GB2523166A - Vertical louver blind weight system - Google Patents

Vertical louver blind weight system Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2523166A
GB2523166A GB1402730.4A GB201402730A GB2523166A GB 2523166 A GB2523166 A GB 2523166A GB 201402730 A GB201402730 A GB 201402730A GB 2523166 A GB2523166 A GB 2523166A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
weight
vertical louver
sleeve
weight system
louver blind
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB1402730.4A
Other versions
GB201402730D0 (en
GB2523166B (en
Inventor
Perry Day
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Individual
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Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB1402730.4A priority Critical patent/GB2523166B/en
Publication of GB201402730D0 publication Critical patent/GB201402730D0/en
Publication of GB2523166A publication Critical patent/GB2523166A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2523166B publication Critical patent/GB2523166B/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E06DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
    • E06BFIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
    • E06B9/00Screening or protective devices for wall or similar openings, with or without operating or securing mechanisms; Closures of similar construction
    • E06B9/24Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blinds
    • E06B9/26Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds
    • E06B9/36Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with vertical lamellae ; Supporting rails therefor
    • E06B9/367Lamellae suspensions ; Bottom weights; Bottom guides

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Blinds (AREA)

Abstract

A vertical louver blind has louvers 20 suspended from a head rail at a top edge, with a sleeve 21, adjacent to the bottom edge. The sleeve is open at opposite ends to receive a bottom weight or weighted bar 1. Each weight is not connected to one another, and has opposed side faces 2 & 3, top and bottom edges 4 & 5, and a pair of parallel ends 6 and 7, the ends projecting from the open ends 22 and 23 of the sleeve. The weights have flanges or rims 8 & 9 to retain the bottom weight within the sleeve. The weights may have tapered faces (11 & 12, fig 2) such that the faces converge towards the top and bottom edges.

Description

VERTICAL LOUVER BLIND WEIGHT SYSTEM
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to vertical louver blinds.
BACKGROUND
Conventional vertical blinds have a series of vertical fabric strips or louvers which are all suspended from a headrail. The suspension system within the headrail allows all the louvers to be rotated together about a vertical axis, and they can also be moved along the headrail.
In order to hold the louvers vertical each louver normally has a weight at the bottom end. Most commonly the weights are slid into an open ended transverse sleeve, and opposite ends of the weight are provided with projecting lugs to which chains are releasably attached by means of clips. Two chains normally extend along opposite sides of the louvers and are clipped to the weights. The chains have several functions (i) they are generally considered to help maintain even spacing between the louvers and reduce twisting, (ii) they retain the weights in the louvers, and (iii) they reduce the risk of the louvers becoming entangled with each other.
There is, however, an alternative view that the chains are unsightly, add to the cost,and complicate assembly. The chains can also become detached from the bottom weights, which looks unsightly. There is also a more serious concern that the chains may become entangled with objects and could, for example, present a tripping hazard at floor level. In a worst case, the chains could even present a strangulation hazard for young children.
One way of keeping the bottom weights in place without using link chains is to permanently sew or weld the weight into a bottom pocket, but this adds considerably to the manufacturing cost.
The present invention seeks to provide a new and inventive form of vertical louver blind weight system which is aesthetically pleasing, eliminates the use of link chains, and keeps manufacturing costs to a minimum.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention proposes a vertical louver blind weight system in which louvers having top and bottom edges are suspended from a headrail and formed with a sleeve adjacent to the bottom edge, the sleeves being open at opposite ends and each receiving a bottom weight of generally planar configuration with opposed side faces, top and bottom edges, and a pair of substantially parallel ends, the weight system being distinguished by the fact that the bottom weights are not linked together and have flanges which extend along their ends and which project from the open ends of the sleeve to retain the bottom weights within the sleeve.
The invention also provides a bottom weight having end flanges which extend substantially continuously between the top and bottom edges of the weight.
The invention also provides a bottom weight having opposed side faces formed with two flanges which extend along substantially parallel ends of the weight.
The invention also provides a bottom weight having end flanges which extend above and below the top and bottom edges of the weig ht.
The invention also provides a bottom weight in which each has a single endless flange of substantially uniform depth which extends around opposed side faces and top and bottom edges of the weig ht.
The invention also provides a bottom weight having end flanges in which each flange has an inner face adjacent to the louver which extends substantially perpendicular to an adjacent side face.
The invention also provides a bottom weight having end flanges in which each flange has an outer face remote from the louver which is curved to blend smoothly with an end face of the bottom weight.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a general view of a bottom weight for use in a vertical louver blind in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the bottom weight; and Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional detail of the bottom weight at the position indicated 111-Ill in Fig. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to Fig.s 1 and 2, the bottom weight 1 is of rectangular generally planar configuration with opposed side faces 2 and 3, substantially parallel top and bottom edges 4 and 5, and a pair of shorter substantially parallel ends 6 and 7. Each end 6, 7 is provided with a single endless flange 8, 9 of substantially uniform depth which extends continuously around the opposed side faces and the top and bottom edges of the weight.
The bottom weight is of uniform vertical section, with a central band 10, mid-way between the top and bottom edges 4 and 5, wherein the side faces 2 and 3 are substantially flat and parallel.
This central band is flanked by two tapered bands 11 and 12 wherein the side faces 2 and 3 converge towards the respective top and bottom edges 4 and 5.
Referring to the sectional detail of Fig. 3, the parallel ends 6 and 7 each have an end face 13 which is substantially flat. Both of the flanges 8 and 9 have an inner abutment face 14 which projects perpendicularly from the side faces 2 and 3. The abutment face 14 joins an outer guide face 15 which is curved to blend smoothly into the end face 13.
Returning to Fig. 1, the bottom weight is used in a vertical louver blind of the kind in which a plurality of fabric louvers 20 having a top and bottom edges are suspended from a headrail. The bottom end of each louver 20 is formed into a transversely-extending sleeve 21 which is open at opposite ends 22 and 23. The dimensions of the sleeve 20 are such that the bottom weight 1 may be inserted into the sleeve from either end, 22 or 23, and when fully inserted the ends of the sleeve will closely abut the flanges 8 and 9 so that just the end faces 13 and the flanges 8 and 9 are visible. The downward force exerted by the bottom weight on the bottom of the sleeve tends to draw the sides of the sleeve into contact with the side faces 2 and 3 so that, as shown in Fig. 3, the ends of the sleeve 21 cannot easily move past the abutment face 14 of the flanges 8 and 9. On the other hand, the curved outer guide face 15 ensures that the bottom weight can easily be inserted into the sleeve during manufacture without the need for sewing or welding.
Assembly times are much faster, significantly reducing manufacturing and installation costs. Although the bottom weights are not linked together by chains the louvers hang straight under the action of the bottom weights and remain uniformly spaced without twisting. The bottom weights present a neat and unobtrusive appearance without unsightly and dangerous chains.
Whilst the above description places emphasis on the areas which are believed to be new and addresses specific problems which have been identified, it is intended that the features disclosed herein may be used in any combination which is capable of providing a new and useful advance in the art.
* * * * * * * *

