GB2531911A

GB2531911A - Safety device for a roman blind assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2531911A
Application number: GB1516622.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hayes Michael; Baker Andrew
Original assignee: JONES & CO (NOTTINGHAM) Ltd
Current assignee: JONES & CO (NOTTINGHAM) Ltd
Priority date: 2014-09-19
Filing date: 2015-09-18
Publication date: 2016-05-04
Also published as: GB201516622D0; GB201416636D0

Abstract

The assembly comprises head and bottom rails, blind material, a lift cord and a safety device attached to the blind material proximal the bottom rail and arranged to clamp the lift cord and release it when the force upon it exceeds a predetermined amount. The safety device may comprise a plunger 25 and socket 23 with complementary openings 57, [35, fig 5] defining a clamping sleeve through which the cord extends. A biasing spring 27 may provide the clamping force. The safety device may have a structure 31 for attachment to the blind material. The structure may be a loop or hook for respectively sewing or clipping to the blind material. The loop may have teeth 43 for retaining the sewn thread. Also claimed separately is the safety device, a kit of parts for constructing the blind assembly, and a method of improving the blind assembly using the safety device.

Description

Safety device for a roman blind assembly

Field of the nvention

Tne present invention relates to a safety device for a blind assembly. In particular, the present invention relates to a device for improving the safety of a roman blind assembly. Naturally, the present invention also extends to a blind assembly comprising a safety device, and a method of improving the safety of a blind assembly using a safety device.

Background to the invention

A conventional roman blind assembly, as is well known in the art, comprises a blind material which is suspended from a head rail. The effective length (i.e. drop) of the blind material can be adjusted by a series of lift cords that extend from a lift cord control mechanism within or at the head rail and are attached to the blind material near to the lower end of the blind material, proximal to a bottom rail of the blind assembly. Each lift cord is threaded through a corresponding set of cord guides arranged at intervals along the height of the blind material, the cord guides coinciding with the vertical position of intermediate rails supported in a horizontal orientation on the blind material between the head rail and the bottom rail.

Each set of cord guides are arranged along a broadly vertical line between the point of the head rail from which a respective lift cord emanates and the bottom rail. By extending or retracting the length of the lift cords via the lift cord control mechanism, the bottom rail is lowered or lifted, increasing or decreasing the effective length of the blind material.

One of the problems of the mechanism of the prior art is that the lift cord mechanism is a strangulation hazard for infants and small children. Strangulation can occur when a child s neck becomes caught between the exposed lift cord and the blind material.

It is against this background that the present invention has been devised.

Summary of the invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a blind assembly. Preferably, the blind assembly is a roman blind assembly. The blind assembly may comprise at least one of a head rail, a blind material, a lift cord and a safety device.

Ideally, the head rail has a lift cord control mechanism for controlling the lift cord so as to extend and retract the blind material. The blind material is ideally connected to the head rail and extending therefrom to a bottom rail. Ideally, the lift cord extends from the lift cord control mechanism at the head rail to the safety device. Ideally, the safety device is at a position about the blind material distal from the head rail, ideally proximal to the bottom rail. The safety device may be at a position coinciding with an intermediate rail. Ideally, the safety device is attached to the blind material. Ideally, the safety device, in use, releasably clamps the lift cord. Moreover, the safety device is ideally arranged to release the lift cord when a predetermined force acts between the lift cord and the safety device. Accordingly, as the safety device is attached to the blind material, the predetermined force can also act between the lift cord and blind material. Specifically, the safety device, in use, may be arranged to clamp the lift cord when a force applied between the lift cord and the safety device is less than a predetermined force and release the lift cord when a force applied between the lift cord and the safety device exceeds the predetermined force.

It is envisaged that the predetermined force corresponds to a force applied by an infant caught in a loop formed by the lift cord and the blind material. Thus, release by the safety device of the lift cord breaks that loop, obviating the strangulation hazard.

In prior known devices where the lift cord is non-releasably attached to the blind material, the lift cord and the blind material together define a loop that represents a strangulation hazard for infants and small children. Advantageously, the present blind assembly obviates this hazard by enabling the lift cord to be released from the blind material via the safety device when the predetermined force is applied. Additionally, as the safety device is attached to the blind material, it cannot form a choking hazard.

