GB2445289A

GB2445289A - Multi layered roller blind

Info

Publication number: GB2445289A
Application number: GB0801071A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chin-Chang Shi; Hui-Wu Gong
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-01-22
Filing date: 2008-01-22
Publication date: 2008-07-02
Anticipated expiration: 2028-01-22
Also published as: GB0801071D0; GB2445289B

Abstract

A roller shade with two support brackets, a roller rotatably 10 mounted between the two support brackets 20, a shade cloth 40 having a first end mounted on the roller 10, a fixing rod 50 mounted on a second end of the shade cloth to move with the shade cloth, two flexible clamping pieces 23 each mounted on a respective support bracket and each detachably clamping the fixing rod 50 to position the fixing rod on the two support brackets 20 temporarily, and a weight unit 60 slidably mounted on the shade cloth and movable to abut the fixing rod 50. Thus, the shade cloth has a one-layer shading effect or a two-layer (double layer) shading effect so that the shade cloth can provide two different shading effects according to user's different requirements.

Description

* MULTIFUNCTIONAL ROLLER SHADE HAVING A TWO-LAYER

SHADING EFFECT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

S The present invention relates to a covering and, more particularly, to a roller shade mounted on a window to provide a shading effect.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional roller shade in accordance with the prior art shown in Fig. 7 comprises two support brackets 81 spaced from each other, a roller 80 rotatably mounted between the two support brackets 81, a shade cloth 83 having a first end mounted on the roller 80 to rotate with the roller 80 and having a surface provided with a plurality of patterns 85, a weight 84 mounted on a second end of the shade cloth 83 to move with the shade cloth 83, and a control cord 82 engaged with the roller 80 to drive the roller 80 to rotate IS between the two support brackets 81 so as to wind or unwind the shade cloth 83. However, the shade cloth 83 only has a single shading layer so that the shade cloth 83 cannot provide a shading effect efficiently when the sunshine is too intense. In addition, the shade cloth 83 only has a single layer, so that the patterns 85 of the shade cloth 83 cannot present a three-dimensional viewing effect, thereby decreasing the aesthetic quality of the shade cloth 83.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a roller shade, comprising two support brackets spaced from each other, a roller rotatably mounted between the two support brackets, a shade cloth having a first end mounted on the roller to rotate with the roller, a fixing rod mounted on a second end of the shade cloth to move with the shade cloth, two flexible clamping pieces each mounted on a respective support bracket and each detachably clamping the fixing rod to position the fixing rod on the two support brackets temporarily, and a weight unit slidably mounted on the shade cloth and movable to abut the fixing rod.

The weight unit includes an outer sleeve having an inside provided with a passage to allow passage of the second end of the shade cloth and having a peripheral wall provided with a slit connected to the passage to allow passage of the second end of the shade cloth, an inner rod located in the passage of the outer sleeve to receive the shade cloth between the outer sleeve and the inner rod, and two end caps mounted on two opposite ends of the outer sleeve and connected with two opposite ends of the inner rod.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a multifunctional roller shade having a two-layer shading effect.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a roller shade, wherein the shade cloth has a one-layer shading effect or a two-layer shading effect so that the shade cloth can provide two different shading effects according to user's different requirements.

* A further objective of the present invention is to provide a roller shade, wherein the shade cloth is changeable between the one-layer shading effect and the two-layer shading effect easily and quickly by changing the position of the fixing rod, thereby facilitating the user changing the two different shading effects.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a roller shade, wherein when the shade cloth forms a first shading layer and a second shading layer to provide a two-layer shading effect, the patterns of the shade cloth are arranged in an alternating and staggered manner to present a three-dimensional viewing effect, thereby enhancing the aesthetic quality of the shade cloth.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a roller shade in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the roller shade as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the roller shade as shown in Fig. 1.

