GB2479878A

GB2479878A - A combination blind and curtain fitting arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2479878A
Application number: GB1006969A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Molesworth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-04-27
Filing date: 2010-04-27
Publication date: 2011-11-02
Also published as: GB2479976A8; GB201106657D0; GB201006969D0; GB2479976A

Abstract

A fixing arrangement for fitting a blind 12 and a curtain 30 to a window or door having a fixing member 10 which may be in the form of a housing 10 for a roller blind 12 and a curtain rail or track 18 which is integral or adapted for integration with the blind fixing member 10. The fixing member may be formed of at least two parts, one part of which connects the fitting member to a wall within or above a reveal of a window or door and another part of which is integrated with the curtain rail or track. The position of the curtain rail or track may be movable forwards or rearwards relative to the fixing member. The arrangement may comprise side and/or bottom rails for the blind, each of which may have seals to seal the blind to a wall. This enables both the blind and the curtain rail/track to be fitted to the wall above the window or door, outside the window or door reveal, in a neat, aesthetically pleasing manner without the curtain rail/track interfering with the blind.

Description

Window and door accessories

Field of the invention

This invention relates to accessories for covering windows or doors, and in particular to blinds, curtains and to curtain rails and tracks.

Background to the invention

Coverings for windows and doors, such as blinds and curtains, are commonly fitted in one of two ways, within or outside the reveal or recess of the window or door opening.

Blinds, in particular, may be fitted within the reveal. However, it is necessary to provide the correct width of blind to fit the width of the reveal, and damage may be caused in the reveal during fitting. Furthermore, if ornaments or other objects are placed on the window sill, they will foul the blind when the blind is operated.

Operation of the blind may also be fouled by window ftirniture such as handles. If secondary double glazing is fitted, there may simply not be room for a blind within the reveal.

It is therefore also known to fit either blinds or curtains to the interior wall outside the reveal. A curtain rail or track for hanging a curtain, or a housing for a blind, may be fitted to the interior wall above the reveal. The curtain or blind then hangs in front of the window or door opening, rather than within the reveal, and extends beyond it both horizontally and vertically.

However, if both a curtain and a blind are required, then it is very difficult or impossible to fit both the curtain rail or track and the blind housing to the wall outside the reveal, in such a manner that that the curtain, or its rail or track, do not interfere with the blind. Even if this can be achieved, it is very difficult to achieve a neat, aesthetically pleasing installation. For these reasons, normally the curtain is fitted outside the reveal, and the blind is fitted within the reveal. This gives rise to the problems noted above where a blind is fitted within a reveal.

Statements of the invention

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides an arrangement for fitting a blind and a curtain to a window or door, having a fixing member or housing for fitting the blind, and a curtain rail or track which is integral or adapted for integration with or secured to the blind fixing member.

Preferably, the fixing member is a housing for the blind. For ease of installation, the fixing member or housing may be formed from at least two parts. One part may be adapted for fitting to a wall within or above the reveal of a window or door, while the other part may be integrated or adapted for integration with the curtain rail or track.

At least in preferred embodiments of the invention, it is therefore not necessary for both of the curtain rail/track and the blind fixing member to be fitted directly to the wall, thus enabling an installation in which the curtain, or its rail or track, do not interfere with the blind.

In some preferred embodiments, the position of the curtain rail or track may be adjustable forwards or rearwards relative to the fixing member or housing. This permits adjustment of the spacing between the curtain and the blind. In one form, the fixing member or housing has two or more attachment features to which the curtain rail or track may be attached to enable the adjustment. In another form, the curtain rail or track and the fixing member or housing are relatively slidable to provide the forwards or rearwards adjustment.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides a kit comprising an arrangement as described above, together with one or more side rails for the blind, the or each side rail comprising a channel within which an edge of the blind runs in use. Such side rails may include a respective seal, for example to provide blackout, draught reduction, noise reduction and/or heat loss reduction. In use the side rails may be attached to the wall outside the reveal and be covered by curtains hung from the curtain rail or track.