To ensure that the operation of extending and retracting the blind material is not significantly affected, the safety device is ideally configured so that the predetermined force is greater than a lifting force applied along a lift cord to support and lift the blind material during normal operation. Nonetheless, the predetermined force is ideally not significantly greater than the lifting force so that even the lightest of infants caught between the lift cord and the blind material will trigger the release of the lift cord from the blind material. For example, the difference between the lifting force and the predetermined force may be within the range 1 to 50 Newtons, preferably within the range 2 to 30 Netwons, more preferably between 3 and 20 Newtons, more preferably between 4 and 10 Newtons.

Alternatively, the safety device ideally releases the lift cord when a tension is applied to the lift cord from a load weight of between 0.79 and 0.85kg, ideally between 0.66kg and 1kg.

Ideally, the safety device comprises a clamping sleeve through which the lift cord extends, and by which the lift cord is releasably clamped by the safety device. Ideally, the clamping sleeve applies a clamping force to the lift cord, the clamping sleeve and/or safety device being configured to have a clamping force ensuring release of the lift cord when a predetermined force acts between the lift cord and the safety device. Ideally, the safety device comprises a biasing member providing said clamping force. The biasing member may be compression spring.

It should be noted that the term clamping relates to the action of holding or urging one structure against another, and is not necessarily limited to clamping between two planar surfaces.

It will be appreciated that the calculation of the appropriate forces (such as the lifting force, the clamping force and the predetermined force) can be calculated or determined empirically by a person skilled in the art taking into account factors such as: the weight of the blind material hanging from the head rail. This typically includes other structures supported by the blind material, such as rails or rods (e.g. 4mm diameter fibreglass rods). This combined weight typically ranges between 0.5kg and 4kg; the number and/or spacing of lift cords sharing the load of the blind material. Typically adjacent lift cords are situated no further than 50 centimetres apart; the minimum weight of an infant likely to be put at risk. Generally, almost all infants (i.e. >95%) are over 6kg in weight by the time they become mobile enough to entangle themselves in a blind; the proprieties of the biasing member or spring; and the properties of the lift cord, such as its gauge, the material from which it is constructed and an outer surface friction of the lift cord.

Ideally, the safety device releasably clamps a lower end portion of the lift cord. Ideally, the lower end portion of the lift cord slides through the safety device when the predetermined force is applied.

Moreover, the lower end portion of the lift cord ideally terminates at a free end that passes through the safety device when the predetermined force is applied, thereby disconnecting the lift cord from the safety device.

Ideally, the safety device is arranged to clamp at any position along the lower end portion of the lift cord. Advantageously, this allows the relative position between the safety device and the lift cord to be infinitely or continuously adjustable. Accordingly, small adjustments can be made to the blind assembly to ensure level hanging, lifting and lowering of the blind material. This can facilitate the manufacture of the blind assembly. To this end, the safety device ideally comprises a manually-operable adjustment means to control clamping of the safety device. Ideally, the manually-operable adjustment means is arranged to be operated with one hand. For example, the adjustment means may be a button or plunger that counteracts the clamping force when the button or plunger is depressed.

Ideally, the safety device comprises a plunger and a socket. Ideally, the plunger and the socket each have complementary openings therethrough that together define said clamping sleeve through which the lift cord extends. Ideally, the plunger is slidable relative to the socket between: a first position at which the complementary openings are registered with one another so as to release a lift cord extending therethrough; and a second position at which the complementary openings are out of registration with one another so as to clamp a lift cord extending therethrough.

Ideally the clamping sleeve comprises a biasing member which ads between the plunger and socket to bias them towards the second position.

Ideally, the lower end portion of the lift cord is of a substantially regular cross-section. The lower end portion of the lift cord is ideally constructed of a uniform material. Ideally, the lower end portion of the lift cord has a substantially regular outer surface friction. Advantageously, such regular properties of the lift cord increase the reliability with which the predetermined force will cause the lift cord to slip through the safety device.

Preferably, the safety device comprises an attachment structure through which the safety device is attachable to the blind material. Ideally, said attachment structure is arranged to constrain the position of the safety device relative to the blind material, especially in use and/or during the application of the predetermined force. Advantageously, the attachment structure prevents displacement of the safety device about the blind material.