* Fig. 4 is a schematic operational view of the roller shade as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a schematic operational view of the roller shade as shown in Fig.3.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a roller shade in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a conventional roller shade in

accordance with the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1-3, a roller shade in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises two support brackets 20 spaced from each other, a roller 10 rotatably mounted between the two support brackets 20, a shade cloth 40 having a first end 41 mounted on the roller 10 to rotate with the roller 10, a fixing rod 50 mounted on a second end 42 of the shade cloth 40 to move with the shade cloth 40, two flexible clamping pieces 23 each mounted on a respective support bracket 20 and each detachably clamping the fixing rod 50 to position the fixing rod 50 on the two support brackets 20 temporarily, and a weight unit 60 slidably mounted on the shade cloth 40 and movable to abut the fixing rod 50.

A mounting member 11 is secured on a first one of the two support brackets 20 and has an inside provided with a square fixing hole 13. The roller has a first end 15 rotatably mounted on the mounting member 11 and a * second end 16 rotatably mounted on a second one of the two support brackets 20. The second end 16 of the roller 10 has an inside provided with a circular pivot hole 14. A control cord 12 is movably mounted on the mounting member 11 and is engaged with the first end 15 of the roller 10 to drive the roller 10 to rotate relative to the mounting member 11 so as to wind or unwind the shade cloth 40.

Each of the two support brackets 20 is provided with a locking portion 21 for attaching each of the two support brackets 20 to a wall of a house.

Each of the two support brackets 20 has an upright mounting plate 24 for mounting a respective clamping piece 23 and has a side provided with a support plate 22. The support plate 22 of the first one of the two support brackets 20 is provided with a square fixing stud 222 inserted into the fixing hole 13 of the mounting member 11 to secure the mounting member 11 to the first one of the two support brackets 20, and the support plate 22 of the second one of the two support brackets 20 is provided with a circular pivot shaft 221 inserted into the pivot hole 14 of the roller 10 so that the second end 16 of the roller lOis rotatable on the pivot shaft 221 of the second one of the two support brackets 20. Thus, the mounting member 11 is secured on the first one of the two support brackets 20, the first end 15 of the roller 10 is rotatable on the mounting member 11, and the second end 16 of the roller 10 is rotatable on the second one of the two support brackets 20, so that the roller 10 is rotatable between the two support brackets 20.

Each of the two clamping pieces 23 is disposed between the first end 41 and the second end 42 of the shade cloth 40 and disposed between the roller and the fixing rod 50. Each of the two clamping pieces 23 has a dome-shaped mediate portion provided with a receiving chamber 230 to receive the fixing rod 50 detachably and has a first end 232 secured to the mounting plate 24 of the respective support bracket 20 and a second end provided with an entrance 231 spaced from the mounting plate 24 of the respective support bracket 20 and connected to the receiving chamber 230 to allow entrance of the fixing rod 50 into the receiving chamber 230. The receiving chamber 230 of each of the two clamping pieces 23 is located between the first end 232 and the entrance 231 of each of the two clamping pieces 23.

The fixing rod 50 is introduced through the entrance 231 of each of the two clamping pieces 23 into the receiving chamber 230 of each of the two clamping pieces 23.

The weight unit 60 is movable between the first end 41 and the second end 42 of the shade cloth 40 and is limited between the roller 10 and the fixing rod 50. The weight unit 60 includes an outer sleeve 61 having an inside provided with a passage 64 to allow passage of the second end 42 of the shade cloth 40 and having a peripheral wall provided with a slit 611 connected to the passage 64 to allow passage of the second end 42 of the shade cloth 40, an inner rod 62 located in the passage 64 of the outer sleeve 61 to receive the * shade cloth 40 between the outer sleeve 61 and the inner rod 62, and two end caps 63 mounted on two opposite ends of the outer sleeve 61 and connected with two opposite ends of the inner rod 62.

The outer sleeve 61 of the weight unit 60 is slidable on the shade cloth 40 and has a substantially C-shaped cross-sectional profile. The slit 611 of the outer sleeve 61 has a width smaller than a diameter of the fixing rod 50 to stop the fixing rod 50 and to prevent the fixing rod 50 from being retracted into the passage 64 of the outer sleeve 61.