Compared with side rails installed within the reveal, this is a neater and more aesthetically pleasing arrangement, and need not obscure the opening of the window or door The kit may also include a bottom rail for the blind, adapted to run in the side rails in use. The bottom rail may include a seal.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of the words, for example "comprising" and "comprises", mean "including but not limited to", and do not exclude other components, integers or steps. Moreover the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires: in particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Preferred features of each aspect of the invention may be as described in connection with any of the other aspects. Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following examples. Generally speaking the invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims and drawings). Thus features, integers or characteristics described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. Moreover unless stated otherwise, any feature disclosed herein may be replaced by an alternative feature serving the same or a similar purpose.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will now be further described with reference to the following non-limiting examples, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section through a fixing arrangement for a blind and a curtain; j Figure 2 shows two housing parts of the arrangement of Figure 1, prior to assembly; Figure 3 is a cross-section through a second fixing arrangement for a blind and a curtain; Figure 4 is a cross-section through a curtain rail or track for use with the arrangement of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a cross-section through a third fixing arrangement for a blind and a curtain; Figure 6 is a cross-section through a modified version of the fixing arrangement of Figure 3 or Figure 5; Figure 7 is a horizontal cross-section, viewing downwards, of a side rail fitting a blind to a wall at the side of a window opening; Figure 8 shows a modified side rail; and Figures 9 and 10 show sealing arrangements for a bottom rail of a blind.

Detailed description

The following embodiments of the invention relate to accessories for window openings, but it will be appreciated that where appropriate they may equally be used for door openings. Roller blinds are described, but these may be replaced by blinds of many different types, such as Venetian blinds, pleated blinds, blinds with vertical slats, and the like.

Figures 1 and 2 show a housing 10 which houses a roller blind 12 and forms a fixing member for it. The housing 10 is formed from two elongate parts 14, 16 in order to facilitate fixing the housing to a wall, and assembly of the roller blind 12 within the housing. The part 14 has an L-shaped cross-section, with a rear vertical plate portion 14a for fixing to a wall above a window opening. Alternatively, rather than being fixed above the window opening, it can be fixed to the wall at either side of it, to straddle the opening outside the window reveal but adjacent the top of it. This can be useful, for example, if the window extends up close to the ceiling. The part 16 has an upper horizontal plate portion 1 6a, which when assembled rests on a weight-bearing upper horizontal plate portion 14b of the part 14.

The housing part 16 further comprises a front face 1 6c, from which depends a curtain track or rail 18. Additionally, the part 16 may have an optional lower horizontal portion 16d, forming a bottom wall of the housing 10. An elongate slot 20 is formed between the portions 14a and 16d, through which the fabric 22 of the blind is advanced and refracted in the directions of arrows A. This slot 20 has lips 21 formed in the portions 14a, 16d, to act as a guide for the fabric 22 as the diameter of the blind 12 changes when the fabric is advanced and retracted. The slot thus helps to feed the fabric 22 into the side rails described below.

The housing parts 14, 16 may be formed as elongate extrusions, preferably of aluminium or aluminium alloy for strength and rigidity, although extrusions of plastics materials such as uPVC are also possible. Any other suitable material or combination of materials could be used, such as fibreglass, wood or plastics with reinforcement if required. The housing parts may have a decorative finish such as a powder coating, especially for the part 16, of which the front face 16c and the curtain railltrack 18 will be visible in use.

The housing 10 may be assembled by first fixing the plate portion 14a of the part 14 to a wall 68, either above a window reveal 70 (Figure 2) or straddling across the top of it.

This may be achieved with screws or bolts, or by gluing. Screws may simply be screwed directly into the host wall 68 through the material of the plate portion 14a. Or screws or bolts in the wall may engage in keyholes or the like in the plate portion 14a.

The roller blind 12 is then fixed in place, and finally the part 16 is slid into place over the part 14. An edge 16b of the part 16 fits into a groove 14c of the part 14 when assembled, in order to provide support against tilting when the part 16 is carrying a heavy curtain. The parts 14, 16 are secured together by two end plates (not shown) which are screwed to screw-receiving port features 32 formed in the extrusions.

Optionally, the part 16 may be secured to the part 14 at a location or locations intermediate the ends, by one or more screws 32 which secure a flange 1 6e of the part 16 to a flange 14d of the part 14. In cases where the housing 10 is relatively long, this can prevent a middle portion of the housing part 16 being pulled forwards, away from the housing part 14.