Ideally, the attachment structure is arranged to constrain the orientation of the safety device relative to the blind material. Ideally, the attachment structure restrains the safety device against pivotal movement about an axis transverse to a plane generally defined by the blind material when fully extended from the headrail. Advantageously, this increases the reliability of the safety device, as it is unlikely to twist away from the lift cord.

Ideally, the attachment structure comprises a contact region for contact with the blind material. Ideally the contact region extends in a direction substantially parallel to a plane defined by the blind material.

Advantageously, this minimises pivoting or twisting of the safety device.

The attachment structure may comprise a loop structure via which the safety device may be sewn onto the blind material. The loop structure may be elongate in a direction parallel to a plane defined by the blind material. The loop structure may comprise teeth to retain the position of a thread wound around the loop via which the attachment structure may be sewn to the blind material.

The attachment structure may comprise a clip via which the safety device may be clipped onto the blind material. To this end, the blind material may support slits or pockets into which said clip is retained. The pockets may be provided on a tape sewn onto the blind material.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a safety device for a blind assembly. Ideally, the blind assembly is that which accords to the first aspect of the present invention.

Ideally, the safety device is for a roman blind assembly, with the safety device being attachable between a blind material and a lift cord of the roman blind assembly. Ideally, the safety device comprises at least one of an attachment structure through which the safety device is attachable to either the blind material or the lift cord, and a clamping sleeve through which the safety device is detachably attachable to the other of the blind material and lift cord. Ideally, the safety device is arranged to apply a clamping force to a lift cord extended through the clamping sleeve, the clamping force clamping the lift cord when a force acting between the lift cord and the safety device is less than a predetermined force, and releasing the lift cord when a force acting between the lift cord and the safety device exceeds the predetermined force. Advantageously, the predetermined force corresponds to a force applied by an infant caught in a loop formed by the lift cord and the blind material, the release by the safety device of the lift cord breaking that loop.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit of parts suitable for use in constructing the roman blind assembly associated with the first or second aspect of the present invention. Ideally, the kit comprises at least one of a blind material, a lift cord and a safety device. Ideally, at least one of the lift cord and the blind material are arranged to form a loop representing an infant strangulation hazard and the safety device is part of the loop, and breaks the loop when at least a portion of the loop containing the safety device is tensioned under a predetermined force.

Advantageously, the predetermined force corresponds to a force applied by an infant caught in the loop.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of improving the safety of a blind assembly by connecting a safety device between a lift cord and a blind material of the blind assembly. Ideally, said safety device is that which accords to the second aspect of the present invention.

It will be appreciated that features and/or advantages of different aspects of the invention may be combined or substituted where context allows.

Brief description of the drawings

In order for the invention to be better understood, reference will be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective rear view of a roman blind assembly comprising a pair of identical safety devices in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a cord guide of the roman blind assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective side view of one of the safety devices of the roman blind assembly of Figure 1, the safety device sewn onto a blind material and clamped around a lift cord of the roman blind assembly; Figure 4 is a perspective top view of the safety device of Figure 3, the safety device comprising a button, a spring and a housing; Figure 4a is a schematic top view of the safety device of Figure 4; Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of the housing of the safety device of Figure 4 shown in isolation; Figure 5a is a perspective view of the housing of Figure 5; Figures 6 and 7 are perspective views of the button of the safety device of Figure 4; Figure 8 is a perspective side view of the safety device of Figure 4 being secured to the blind material of the roman blind of Figure 1; Figure 8a is a schematic front view of the safety device of Figure 3 clamped around the lift cord; Figure 9a is a schematic perspective view of a housing of a safety device according to second embodiment of the present invention, the housing being shown in isolation; Figure 9b is a schematic front view of the safety device of Figure 9a clamped around a lift cord; Figure 9c is a schematic top view of the safety device of Figure 9a, the safety device being shown in isolation; Figure 10 is a perspective view of the safety device of Figure 9a clipped into a pockets of a tape, the tape being suitable for attachment to a roman blind material; and Figures 11 to 21 are associated with an annex A showing a data sheet associated with embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed description of embodiments of the invention Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a roman blind assembly 3 comprising a pair of identical safety devices 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The roman blind 3 is mostly conventional in structure in that it comprises a blind material 5 which is suspended from a head rail 7 at an upper end and hangs down to a bottom rail 9 at a lower end. The head rail 7 has a lift cord control mechanism 11 for controlling a pair of lift cords 13 so as to extend (i.e. lower) and retract (i.e. lift) the blind material 5 thereby changing its effective height. In the present case the mechanism is a chain operated cassette system, but it will be appreciated that other mechanisms are possible. Each lift cord is normally threaded through cord guides 19 sewn on to the blind material 5. Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of these cord guides 19 which comprises an eyelet 21 through which is threaded a respective lift cord 13 which runs vertically along the blind material 5. Referring back to Figure 1, the cord guides 19 are arranged on the blind material 5 at vertical intervals coinciding with an upper two intermediate rails 15, 16, and at horizontal intervals coinciding with the vertical path followed by each lift cord 13. Thus, the cord guides 19 are arranged along a broadly vertical line between the point of the head rail 7 from which the corresponding lift cord 13 for a particular lift cord 13 emanates and a lowermost intermediate rail 17. However, the lift cords 13 are not secured directly to the blind material 5 in the region of the lowermost intermediate rail 17 as would be the case in a conventional roman blind assembly.