The inner rod 62 of the weight unit 60 is inserted into the passage 64 of the outer sleeve 61 in an axially sliding manner, and each of the two opposite ends of the inner rod 62 is provided with a circular pivot bore 621.

Each of the two end caps 63 of the weight unit 60 has a side provided with a circular pivot axle 631 inserted into the pivot bore 621 of the inner rod 62 so that the inner rod 62 of the weight unit 60 is rotatable between the two end caps 63 and is located in the passage 64 of the outer sleeve 61 by the two end caps 63.

The shade cloth 40 has a surface provided with a plurality of patterns 46. The second end 42 of the shade cloth 40 extends through the slit 611 of the outer sleeve 61 into the passage 64 of the outer sleeve 61, encircles the inner rod 62 of the weight unit 60 and protrudes outwardly from the slit 611 of the outer sleeve 61. The second end 42 of the shade cloth 40 has a distal portion provided with a hollow loop 420 to allow insertion of the fixing rod 50.

* In operation, referring to Figs. 4 and 5 with reference to Figs. 1-3, the weight unit 60 is movable on the shade cloth 40 downward by its gravity to reach the second end 42 of the shade cloth 40 and to abut the fixing rod 50 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so that the shade cloth 40 forms a first shading layer 43 to provide a one-layer shading effect.

Alternatively, when the fixing rod 50 is movable upward to reach each of the two clamping pieces 23 and is introduced through the entrance 231 into the receiving chamber 230 of each of the two clamping pieces 23 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the weight unit 60 is movable on the shade cloth 40 downward by its gravity to detach from the fixing rod 50 and is movable to reach a bent mediate portion 45 of the shade cloth 40 between the first end 41 and the second end 42 of the shade cloth 40 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, so that the shade cloth 40 forms a first shading layer 43 and a second shading layer 44 to provide a two-layer shading effect.

As shown in Fig. 6, the roller shade further comprises at least one fixing bracket 70 located between the two support brackets 20, and at least one secondary clamping piece 72 mounted on the at least one fixing bracket 70 and detachably clamping the fixing rod 50 to position the fixing rod 50 on the at least one fixing bracket 70 temporarily.

Accordingly, the shade cloth 40 has a one-layer shading effect or a two-layer shading effect so that the shade cloth 40 can provide two different shading effects according to user's different requirements. In addition, the * shade cloth 40 is changeable between the one-layer shading effect and the two-layer shading effect easily and quickly by changing the position of the fixing rod 50, thereby facilitating the user changing the two different shading effects. Further, when the shade cloth 40 forms a first shading layer 43 and a second shading layer 44 to provide a two-layer shading effect, the patterns 46 of the shade cloth 40 are arranged in an alternating and staggered manner to present a three-dimensional viewing effect, thereby enhancing the aesthetic quality of the shade cloth 40.

Although the invention has been explained in relation tc its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

* CLAIMS 1. A roller shade, comprising: two support brackets spaced

from each other; a roller rotatably mounted between the two support brackets; a shade cloth having a first end mounted on the roller to rotate with the roller; a fixing rod mounted on a second end of the shade cloth to move with the shade cloth; two flexible clamping pieces each mounted on a respective support bracket and each detachably clamping the fixing rod to position the fixing rod on the two support brackets temporarily; a weight unit slidably mounted on the shade cloth and movable to abut the fixing' rod.
2. The roller shade in accordance with claim 1, wherein the weight unit includes: an outer sleeve having an inside provided with a passage to allow passage of the second end of the shade cloth and having a peripheral wall provided with a slit connected to the passage to allow passage of the second end of the shade cloth; an inner rod located in the passage of the outer sleeve to receive the shade cloth between the outer sleeve and the inner rod; * two end caps mounted on two opposite ends of the outer sleeve and connected with two opposite ends of the inner rod.
3. The roller shade in accordance with claim 2, wherein each of the two opposite ends of the inner rod is provided with a circular pivot bore; each of the two end caps of the weight unit has a side provided with a circular pivot axle inserted into the pivot bore of the inner rod so that the inner rod of the weight unit is rotatable between the two end caps and is located in the passage of the outer sleeve by the two end caps.
4. The roller shade in accordance with claim 2, wherein the outer sleeve of the weight unit is slidable on the shade cloth.
5. The roller shade in accordance with claim 2, wherein the outer sleeve of the weight unit has a substantially C-shaped cross-sectional profile.
6. The roller shade in accordance with claim 2, wherein the slit of the outer sleeve has a width smaller than a diameter of the fixing rod to stop the fixing rod and to prevent the fixing rod from being retracted into the passage of the outer sleeve.
7. The roller shade in accordance with claim 2, wherein the inner rod of the weight unit is inserted into the passage of the outer sleeve in an axially sliding manner.

