiplicity of horizontal blades characterised in that they are split into two or more sets of blades (or slats), where each set of blades can be rotated independently of the other set or sets of blades. Each set of blades can thereby be opened or closed to varying degrees, independently of the sets of blades.

2. A Venetian blind according to claim 1 wherein the mechanism to rotate the blades in each section is contained in one unit with rods of varying diameter inside each other, whereby each rod is used to rotate one section of the blind.

3. A Venetian blind according to claim 1 wherein the cord by which the blades of each section are suspended passes through a slit in the blades of the other sections.

4. A Venetian blind according to claim 1 wherein the upperside of the blades in one or more of the sections is silvered or highly reflective.

5. A Venetian blind according to claim 1 wherein the mechanism used to turn the sections of the blinds uses a system of rotating discs and cord. The discs at the end of the blind are rotated by the user, thereby rotating the discs in the head machanism. The cord dropping down to the blades then either winds round the discs or unwinds from them, thereby rotating the blades.

6. A Venetian blind substantially as described above herein with reference to figures 1-7 of the accompanying drawings.