Rather, each of the lift cords 13 extend from the lift cord control mechanism 11 at the head rail 7 to one of the two identical safety devices 1. As can be seen in Figure 1, the safety devices 1 are positioned near the bottom of the blind material at the lowermost rail 17 of three intermediate rails (15, 16, 17) -thus at a position distal from the head rail 7 and proximal to the bottom rail 9. The safety devices 1 are attached to the blind material 5, and are arranged to releasably clamp a respective lift cord 13, as shown in Figure 3.

As more clearly shown with reference to Figures 4 and 4a, the safety device comprises a housing (or socket) 23, a button (or plunger) 25 and a biasing member in the form of a spring 27.

The features of the housing 23 of the safety device 1 are now described referring to Figures 5 and 5a.

The housing 23 of the safety device comprises a substantially spheroidal hollow body 29, and an attachment structure to facilitate attachment to the blind material. Specifically the attachment structure is an elongate loop structure 31 that is integrally formed with but protrudes from the hollow body 29.

Externally, the hollow body 29 of the safety device 1 comprises two planar faces 29a and 29b, a top planar face 29a and a bottom planar face 29b, which are oriented parallel to another and arranged on diametrically opposite sides of the hollow body 29.

The elongate loop structure 31 joins on to the external spheroidal surface of the hollow body 29 of the housing 23 between the two planar faces 29a and 29b.

Also between the two planar faces 29a, 29b is a mouth 33. The mouth 33 faces in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to the direction faced by the planar faces 29a and 29b and also orthogonal to the direction that the elongate loop structure 31 extends away from the hollow body 29.

Internally, the hollow body 29 of the housing 23 is hollow in a manner defining a substantially cylindrical void. A base of the cylindrical void effectively defines the entrance of the mouth 33.

Each of the top and bottom planar faces 29a, 29b comprises a centrally positioned cord bore 35. The two cord bores 35 are centred along a substantially vertical axis A of the housing 23 of the device 1.

Each cord bore 35 is largely circular, but with two small notches 37 extending radially out from opposite sides of the cord bore 35. The two notches 37 are aligned in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis B of the cylindrical void. These cord bores 35 are used to thread one of the lift cord 13 through the safety device 1. The size of the cord bores 35 is such that a typical lift cord 13 would fit easily through them, facilitating threading of a lift cord 13 through the safety device.

The elongate loop structure 31 is used to secure the safety device 1 onto the blind material 5 at the lowermost intermediate rail 17 proximal to the bottom rail 9 of the blind material 5, as will be described in more detail with reference to Figure 8. The elongate loop structure 31 extends in a direction about a plane that is substantially parallel to, and equidistant from the planes that top and bottom planar faces 29a, 29b lie within. The longitudinal axis C of the elongate loop structure 31 is parallel to the longitudinal axis B of the cylindrical void, and both of these axes B, C lie within the plane about which the elongate loop structure 31 extends.

The elongate loop structure 31 comprises an internal surface 39 having an inwardly facing portion 41 that faces towards the hollow body 29 of the housing 23. This inwardly facing portion 41 supports multiple pips or teeth 43 arranged at regular intervals across the length of the inwardly facing portion 41 of the internal surface 39.

