GB2433289A

GB2433289A - Blind having reflective coating on one side

Info

Publication number: GB2433289A
Application number: GB0525393A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gaius Henry Guest
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-12-14
Filing date: 2005-12-14
Publication date: 2007-06-20
Anticipated expiration: 2025-12-14
Also published as: GB2433289B8; GB2433289B; GB0525393D0

Abstract

A blind for a building comprises mounting means for mounting the blind to the building, and a blind means depending from the mounting means. The blind means is formed of a wooden material, wherein only the rear surfaces of the blind means, that is, only the surfaces of the blind means that face out from the building in use, are provided with a reflective coating operative to reflect radiation (e.g. infra-red, ultra-violet, solar radiation) incident on the rear surfaces of the blind means. The wooden material may be a combination of reed, bamboo, or non-wooden material veneered with a wooden material. The reflective coating may be a nacreous coating. The coating may be applied in a liquid form and any gaps in the blind material are uncoated such that radiation can pass through.

Description

A BLIND FOR A BUILDING AND A METHOD OF

MANUFACTURING A BLIND FOR A BUILDING

The present invention relates to a blind for a building and particularly but not exclusively relates to a blind for a conservatory or the like. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a blind for a building.

Blinds for conservatories are well known and help prevent third parties looking into the conservatory, and also help to adjust the amount of light that enters the conservatory.

The appearance of such blinds is typically relatively important in that the blinds are often relatively prominent.

Parts of buildings comprising large areas of glass, such as conservatories, tend to be susceptible to overheating during periods of sunshine.

It has been proposed to stitch a sheet of solar reflective material to the rear surface of the blind, that is, to the surface of the blind that faces out from the building. However this undesirably increases the weight of the blind, it detracts from the appearance of the blind, and it is relatively costly as extra material and manufacturing costs are incurred. Such a backing material can also undesirably prevent all light and solar radiation from passing through the blind.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a blind for a building, the blind comprising mounting means for mounting the blind to the building, and blind means depending from the mounting means, the blind means being formed of a wooden material, and wherein only the rear surfaces of the blind means, that is, only the surfaces of the blind means that face out from the building in use, are provided with a reflective coating operative to reflect radiation incident on the rear surfaces of the blind means.

By reflective coating we mean that the coating is operative to cause electromagnetic, such as ultraviolet and/or infra red radiation, and/or solar radiation to be thrown back after impinging on the rear surfaces of the blind means.

The wooden material may comprise one of, or a combination of, a reed material, a bamboo material, or a non-wooden material veneered with a Preferably the reflective coating comprises a nacreous coating, that is a coating having the appearance of a pearl. Any other type or colour of reflective coating could alternatively or additionally be provided to achieve the desired reflection of radiation.

Preferably the reflective coating is applied as a liquid coating that has bonded to the rear surfaces of the blind means. The reflective coating thus comprises a layer of reflective film on the rear surfaces of the blind means.

Preferably the reflective coating comprises a coating of paint. The reflective coating may comprise a plurality of layers of paint.

Preferably the blind means comprises a blind sheet.

Preferably the blind sheet comprises a weave formed from a plurality of strips of material woven together.

Alternatively the blind means comprises a plurality of parallel strips of material that are interconnected using cord means connected to the mounting means.

Preferably the reflective coating is such that any gaps formed in the material of the blind means are uncoated such that radiation can pass through the gaps.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of applying a reflective coating to a blind comprising wooden blind means, the method comprising a step of spraying the reflective coating only onto the rear surfaces of the blind means, that is the surfaces that face out of the building in use of the blind.

Preferably the method includes a step of applying a base coat to the rear surfaces, prior to applying the reflective coating.

Preferably the base coat is white. Alternatively the base coat is the same colour as the colour of the front surfaces of the blind means. The method may comprise steps of applying multiple base coats.

Preferably the method includes a step of applying a top coat, after applying the reflective coating. The method may comprise steps of applying multiple top coats.

Preferably the step of applying the reflective coating to the rear surfaces of the blind means comprises a step of using air extractor means to draw excess coating through the blind means such that the pores of the blind means remain uncoated.

Other aspects of the present invention may include any combination of the features or limitations referred to herein.

The present invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but embodiments will now be described by way of example only.

A Roman type blind comprises mounting means such as a mounting plate provided with fixings suitable to attach the mounting plate to a suitable position above a glass window or a glass door or the like as might be provided in a conservatory for example. Such a mounting plate may also comprise fixings suitable to allow the blind to be mounted adjacent glass that forms part of the roof of a building. The mounting plate could alternatively comprise any suitable mounting means including, for example, a mounting bracket or block or the like.

From the mounting plate there depends blind means comprising a blind sheet which hangs, in use, generally below the mounting plate so as to cover or partially cover the window or door. The mounting plate may be provided with adjustment means that comprises, for example, an adjustment mechanism and a plurality of cords that are attached at various points to the blind sheet. The adjustment mechanism is operative to pull or release the cords such that blind sheet can rise or fall, the blind sheet folding onto itself at the base of the blind sheet.