Claims (8)

  1. CLAIMS1. A vertical louver blind weight system in which louvers having top and bottom edges are suspended from a headrail and formed with a sleeve adjacent to the bottom edge, the sleeves being open at opposite ends and each receiving a bottom weight of generally planar configuration with opposed side faces, top and bottom edges, and a pair of substantially parallel ends, the weight system being distinguished by the fact that the bottom weights are not linked together and have flanges which extend along their ends and which project from the open ends of the sleeve to retain the bottom weights within the sleeve.
  2. 2. A vertical louver blind weight system according to Claim 1 in which the flanges extend substantially continuously between the top and bottom edges of the bottom weight.
  3. 3. A vertical louver blind weight system according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the opposed side faces of each bottom weight are each formed with two such flanges which extend along both of said substantially parallel ends.
  4. 4. A vertical louver blind weight system according to any preceding claim in which the flanges extend above and below the top and bottom edges of the bottom weight.
  5. 5. A vertical louver blind weight system according to any preceding claim in which each end of the bottom weight has a single endless flange of substantially uniform depth which extends around the opposed side faces and the top and bottom edges of the bottom weight.
  6. 6. A vertical louver blind weight system according to any preceding claim in which each flange has an inner face adjacent to the louver which extends substantially perpendicular to an adjacent side face.
  7. 7. A vertical louver blind weight system according to any preceding claim in which each flange has an outer face remote from the louver which is curved to blend smoothly with an end face of the bottom weight.
  8. 8. A vertical louver blind weight system substantially as described with reference to the drawings.* * * * * * * *
GB1402730.4A 2014-02-17 2014-02-17 Vertical louver blind weight system Active GB2523166B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1402730.4A GB2523166B (en) 2014-02-17 2014-02-17 Vertical louver blind weight system

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1402730.4A GB2523166B (en) 2014-02-17 2014-02-17 Vertical louver blind weight system

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201402730D0 GB201402730D0 (en) 2014-04-02
GB2523166A true GB2523166A (en) 2015-08-19
GB2523166B GB2523166B (en) 2019-11-13

Family

ID=50440256

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1402730.4A Active GB2523166B (en) 2014-02-17 2014-02-17 Vertical louver blind weight system

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2523166B (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2572363A (en) * 2018-03-27 2019-10-02 Louver Lite Ltd A vertical blind weight

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3130541A1 (en) * 1981-08-01 1983-02-17 Suntec Sonnenschutztechnik Gmbh, 2850 Bremerhaven Weighting plate for hanging slats of blinds
EP0098146A2 (en) * 1982-06-29 1984-01-11 Pier Luigi Menichetti Apparatus for suspending vertical blinds
FR2540547A1 (en) * 1983-02-04 1984-08-10 Stoever Adolf Bautex Kg Venetian blinds weighting strips
KR20060009738A (en) * 2004-07-26 2006-02-01 지정덕 Vertical
JP2009079431A (en) * 2007-09-27 2009-04-16 Toso Co Ltd Roll blind
US20110247767A1 (en) * 2010-04-09 2011-10-13 Ju-Chang Chen Roll-up blind with a better safety feature

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3130541A1 (en) * 1981-08-01 1983-02-17 Suntec Sonnenschutztechnik Gmbh, 2850 Bremerhaven Weighting plate for hanging slats of blinds
EP0098146A2 (en) * 1982-06-29 1984-01-11 Pier Luigi Menichetti Apparatus for suspending vertical blinds
FR2540547A1 (en) * 1983-02-04 1984-08-10 Stoever Adolf Bautex Kg Venetian blinds weighting strips
KR20060009738A (en) * 2004-07-26 2006-02-01 지정덕 Vertical
JP2009079431A (en) * 2007-09-27 2009-04-16 Toso Co Ltd Roll blind
US20110247767A1 (en) * 2010-04-09 2011-10-13 Ju-Chang Chen Roll-up blind with a better safety feature

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2572363A (en) * 2018-03-27 2019-10-02 Louver Lite Ltd A vertical blind weight
GB2572363B (en) * 2018-03-27 2022-06-15 Louver Lite Ltd A vertical blind weight

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201402730D0 (en) 2014-04-02
GB2523166B (en) 2019-11-13

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