The curtain rail/track 18 may be designed to be compatible with any conventional, commercially-available type of curtain track or rail system. As one example, Figure 1 shows that it may comprise a rearwardly-facing channel 24, in which conventional gliders 26 are slidable. The header tape of a curtain 30 is attached to the gliders 26 by conventional curtain hooks 28.

As seen in Figures 1 and 2, the curtain rail 18 is joined to the rest of the housing part 16 by a curved portion 34. This locates the curtain 18 somewhat to the rear of the front face 16c, so that the curtain 30 hangs approximately in the plane of the front face 16c.

The front face 1 6c therefore gives the neat appearance of a pelmet above the curtain 30. It will be appreciated that should this not be required, the curtain rail 18 may be joined to the housing part 16 at any desired position, for example to produce a desired horizontal spacing between the curtain 30 and the material 22 of the blind.

Figure 3 shows an alternative housing 40 for a roller blind 42. It comprises two housing parts 44, 46. This figure illustrates several individual modifications of the housing 10 seen in Figures 1 and 2, any of which may be used separately or together with the other features already described.

One modification is that instead of the flanges 14d, 16e, the housing parts 44, 46 have an elongate interlocking lip and groove feature 48. This helps to secure the housing part 46 to the housing part 44 along its full length, thus obviating the need for intermediate screws 32.

Furthermore, the upper plate portions 44b, 46a of the housing parts 44, 46 are separated by a void 50. This facilitates the use of screws 52 to assemble the roller blind 42 to the plate portion 44b within the housing, and/or to secure brackets on the housing end plates (not shown) to the plate portion 44b, without fouling the plate portion 46a.

Also in Figure 3, the underside of the lower horizontal portion 46d of the housing part 46 has one or more channels 54. These are designed to receive a curtain rail or track 56 of the form shown in Figure 4. Whereas in Figures 1 and 2 the curtain rail/track 18 is formed integrally with the housing part 16, here the curtain rail/track 56 is a separate item. It is adapted by a flange 58 to be integrated with the housing part 46 by fitting in one of the channels 54.

One advantage of the separate curtain rail/track 56 is that several different designs of curtain rail/track may be provided to fit a common housing 40. Blinds and housings according to the invention may then be offered in a form compatible with the curtain rail/track systems from a number of different manufacturers. The form shown in Figure 4 is only one possible example.

Another advantage of the separate curtain rail/track 56, as seen in Figure 3, is that the curtain rail/track 56 may be fitted in either of the channels 54. This enables adjustment of the horizontal spacing between the curtain and the blind. Of course, if greater adjustment possibilities are required then there may be more than two channels 54.

Alternatively, if adjustment is not required, there may be only one channel 54.

For illustration purposes, Figure 3 shows curtain rails/tracks 56 in both channels 54, but it will be appreciated that usually only one will be fitted. An exception may be if it is desired to hang two curtains e.g. a light net curtain behind a heavier curtain.

The housings 10, 40 in Figures 1-3 have two housing parts, but they may be constructed from more parts where appropriate.

Figure 5 shows another embodiment. This is a simplified one-piece fixing member 60 for a roller blind 62, in the form of a pelmet. While this provides a housing for the blind, it is not fully enclosed. The fixing member 60 has many of the features of the housing part 16 in Figure 1, including the integral curtain rail or track 18. However, it is fixed directly to a wall 68 above a window reveal 70 by screws 64 through a flange 66.

If desired, the Figure 5 embodiment could be provided in two parts, e.g. to make the position of the curtain rail/track adjustable. For example, it may have a separate curtain rail or track. As in Figures 3 and 4, this permits the provision of several different designs of railltrack. And/or the position of the rail/track may be adjustable by providing alternative mounting positions as in Figures 3 and 4.

In Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5, the blind 12, 42, 62 has been fixed to the upper horizontal plate portion 14b, 44b or to the upper part of the pelmet/housing 60. However, it could be fixed to the vertical plate portion 14a or 44a in Figures 1-3, or screwed to the wall behind it through the vertical plate portion. Or, particularly in Figure 5, it could be affixed directly to the wall 68. In the latter case, the pelmet/housing 60 may be affixed around the blind after the blind has been fixed to the wall.