The mouth 33 leads into the substantially cylindrical void that defines a blind bore 45 within the hollow body 29. The internal surface of the blind bore 45 is provided with two small notches 47 extending longitudinally in an axial direction parallel to axis B, and radially out from the longitudinal axis B of the cylindrical void beyond an internal main diameter of the blind bore 45. Each notch 47 defines a track 49. The blind bore 45 serves to accommodate the button 25 and retain the button therein, with the two tracks 49 serving as a guide, as will be described in more detail with reference to Figure 4. Each track 49 is elongate, and runs parallel to the longitudinal axis B of the cylindrical void from the mouth into the blind bore 45 intersecting with the cord bore 35 at an intersection 36.

The button 25 of the safety device 1 will now be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. The button 25 comprises a substantially cylindrical main body 51, comprising a cylindrical outer main surface, a top planar surface 53 and a bottom planar surface 54. A smaller cylindrical protrusion 55 protrudes from the top planar surface 53 of the main body 51 of the button 25. The cylindrical main body 51 of the button 25 and the cylindrical protrusion 55 share a longitudinal axis E. An annular shoulder 59 is thus defined on the top surface 53 of the button 25 around the small cylindrical protrusion 55.

A through hole 57 is defined in the main body of the button 51, having a longitudinal axis D extending in a direction parallel to the planes within which the top and bottom planar surfaces 53, 54 of the main body 51 of the button 25 lie. The diameter of the through hole 57 through the main body 51 of the button 25 is roughly equal to the aperture size of the cord bores 35 of the hollow body 29 of the housing 23.

As can be seen more clearly with reference to Figure 7, the main body 51 of the button 25 also comprises two lugs 61 protruding from the cylindrical outer main surface of the main body 51 of the button 25 at diametrically opposite locations. Moreover, the two lugs 61 are positioned between the through hole 57 and a top edge 62 of the main body 51 of the button 25 and extend in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis D of the through hole 57.

The external diameter of the main body 51 of the button 25 is such that it locates within the internal main diameter of the blind bore 45 of the hollow body 29 of the housing 23. The size of each of the two lugs 61 is such that they extend beyond the internal main diameter of the blind bore 45 but just fit within the tracks 49 described with reference to Figure 5, allowing the button 25 to be inserted into the housing 23 during assembly of the safety device 1. When the safety device 1 is assembled, the longitudinal axis B of the cylindrical void defining the blind bore 45, and the longitudinal axis E of the cylindrical main body 51 of the button 25 are aligned with one another. Returning to Figures 4 and 4a, the relative positioning of the housing 23, button 25 and spring 27 of the safety device 1 when assembled will now be described.

The spring 27 and button 25 are fitted to the housing 23 by inserting them into the blind bore 45 via the mouth 33, with the spring 27 being inserted first and being compressed, in use, between the button 25 and the housing 23. The coils of the spring 27 are centred about a spring axis which, when so fitted, coincides with the longitudinal axis E of the cylindrical main body 51 of the button 25, and the longitudinal axis B of the cylindrical void.

Specifically, one end of the spring 27 abuts the annular shoulder 59 of the top surface 51 of the button 25, locating around and accommodating the small cylindrical protrusion 55, thus keeping the spring 27 aligned with the button 25.

In a particular embodiment, the spring is constructed from 0.7 gauge material with an average diameter of approximately 7-8mm and having an uncompressed length of 9-11mm.

In order to insert the button 25 into the blind bore 45 of the hollow body 29 of the housing 23, the lugs 61 are aligned with the tracks 49. Once the lugs 61 are aligned with the tracks 49, the button 25 can be pushed into the blind bore 45, compressing the spring 25 between an intemal end of the blind bore 45 and the annular shoulder 59 of the button 25. During the inward movement of the button 25 the lugs 61 move along the tracks 49. This inward movement of the lugs 61 along the tracks 49 continues until the lugs 61 reach the intersection 36 of the tracks 49 and the cord bores 35, at which point the button 25 is able to be rotated slightly, so that each lug 61 moves out of the track 49 and towards the centre of the corresponding cord bore 35.