The blind sheet is formed from a wooden material which may include, for example, any natural material such as a reed material, a bamboo material, or a combination of such materials.

The sheet of material could comprise a weave of narrow strips of material. The weave could comprise a so called Pinoleum' weave made from strips of material that are veneered with a wooden material such as bamboo, or reed. The narrow strips, whether formed of solid material or veneered, can be woven together in different combinations to create a variety of textured effects as desired.

The blind sheet can be provided with edging tape to help maintain the shape of the weave.

In use the blind sheet hangs down from the mounting plate and covers or partially covers the window or door.

The rear surfaces of the blind sheet, namely the surfaces that faces out from the building in use, are provided with a coating of a reflective material. The reflective material could be a paint of, white, silver or nacreous appearance operative to reflect electromagnetic and/or solar radiation incident on the reflective coating. A metal coloured, or metal based coating could be used. An acrylic or water based reflective coating could be used. An example of a coating that could be used is (rn) sold under the trade name LesonalAWater Based Paint.

The blind sheet is coated by first preparing the wooden material prior to spraying. Such preparation may include a step of sanding the wooden material, and may further comprise a step of colouring the wooden material using a paint or a stain.

A base coating may then be sprayed onto the rear surfaces of the blind sheet. The base coating may comprise one or several layers of paint which ordinarily is white or a similar colour to that of the wooden blind material used. The base coating could be the same colour as the front surfaces of the blind sheet.

The reflective coating is then sprayed to the rear surfaces of the blind sheet and is allowed to set and bond directly to the rear surfaces of the blind. Several layers of the reflective coating may be applied as desired.

Finally at least one layer of top coat is sprayed onto the rear surfaces of the blind sheet to protect the reflective coating.

The steps of spraying the base coat(s), the reflective coating and the top coat(s) are undertaken using air extractor means that is operative to draw excess paint through the material of the blind sheet such that the pores of the material are not coated.

When so applied the reflective coating is operative to reflect electromagnetic and solar waves so that the heat energy from the waves does not, or does not fully, enter the building.

It is estimated that up to 84% of heat energy incident on the reflective coating is reflected or absorbed and that up to 86% of light energy incident on the reflective coating is reflected or absorbed.

Surprisingly, applying a reflective coating only to the rear surface of the wooden blind sheet does not lead to the reflective coating bleeding though onto the front surface of the blind sheet. Thus, contrary to established industry information, coating only the rear surfaces of the wooden blind sheet does not adversely affect the appearance of the blind.

Additionally, applying the reflective coating in conjunction with an extractor fan means advantageously causes the coating to adhere or bond to the material itself but not to cover the gaps between the woven strips.

This enables light and heat to pass through the gaps such that the building still desirably receives some light and heat.

The reflective coating could be applied to any type of wooden blind which comprises for example, a blind sheet, whether woven or otherwise, including, for example, roller blinds, or a Venetian type blind comprising a plurality of parallel, interconnected, non woven wooden strips connected to the mounting means by cord.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A blind for a building, the blind comprising mounting means for mounting the blind to the building, and a blind means depending from the mounting means, the blind means being formed of a wooden material, wherein only the rear surfaces of the blind means, that is, only the surfaces of the blind means that face out from the building in use, are provided with a reflective coating operative to reflect radiation incident on the rear surfaces of the blind means.

2. The blind of claim I wherein the reflective coating comprises a nacreous coating, that is a coating having the appearance of a pearl.

3. The blind of any one of the preceding claims wherein the reflective coating is applied as a liquid coating that has bonded to the rear surfaces of the blind means.

4. The blind of any one of the preceding claims wherein the reflective coating comprises a coating of paint.

5. The blind of any one of the preceding claims wherein the reflective coating comprises a plur&ity of layers of paint.

6. The blind of any one of the preceding claims wherein the blind means comprises a blind sheet.

7. The blind of any one of the preceding claims wherein the blind means comprises a weave formed from a plurality of strips of material 8. The blind of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the blind means comprises a plurality of parallel strips of material that are interconnected using cord means connected to the mounting means.

9. The blind of any one of the preceding claims wherein the reflective coating is such that any gaps formed in the material of the blind means are uncoated such that radiation can pass through the gaps.

10. A method of applying a reflective coating to a blind comprising wooden blind means, the method comprising a step of spraying the reflective coating only onto the rear surfaces of the blind means, that is the surfaces that face out of the building in use of the blind.

11. The method of claim 10 including a step of applying a base coat to the rear surfaces, prior to applying the reflective coating.

12. The method of claim 11 comprising steps of applying multiple base coats.

13. The method of any one of claims 10 to 12 including a step of applying a top coat, after applying the reflective coating.

14. The method of claim 13 comprising steps of applying multiple top coats.

15. The method of any one of claims 10 to 14 wherein the step of applying the reflective coating to the rear surfaces of the blind means comprises a step of using air extractor means to draw excess coating through the blind means such that the pores of the blind means remain uncoated.

16. A blind substantially as described herein.

17. A method of applying a reflective coating to a wooden blind means substantially as described herein.