Figure 6 is a partial view of a further embodiment, providing an alternative form of adjustment to that shown in Figure 3. A housing part 72 is formed with an elongate slot 78 on its underside, in place of the channels 54 shown in Figure 3. A modified curtain rail or track 74 depends from a horizontal flange 76, the upper surface of which has a plurality of elongate serrations or corrugations as shown. This can be slid in and out of the slot 78 in the direction of the arrows B, in order to provide forwards and rearwards adjustment of the curtain rail/track 74. Once adjusted to the desired position, it is locked in place by a locking bar 80. This is inserted longitudinally and engages with a longitudinal groove 82 in the slot 78 and with one of the serrations or corrugations of the flange 76.

The locking bar 80 is not essential and the flange 76 may be secured in the slot 78 in other ways. For example, it may be a push fit, and/or secured by screws. Or the serrations on the flange may be an adjustable click fit with a corresponding feature in the slot. Or the serrations may instead be provided on the inside surface of the slot, engaging with a feature on the flange.

Any of the embodiments described may be provided with a separate mounting plate for easier installation to a wall above the window reveal. However, this will usually not be necessary. In fact, it is an advantage that the wooden batten usually required when mounting a separate curtain rail or track will also normally not be necessary.

Figures 7-10 illustrate further features which may optionally be used with the embodiments of the invention described above. These features may also be used individually, separately from the other embodiments of the invention.

In Figures 7 and 9, there can be seen an optional bottom rail 84 for the roller blind.

This is also seen in Figures 1 and 3. It is an elongate extrusion of aluminium, aluminium alloy or plastics material, or it may be formed from any other suitable material or combination of materials such as those mentioned above. It may be sold as part of a kit with the housing parts, blind, and curtain rail/track described above. It comprises a longitudinal, upwardly-open channel 86, within which runs a rod 88. The bottom edge of the fabric 22 of the roller blind is wrapped around the rod 88. This retains the rail 84 on the bottom edge of the fabric 22 of the blind.

Figure 7 also shows a side rail 94, which is another elongate extrusion of aluminium, aluminium alloy or plastics material, or is formed from any of the materials or combinations of materials mentioned above. Again, this may be sold as part of a kit with the housing parts, blind and curtain rail/track described above, either with or without the bottom rail 84. Usually two such side rails will be provided, one for use at each side of a window opening. Each side rail is affixed in use to a side wall 96 outside the window reveal 70. Suitably it may be stuck on to the wall 96, e.g. with glue or pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, or fixed with screws or bolts, optionally with keyholes in the rail.

The side rail 94 is in the form of an inwardly-opening U-shaped channel. The side edge of the fabric 22 and the end of the bottom rod 88 of the blind extend into this U-shaped channel, and run within it as the blind fabric 22 is advanced and retracted from the housing or fixing member 10, 40, 60. This provides a neat retaining feature for the side edge of the blind. By retaining the blind close to the wall 96, this provides the installation with blackout, draught reduction, noise reduction and heat loss reduction properties.

If desired, those properties can be further improved by the provision of a seal within the side rail 94. To this end, the side rail 94 is provided with two gasket channels 98.

One or both of these channels may be fitted with a polypropylene pile gasket 100, such as those sold under the trade name Schlegel. This seals against the fabric 22 and the rod 88 as they run within the side rail 94. Pile gaskets are preferred because they do not impede or brake the running of the blind, but neoprene or other rubber seals are possible alternatives.

While two gasket channels 98 are shown, of course it would be possible to omit one or both of them. Figure 7 illustrates a polypropylene pile gasket 100 fitted in one of the gasket channels 98, while Figure 8 shows it fitted in the other. Figure 8 also illustrates that the side rail 94 may be modified by the inclusion of a side channel 106. If it is desired to affix the side rail to the wall with screws or bolts, optionally with keyholes, these may conveniently be located in the side channel 106. Protrusions 107 may locate a clip-on cover strip (not shown) to provide a neat finish.

To improve the neatness of the appearance, the side rail 94 may be provided with an inwardly extending extension 102. Tn use, this provides a cover to retain the end of the bottom rail 84, which does not extend into the U-shaped channel to the same extent as the fabric 22 and rod 88.

In Figure 7, a wavy line 104 indicates diagrammatically the location of a curtain hanging from the curtain rail/track 18, 56, 74. It will be noted that this hangs in front of the side rail 94, both when the curtain is open and when it is drawn. This is a significant aesthetic advantage, since it means that if the side rail 94 is used, it is hidden from view. That would not be the case were the blind and its side rail 94 installed within the reveal 70. It will be appreciated that it is the provision of the combined blind housing and curtain rail/track which enables both the blind and the curtain to be fitted outside the reveal 70.

