GB2432612A

GB2432612A - Window shade

Info

Publication number: GB2432612A
Application number: GB0524035A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Janet Bragg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-11-25
Filing date: 2005-11-25
Publication date: 2007-05-30
Also published as: GB0524035D0

Abstract

A window shade comprises a substantially opaque sheet 19 for placing over a window 12, said opaque sheet being of greater area than the window and a releasable fixing means for maintaining the opaque sheet in position over said window and leaving minimal gap between the edges of the opaque sheet and the window. Said fixing means 18 comprises cooperating fixing elements, a first fixing element being provided on the frame or wall surrounding the window and the second, cooperating fixing element being attached to the opaque sheet, for example Velcro <RTM>. For use as a sun screen or sun blind.

Description

Window Shade The present invention relates to a window shade.

It is often desirable to block the entrance of light through a window temporarily. This can be achieved by drawing a pair of curtains placed over the window or by shutting a blind placed over the window. Drawing curtains or shutting a blind can often leave gaps through which shafts of light become visible in a room.

In some circumstances, such as the bedroom of a young child or a bedroom facing the morning sun in a hot climate, it is desirable to minimise the amount of light that can pass into a room.

The amount of light entering a room can be reduced by increasing the opacity of any curtain or blind material. This does not however reduce the amount of light which may ingress to the room around the edges of the curtain or blind. To reduce this light ingress, a black-out blind may be used. A black-out blind typically comprises a frame fitted around the edges of the window or the window aperture, the frame adapted to retain the edges of the blind and thereby prevent the ingress of light between the edges of the blind and the edges of the window. Fitting a frame of this sort can be inconvenient, relatively difficult and may be unsightly.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new form of window shade that alleviates or overcomes at least some of the above problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a window shade comprising: a substantially opaque sheet for placing over a window, said opaque sheet being of greater area than the window and a plurality of releaseable fixing means for maintaining the opaque sheet in position over said window and leaving minimal gap between the edges of the opaque sheet and the window or the wall surrounding said window, said fixing means each comprising cooperating fixing elements, a first fixing element being provided on said opaque sheet and a second fixing element being provided on the frame of the window or on a wall adjacent to said window.

By use of the above window shade, a light from a window may be prevented from entering a room quickly and easily. Furthermore, the shade may be readily removed when it is desired to allow light into a room.

The opaque sheet may be a fabric. In some embodiments the opaque material may comprise two or more similar or dissimilar layers of fabric. Typically the fabric may be wool, cotton, felt or velvet. The opaque sheet may be made up from a two or more subsidiary substantially opaque sheets joined at their edges to form a larger opaque sheet. The subsidiary sheets may be joined by any suitable fixing means, which may be the same fixing means used to maintain the opaque sheet in position over the window.

In some embodiments, a separate opaque sheet may be provided over each pane of the window. In other embodiments, a single opaque sheet is provided to cover the whole window.

The sheet may be decorated with designs. The designs may be at least partially rendered in fluorescent material.

The fixing means may comprise, but is not limited to one or more of the following: hook and loop fabric such as VELCROTM, snap fitting elements, tugs, buttons or toggles provided with corresponding apertures, zip fastener, stidable engaging elements, spring biased elements, screw threaded elements, clips, pegs or similar.

The elements of the fixing means may be secured to said opaque sheet and said wall/window frame by any suitable means. Typically suitable means would include but are not limited to adhesive, screw threaded elements, snap fitting elements, slidabte engaging elements, nails, pins or similar.

The window shade of the present invention may be used in addition to or in place of a conventional curtain, blind, shutter or other window shade.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit of parts for fitting a window shade according to the first aspect of the present invention comprising: a substantially opaque sheet; and fixing means.

The second aspect of the present invention may incorporate any features of the first aspect of the present invention as desired or as appropriate.

Preferably the kit comprises means for securing the fixing means to a wall or window frame andior means for securing the fixing means to the opaque sheet. The kit may comprise a plurality of similar fixing means andlor may alternatively comprise a plurality of different types of fixing means. The kit may comprise a plurality of opaque sheets. Additionally or alternatively, the kit may comprise a single opaque sheet which may be cut to a desired size. In some embodiments, the opaque sheet may be of sufficient size that it can be cut into a plurality of opaque sheets adapted to cover a plurality of windows.

