GB2404216A

GB2404216A - Weight for a vertical blind

Info

Publication number: GB2404216A
Application number: GB0318274A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Nigel Barnes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-07-25
Filing date: 2003-08-05
Publication date: 2005-01-26
Also published as: GB0318274D0; GB0317400D0

Abstract

A vertical blind, comprising a plurality of vertically-suspended fabric strips 4 in side-by-side relationship, each strip 4 having a weight 1 at the lower end thereof, the weight 1 being adapted to receive and hold the free end of the strip 4, the strip 4 being wrapped around and enclosing the weight 1, and the weight 1 being provided with retaining means 8 projecting from at least one side of the strip 4 in such a manner that the strip 4 can pass under and be retained by the retaining means 8. In order to receive and hold the strip 4, the weight 1 may comprise a shallow protuberance 7 while the strip 4 is formed with corresponding aperture 10 to fit over said protuberance 7. The retaining means 8 could be a bar, or finger projections. The invention aims to provide a weight that can be installed easily onsite, without employing adhesives or stitches.

Description

240421 6

VERTICAL BLINDS

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to vertical blinds, and in particular to a weight for attachment to the end of a strip of fabric.

Background to the Invention

Vertical blinds typically consist of fabric strips suspended vertically from a track in such a manner as to permit them to be rotated and slid along the track. It is necessary to provide a weight on the bottom of each strip to ensure that the strip hangs correctly.

Typically, there are two common methods for attaching weights to the ends of the strips: adhesive may be used to attach the weight, or the blind material may be stitched to form an envelope in which the weight rests. Each method has its disadvantage. Adhesive can be seen through the blind material and tends, in time, to lose its adhesive properties, with the result that the weight falls off the end of the strip. Stitching method also leaves the stitched that penetrates through the front of the blind material. Stitching which is not straight or of the same colour as the blind material detracts from the appearance of the blind. As with the adhesive approach, a small overlap of blind material is necessary, and this tends to be visible through the blind material. Further, because stitching is involved, it is necessary for the blind to be finished to the desired length before being transported to the site where it is to be installed. This requires careful measurement in advance of manufacture and results in the blind which can only be used in one location.

Summary of the Imention

The invention provides a vertical blind, comprising a plurality of vertically- suspended fabric strips in side-by-side relationship, each strip having a weight at the lower end thereof, the weight being adapted to receive and hold the free end of the strip, the strip being wrapped around and enclosing the weight, and the weight being provided with retaining means projecting from at least one side of the strip in such a manner that the strip can pass under and be retained by the retaining means.

The invention also provides a weight for a vertical blind, adapted to receive and grip an end portion of a vertical blind strip and comprising retaining means whereby the strip maybe wrapped around the weight and retained thereon so as to enclose the weight.

Preferably, the weight comprises a shallow protuberance and the end of the strip is formed with a corresponding aperture to fit over the protuberance thereby retaining the free end of the strip on the weight.

The retaining means comprises, in one embodiment of the invention, a bar extending from one side of the weight to the opposite side, preferably parallel to the surface of the weight, the strip passing between the bar and the remainder of the weight, in use. Alternatively, instead of a complete bar, the retaining means may comprise a finger member extending from each side of the weight parallel with the surface thereof, the edges of the strip passing between the finger members and the remainder of the 1 0 weight.

The weight is preferably formed from plastics material, for example as an injection moulding. Filler material or a metal core may be incorporated during moulding to increase the mass of the weight. Alternatively, the weight may be formed from metal, for example as a die casting.

The use of the weight of the invention greatly simplifies manufacture and installation of vertical blinds, because it obviates the need to manufacture the blind to the precise size of the opening into which it is to be fitted, for example a window opening.