Once the lugs 61 have left the tracks 49 and are in the cord bores 35, the button 25 can be released, trapping the lugs 61 within the respective cord bores 35.

The length of the spring 27 is longer than the distance between the internal end of the blind bore 45 of the hollow body 29 of the housing 23 and the intersection 36 between the tracks 49 and the cord bores 35. This means that once the lugs 61 are released inside the respective cord bores 35, spring tension from the spring 27 will bias the button 25 outwardly toward the entrance of the mouth 33. Thus, when so assembled the lugs 61 are trapped inside the cord bores 35, with the spring tension pushing them away from the intersections 36 between the cord bores 35 and the tracks 49, towards the notches 37 of the cord bores that are closest to the mouth 33. The lugs 61 are sized to locate within the notches 37.

This tension ensures that the button 25 cannot come off the housing 23 once the safety device 1 is assembly unless the button 25 is both: a) pushed inwards, so that the spring 27 is compressed until the lugs 61 reach the intersection 36 of the tracks and the cord bores 35; and b) rotated such that the lugs 61 move from the cord bore 35 back to the tracks 49.

For the safety device 1 to receive the lift cord 13 as described previously with reference to Figure 3, a user presses the button 25 inwards until the openings of the button 25 and housing 23 are aligned i.e. the through hole 57 of the button 25 is aligned with the cord bores 35 of the hollow body 29. As has previously been mentioned, the aperture size of the through hole 57 is roughly equal to the aperture size of the cord bores 35. When the cord bores 35 and the through hole 57 are aligned, a free end of a lower end portion of the lift cord 13 can be easily threaded through the safety device 1.

Once the lift cord 13 has been threaded through the safety device 1, the button 25 can be released.

The compressed spring 27 pushes the button 25 outwards, clamping the lift cord 13 due to the through hole 57 and the cord bores 35 being out of register with one another. Thus, the through hole 57 and the cord bores 35 together define a clamping sleeve through which the lift cord extends, and by which the lift cord is releasably clamped by the safety device 1. Conveniently, the free end can (and should) be left as it is (i.e. not knotted) so that when a predetermined force is applied, it can reliably slide through the safety device 1.

A user can slide the lift cord 13 through the safety device 1 by gently squeezing the button 25 and reducing the clamping force acting on the lift cord 13. Accordingly the user can adjust the effective length of the lift cord 13 between the head rail 7 and the safety device 1 by squeezing the button 25 and allowing the lift cord 13 to pass through the safety device 1 until the desired length of lift cord 13 is obtained. Alternatively, the user can draw the lift cord 13 through by tugging on it. When the lift cord 13 reaches the desired length, the user may release the button 25 which clamps the lift cord 13 again. This allows the user to adjust the length of the lift cord 13 without having to change the position of the safety device 1 relative to the blind material 5, which can be a difficult and time consuming procedure.

The clamping force acting on the lift cord 13 when the safety device 1 is in use is dependent on the spring 27 used with the safety device 1. Accordingly, the safety device 1 can be arranged to release the lift cord 13 when a predetermined force acts between the lift cord 13 and the safety device 1. This predetermined force should be large enough to allow normal lifting and lowering of the blind material 5, but small enough to cause the safety device 1 to release the lift cord 13 when an infant is trapped between the lift cord 13 and the blind material 5. By way of example, the safety device 1 can be configured to release the lift cord 13 when a tension is applied between the lift cord 13 and the safety device from a load weight of under 1 kilogram. As almost all infants are over 6kg in weight by the time they become mobile enough to entangle themselves in a blind, the safety device 1 provides protection against strangulation to a relatively large margin of tolerance. Nonetheless, to ensure that the operation of extending and retracting the blind material is not significantly affected, the safety device 1 is configured so that a predetermined force causing release of the lift cord 13 is greater than a lifting force to be applied along a lift cord to support and lift the blind material during normal operation of the blind assembly to retract and extend the blind material 5.

The process of securing the safety device 1 onto the roman blind material 5 will now be described with reference to Figure 8.

The assembled safety device 1 is positioned in line with the lowest intermediate rail 17, such that a contact region 63 of the elongate loop structure 31 abuts the blind material, and the elongate loop structure 31 in general is parallel to the lowest intermediate rail 17.

