GB2523166B

GB2523166B - Vertical louver blind weight system

Info

Publication number: GB2523166B
Application number: GB1402730.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Day Perry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-02-17
Filing date: 2014-02-17
Publication date: 2019-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 2034-02-17
Also published as: GB201402730D0; GB2523166A

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.

In an embodiment the flanges extend substantially continuously between the top and bottom edges of the bottom weight.

In an embodiment the opposed side faces of each bottom weight are each formed with two such flanges each of which extends along one of said substantially parallel ends.

In an embodiment each flange extends above and below the top and bottom edges of the bottom weight.

In an embodiment the flanges at each end of the bottom weight form 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.

In an embodiment each flange has an inner face adjacent to the louver which extends substantially perpendicular to an adjacent side face of the bottom weight.

In an embodiment 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 III-III 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.

Claims

1. 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. 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. 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 each of which extends along one of said substantially parallel ends.

4. A vertical louver blind weight system according to any preceding claim in which each flange extends above and below the top and bottom edges of the bottom weight.

5. A vertical louver blind weight system according to Claim 3 in which the flanges at each end of the bottom weight form 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. 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 of the bottom weight.

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.