In order that the invention can be more clearly understood it is now described further below with reference to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 shows a window with fixing elements provided on the surrounding walls; and Figure 2 shows the window of figure 1 with an opaque sheet being fitted over it; Referring now to figure 1, a window 10 to be fitted with a window shade according to the present invention is shown. The window 10 comprises two panes 11, 12 of glass provided in a frame 13. The upper portion of the frame 13 is hinged allowing the movement of the pane 11 relative to plane 12 such that the window 10 may be opened. A locking handle 14 is provided allowing the upper pane 11 to be retained securely in the closed position, if desired.

The window 10 is provided in a recess 15 of a wall 16. It is of course possible for the window 10 to be provided flush with the wall 16 or even projecting from the wall 16. On the wall 16 are provided strips of hook and oop fabric l7a-17d. These strips provide elements of fixing means for maintaining a shade in position over the window 10.

Referring now to figure 2, the window 10 is shaded by providing a substantially opaque sheet 19 over the window 10. The sheet 19 has strips of hook and ioop fabric I 8a-l 8d (such as VELCROTM) providing corresponding elements of fixing means to those strips 17a-17d. This enables the sheet to be maintained in position over the window 10. As the sheet 19 is maintained in position substantially around its full perimeter, there are very few gaps between the sheet 19 and the wall 16 through which light may ingress into the room.

Use of hook and loop fabric as the fixing means allows the sheet 19 to be conveniently, easily and quickly placed over the window 10 or removed from over the window as required. Furthermore, hook and loop fabric maintains the sheet 19 in close proximity to the wall 16 thereby helping to minimise the amount of light that may ingress into the room.

Typically, the sheet 19 is formed from a fabric or from a plurality of layers of fabric. Suitable fabrics include wool, cotton, felt or velvet. In any case, the fabric may be treated to increase its opacity.

Although in the illustrated example hook and loop fabric comprises the fixing means it is of course possible to use alternative types of fixing means including, but not limited to: snap fitting elements, lugs, buttons or toggles provided with corresponding apertures, zip fastener, slidable engaging elements, spring biased elements, screw threaded elements, clips, pegs or similar. In the embodiment illustrated the hook and loop fabric is secured to the wall 16 and on the sheet 19 by use of an adhesive. It is of course possible that other means may be used to secure the fixing means to the wall 16 and the sheet 19 including but not limited to: screw threaded elements, snap fitting elements, slidable engaging elements, nails, pins or similar.

In the illustrated example, of Figure 1 and 2, the fixing means were provided upon the wall 16 around window 10 however, it is possible in alternative embodiments that fixing means may be secured directly to the window frame 13 as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Often such arrangements may be favoured over the arrangement of Figure 1 and 2 as it may prove easier or more stable to provide the fixing means 17a -17d on the window frame. Furthermore, this may in some circumstances remove the need to alter conventional curtains already provided and/or may reduce the likelihood of damage to the wall 16.

Additionally, in alternative embodiments, a single sheet and associated fixing means may be provided to cover each pane 11, 12 individually. It is also possible that rather than a single sheet 19 being provided to cover a single window 10 a single pane 11, 12, two or more sheets 19 may be joined to cover a window 10 or a pane 11, 12.

Such sheets 19 may be joined by the same fixing means that is used to maintain the sheets 19 in place in relation to the window 10 or by any other suitable fixing means.

Typically, the window shade of the present invention may be provided as a kit comprising fixing means, one or more sheets 19 and means for securing the fixing means to said sheets 19 and to walls 16 or window frames 13.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not to be restricted to the details of the above embodiments which have been described by way of example only.

Claims

Claims 1. The invention provides means to blocking out light from a

room by way of fixing a substantially opaque sheet using a suitable fixing element attached to the wall or frame surrounding the window and attaching the cooperating fixing element to the fabric sheet and thus providing a flush finish and leaving minimal gaps for light to enter a room.

2. The Window Shade according to claim 2 can be released easily from the window frame or wall, folded and stored when out of use and replaced back over the window when needed again.

3. The Window Shade according to claim 1 can comprise of one, two or more similar or dissimilar layers of fabric.

4. The Window Shade according to claim I can be secured to the surrounding window either to the frame or wall by any suitable fixing elements. *I * I * * 4sI * *** * I 4S**

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