The elongate loop structure 31 is then sewn onto the blind material 5 adjacent to the lowest intermediate rail 17. Specifically, a thread 60 is repeatedly threaded through the blind material 5, and the hoop defined by the elongate loop structure 31, with the thread being wound around the elongate portion of the elongate loop structure 31. The teeth 43, which protrude from the inwardly facing portion 41, ensure that the elongate loop structure 31 retains its position relative to the thread 60. Specifically, thread wound multiple times around and between the teeth secure the safety device 1, preventing it from sliding sideways once sewn into place. Similarly, the elongate loop structure 31, and so the safety device 1 is restrained against pivotal movement about an axis transverse to a plane generally defined by the blind material 5 (when fully extended from the head rail 7). This is an important feature of the safety device 1 that increases the reliability with which a predetermined force can overcome the clamping force, and so causing the safety device 1 to release the lift cord 13. In particular, the elongate loop structure 31 prevents the safety device 1 from twisting in a manner that could cause part of the lift cord 13 to encounter additional friction for example, by rubbing against the housing 23. This could increase the force applied along the lift cord required to overcome the clamping force, potentially compromising the safety of the safety device 1. The ideal orientation of the lift cord 13 relative to the safety device 1 can be seen clearly in the schematic side view of the safety device 1 shown in Figure 8a, wherein the lift cord 13 extends untwisted through the centres of the cord bores 35 of the housing 23.

Returning to Figure 1, where a schematic perspective view of the roman blind assembly 3 is illustrated, it should be noted that intermediate rails are commonly supported on the blind material 5 via so-called rod pockets. This can be achieved in two ways.

The first way is by creating a tubular slot running horizontally along the width of the blind material 5, parallel to the bottom rail. This tubular slot is typically created by folding blind material 5 and sewing across the folds to create the tubular slot. Typically, a rod or rail is slid inside the tubular slot, and the edges of the tubular slot are sewn together to prevent egress of the intermediate rod or rail. This way is typically employed by those hand-crafting a roman blind.

The second way is via an elongate tape 80 (e.g. see Figure 10). The tape 80 can be machine sewn along its edges along the width of the roman blind so as define a similar horizontally-extending tubular slot or rod pocket. The tape comprises pockets 81 provided at regular intervals along the tape 80 on a face of the tape facing away from the blind material 5. This way is typically employed where the roman blind material is mass-produced.

A second embodiment of the safety device 1 (the clip on version of the safety device) is illustrated in Figures 9a, 9b, 9c and 10. This second embodiment is particularly suited for use with a blind material 5 having an elongate tape provided thereon, where pockets are already provided on that tape.

The features of the clip-on safety device of the safety device are substantially similar with the features of the previously described safety device as so for brevity are not described again.

The main difference from the first embodiment is the lack of the elongate loop structure. Rather a different attachment structure is provided. Specifically, the second embodiment of the safety device 1 has a clip 70 instead. The clip 70 is in the form of an elongate broken ring which extends out from the hollow body of the clip-on safety device 1 in a direction along a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the top and bottom planar faces of the hollow body are oriented. The clip 70 comprises a flexible arm 71 in the region of the break 72 in the ring. The clip also comprises a wedge 73.

As shown in Figure 10, the safety device can be quickly and conveniently clipped into the pockets 81 in a tape 80, obviating the need to sew it into position. As this is done, the arm 71 flexs out of the way and then springs back, ensuring that the safety device 1 can remain securely and safely connected to the tape 80. The wedge 73 facilitates insertion into a tape pocket 81.

Annex A An annex accompanies the present specification showing a data sheet associated with embodiments of the present invention. This annex is shown in Figures 11 to 21.

Figure 11 -Key A, Blind Systerns B, Child Safety Convliancy Our Blind Systems are tested Id British Standards BSEN13120.-2009+A1:2014.

and instructions to make your blinds coif/piled C. Four simple steps to blind compliance Jones interiors Cassette System Check List 1. All Warning Labels. Attached, 2. The Chain is either at lent 150cm above the ground and fitted viiith our IC) Chain Safety Device (H700CBD). or

The Chair is fitted with our Chain Breaker (Hi1C46C13) and is at least 60cm above the ground 3. The Safety Toggles (H700ST or H?OOCT) are fitted.