*
8. The roller shade in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the two clamping pieces is disposed between the first end and the second end of the shade cloth and disposed between the roller and the fixing rod.
9. The roller shade in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the two clamping pieces has a dome-shaped mediate portion provided with a receiving chamber to receive the fixing rod detachably.
10. The roller shade in accordance with claim 9, wherein each of the two support brackets has an upright mounting plate for mounting a respective clamping piece; each of the two clamping pieces has a first end secured to the mounting plate of the respective support bracket and a second end provided with an entrance spaced from the mounting plate of the respective support bracket and connected to the receiving chamber to allow entrance of the fixing rod into the receiving chamber; the fixing rod is introduced through the entrance of each of the two clamping pieces into the receiving chamber of each of the two clamping pieces.
11. The roller shade in accordance with claim 10, wherein the receiving chamber of each of the two clamping pieces is located between the first end and the entrance of each of the two clamping pieces.
12. The roller shade in accordance with claim 1, wherein the weight unit is movable between the first end and the second end of the shade cloth and is limited between the roller and the fixing rod.
13. The roller shade in accordance with claim 2, wherein the second end of the shade cloth extends through the slit of the outer sleeve into the passage of the outer sleeve, encircles the inner rod of the weight unit and protrudes outwardly from the slit of the outer sleeve.
14. The roller shade in accordance with claim 1, wherein the shade cloth has a surface provided with a plurality of patterns; the second end of the shade cloth has a distal portion provided with a hollow loop to allow insertion of the fixing rod.
15. The roller shade in accordance with claim 10, wherein the weight unit is movable on the shade cloth downward by its gravity to reach the second end of the shade cloth and to abut the fixing rod, so that the shade cloth forms a first shading layer to provide a one-layer shading effect; when the fixing rod is movable upward to reach each of the two clamping pieces and is introduced through the entrance into the receiving chamber of each of the two clamping pieces, the weight unit is movable on the shade cloth downward by its gravity to detach from the fixing rod and is movable to reach a bent mediate portion of the shade cloth between the first end and the second end of the shade cloth, so that the shade cloth forms a first shading layer and a second shading layer to provide a two-layer shading effect.
16. The roller shade in accordance with claim 1, further comprising at least one fixing bracket located between the two support brackets; at least one secondary clamping piece mounted on the at least one fixing bracket and detachably clamping the fixing rod to position the fixing rod on the at least one fixing bracket temporarily.
17. The roller shade in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: a mounting member secured on a first one of the two support brackets; wherein the roller has a first end rotatably mounted on the mounting member and a second end rotatably mounted on a second one of the two support brackets; the mounting member has an inside provided with a square fixing hole; the second end of the roller has an inside provided with a circular pivot hole; each of the two support brackets has a side provided with a support plate; the support plate of the first one of the two support brackets is provided with a square fixing stud inserted into the fixing hole of the mounting member to secure the mounting member to the first one of the two support brackets; the support plate of the second one of the two support brackets is provided with a circular pivot shaft inserted into the pivot hole of the roller so that the second end of the roller is rotatable on the pivot shaft of the second one of the two support brackets.
18. The roller shade in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the two support brackets is provided with a locking portion.
19. A roller shade substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.