Figure 9 shows that the bottom rail 84 provides further sealing when the blind is closed (i.e. when the fabric 22 is fully extended from the housing or fixing member 10, 40, 60). The bottom rail 84 has a rearwardly-facing gasket channel 90. A further polypropylene pile gasket 100 is fitted in this, to face rearwards. This seals the bottom edge of the blind against a wall 108 below the window reveal 70.

The arrangement of Figure 9 is suitable if the window sill 110 does not project significantly beyond the line of the wall 108. Figure 10 shows an alternative arrangement for use where the sill does project beyond the wall 108. Here, the polypropylene pile gasket 100 is fitted in a gasket channel 92 on the underside of the bottom rail 84, to face downwards, and seals against the sill 110. II is an advantage that this sealing is achieved without the need to install anything on the sill itself Another sealing alternative, however, is to fit a strip of a magnetic material on the sill or wall, and magnets within the bottom rail 84, to hold the blind in a closed position.

Indeed, magnetic sealing could also be used for the side rails 94.

Figure 10 also illustrates a slightly modified version of the bottom rail 84, in which the position of the rearwardly-facing gasket channel 90 has been changed.

Although the embodiments described are fitted outside the reveal of the window, they could be adapted for fitting within the reveal if desired. If desired, the housing or fixing member 10, 40, 60 could be fitted within the reveal, at the top, while the side rails 94 could be fitted to the wall at the side of the window opening, outside the reveal. The blind fabric 22 is then drawn forwards to insert the rod 88 and the bottom rail 84 at the top of the side rails.

In the preferred embodiments described above, a curtain rail or track is integrated with a fixing member or housing for a blind. In a simple form of the invention, however, a conventional curtain rail or track could be secured to a conventional blind housing.

An advantage of the embodiments described is that since the curtain rail or track is integrated with or secured to the blind housing, it effectively has much greater strength. Unless it is very short, a conventional free-standing curtain rail or track needs to be fixed to the wall by supports at positions intermediate its ends. This makes it difficult to fit in conjunction with a separate blind without the intermediate supports interfering with the blind. In the embodiments described, the curtain rail or track is supported throughout its length by the stronger blind housing, and has no need for such intermediate fixings to the wall.

Claims

Claims 1. An arrangement for fitting a blind and a curtain to a window or door, having a fixing member or housing for the blind, and a curtain rail or track which is integral or adapted for integration with or secured to the blind fixing member or housing.
2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member is a housing for the blind.
3. An arrangement according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the fixing member or housing is formed from at least two parts.
4. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein one part of the fixing member or housing is adapted for fitting to a wall within or above a reveal of the window or door, while the other part of the fixing member or housing is integrated or adapted for integration with the curtain rail or track.
5. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the position of the curtain rail or track is adjustable forwards or rearwards relative to the fixing member or housing.
6. An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the fixing member or housing has two or more attachment features to which the curtain rail or track may be attached to enable the adjustment.
7. An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the curtain rail or track and the fixing member or housing are relatively slidable to provide the forwards or rearwards adjustment.
8. An arrangement for fitting a blind and a curtain to a window or door substantially as any described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
9. A kit comprising an arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, together with one or more side rails for the blind, the or each side rail comprising a channel adapted to receive an edge of the blind, which runs within the channel in use.
10. A kit according to claim 9, wherein the or each side rail includes a seal for the edge of the blind.
11. A kit according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the side rail is adapted to be attached to the wall outside the reveal and be covered by a curtain hung from the curtain rail or track.
12. A kit according to claim 9, 10 or 11, further including a bottom rail for the blind.
13. A kit according to claim 12, wherein the bottom rail is adapted to run in the or each side rail in use.
14. A kit according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the bottom rail includes a seal for sealing the bottom edge of the blind against a wall below a window reveal.is
15. A kit according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the bottom rail includes a seal for sealing the bottom edge of the blind against a window sill.
16. A kit comprising an arrangement according to any one of claims 1-8, together with one or more side rails and/or a bottom rail for the blind, the side rail or bottom rail being substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.