Vertical blinds can be manufactured to standard lengths and then cut to the desired length at the final fitted location. The attachment of the weights may be achieved, after suitable shaping of the strip ends, by a simple wrapping operation which does not require the use of stitching or adhesives. It may be possible to achieve the shaping of the ends by the use of a simple cutting template and a knife, or a hand-operated punch tool. The blind can be readily adapted to fit in a new location requiring a smaller vertical length by unwrapping the weights, trimming the strips and reinstalling the weights as described above.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the fitting of a weight in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention to the end of a blind strip; Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the weight of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a view corresponding to that of Figure 2 showing the end of the blind strip fitted on to the weight.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment

The weight 1 is suitably in the form of a plastics injection moulding having a body portion 2 and an attachment portion 3 extending therefrom. The attachment portion 3 has a width just sufficient to accommodate the width of the blind strip 4 therein, while the body portion 1 is slightly narrower than the width of the strip 4 to ensure that it does not protrude beyond the width of the blind strip 4 in use. The sides 11 of the attachment portion 3 are shaped to receive conventional swivel clips linked together by cords, chains or the like, to control and align the bottom ends of the blind strips in use. Small ledges 12 protrude slightly to limit downward movement of the swivel clips, in use.

The attachment portion 3 includes a front panel 5 having a central cut out portion 6 into which extends a protuberance or detent 7. A retaining bar 8 extends across the width of the attachment portion 3 at the upper end thereof defining between it and the front panel 5 a narrow opening 9. The fabric of blind strip 4 is formed with a shaped end conforming with the internal shape of the weight and including an aperture 10 punched therethrough, engageable over the detent 7 to retain the end of the strip 4 in the weight, in use.

To fit the shaped end of the blind strip 4 on to the weight, it is past through the opening 9, downwardly over the rear face of the weight, wrapping over the front face, before being inserted back into the opening 9. The end portion of the strip 4 is pushed into the weight so as to be deflected over the detent 7 until the aperture 10 is engaged on the detent to hold the end of the strip in place. The blind strip 4 is then pulled tight on to the weight, resulting in a neat finish without the need for stitching or adhesive, as illustrated in Figure 3.

It will be appreciated that a wide range of different shapes and sizes of weight can be produced in accordance with the invention.

Claims

1. A vertical blind, comprising a plurality of vertically-suspended fabric strips in side-by-side relationship, each strip having a weight at the lower end thereof, the weight being adapted to receive and hold the free end of the strip, the strip being wrapped around and enclosing the weight, and the weight being provided with retaining means projecting from at least one side of the strip in such a manner that the strip can pass under and be retained by the retaining means.

2. A blind according to Claim 1, wherein the weight comprises a shallow protuberance and the end of the strip is formed with a corresponding aperture to fit over the protuberance thereby retaining the free end of the strip on the weight.

3. A blind according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the retaining means comprises a bar extending from one side of the weight to the opposite side, the strip passing between the bar and the remainder of the weight, in use.

4. A blind according to Claim 3, wherein the bar extends parallel to the surface of the weight.

5. A blind according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the retaining means comprise a finger member extending from each side of the weight parallel with the surface thereof, the edges of the strip passing between the finger members and the remainder of the weight.

6. A blind according to any preceding claim, wherein the weight is formed as a plastics moulding.

7. A blind according to Claim 6, wherein the moulding contains a filler material or a metal core to increase the mass thereof.

8. A blind according to any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the weight is formed of metal.

9. A vertical blind, substantially as described with reference to, or as shown in, the drawings.

10. A weight for a vertical blind, adapted to receive and grip an end portion of a vertical blind strip and comprising retaining means whereby the strip maybe wrapped around the weight and retained thereon so as to enclose the weight. - 5

11. A weight according to Claim 10, comprising a shallow protuberance to be received in a corresponding aperture in a blind strip thereby retaining the free end of the strip on the weight.

12. A weight according to Claim 10 or 11, wherein the retaining means comprises a bar extending from one side of the weight to the opposite side, such that the strip passes between the bar and the remainder of the weight, in use.

13. A weight according to Claim 12, wherein the bar extends parallel to the surface of the weight.

14. A weight according to Claim 10 or 11, wherein the retaining means comprise a finger member extending from each side of the weight parallel with the surface thereof, such that the edges of a strip may pass between the finger members and the remainder of the weight, in use.

15. A weight according to any of Claims 10 to 14, formed as a plastics moulding.

16. A weight according to Claim 15, wherein the moulding contains a filler material or a metal core to increase the mass thereof.

17. A weight according to any of Claims 10 to 14, formed of metal.

18. A weight for a vertical blind, substantially as described with reference to, or as shown in, the drawings.