CO

/f all the above items am lloked your blind wilt be compliant with BSEN1312a 2009+41:2014. a Operating Chains Current child safety legislation rim' demands that we ask you for the installation heights when making your l'made to measure systems as Mese have a hearing on the maximum continuous chain drops allowable, These chains must then be attached using our chain safety device to in nimise the risk of strangulation. Full instructions are inciuded with every despatch and we stress these must be followed in order for your system to rennin compliant The thain we is not always convenient for every customer so we now offer a chain breaker device H4048CB, This will cause the chain to break within the preset bed maximum load of 61(gs and in turn allows the use of chains down to no less than 60cm from the floor. Please note in these cases you should not install the hold down device supplied viith cur systems, It does however Garry the limitation of not passing through the mechanism so will not operate with our 1:4 geared units. Using our 1:1 or our new 1:2 mechanism will allow the successful operation of the chain breaker providing your chain loop falls to the same drop as your Roman Blind when fully lowered.

For those customers preferring the security of using continuous chains only, we now offer a much wider range shorter drop sizes for your convenience, P ase see page 216 for full detaiis.

Figure 2 -Key A. Roman BI nd Systems Our 11 00 Cassette and H794 Cord Drawn Blind Bystenls includeour nee Sew-on 8 STi) designed and developed by Jones Interims. This exclusive productaltows you the freecom o use BfasS Rings (H66). Polycarbonate:Rhos (1352) or Cording Eyelets (H403 1 to utillse your preterred method of rcture. These nevi Toggles rust be sev n to the lowest cord ent points e bottom of blind recommend Giiittermann heavy duty core spun thread IA have had alt thesemethods independently tested and ceded to BEEN13120:2009+A1:2014, For H700 Casse cords. For H794 C and use both th se Safety Toggles provide cornpl,i tri Drawn Blind Systerns, zou will also need to ft h the regulato ernal P), and our Cord (11862' provided the t 1, Safety Break Card Pull (H862C Each Toggle has a max it capacity of lkg so please consider the number of cords,you need for any heavy blinds, We also stress that our compliancy certification is only when these to -e used in njunction with H862 Elm Cord (page 219).

These Toggles available as contract mporent are our alternative design, HNOCT Glip,-on Be Toggle for use h tapes. The clip design will engage directly onto the woven, pockets of our Roman Brnl with no sewing recuired. In ail other respects they Will operate exactly as our ''Sew-on' version, see page 215, Full instrudions will be lhciuded with all arts and ail our SEN16434:2014, to. E N164 2014 & B. The infonnatio b General Product S e nforrnation sho ncernm (N own I s only intended to give general and preliminary guidance to the readeron the Regulations, A MI copy of these regulations is available at www,tsigrcup. a:u not form the basis upon which the reader makes any decisions or condi, ct Safety Regulations Janes & Co r obtains and specific legal advi posmor Ltd cannot guarantee that the standa ds or re be San ed before to brae, or after having come in subject to change, 11 be interpreted. Jones & Co (Nottingham) Ltd are nsible for any errors, omissions, or statements made, Jones & Co (Notbngham) Lin are not responsible for any loss, howsoever caused n arses directly or indirectly from reliance upon the information and any recommendations ed by Jones interiors reader of this materiai, 1<e) A. Blind Our pt inion? char operated' bfind ift sy B Blind Cassette Syittdn -H700 Blind Bassett syst plied ready assent For contents please see table below: & Loon Faced Profile ed th standard rhte beaded chain.

ontrol lUni h S Stott d * 'ed Chain pools wit * Aluminium Bottom Ba * To Fit ac ets eves Plugs * Child Safety Sew on Toggle, * Instructens & Warning Labels V. 60cm, BOonh.12?crn, l gcn. l6B 2 27 dcin.

D. \kerning uiig clildren car be strangled by the topes in. pu r '& chains sates rd Innercords t oper-ate avoid don and itangieme ep cords aril chai 'heck. h of yang,allikttary, become wrapped around a c CO Iry cords.

hove cots acid furniture avva Do not te he cords together. .ores do not twist and toeate a loop, I? cu raga ie L rtl ut E. 8fnd Systems

Claims

Claims 1. A roman blind assembly comprising a head rail, a bottom rail, a blind material, a lift cord and a safety device; the head rail having a lift cord control mechanism for controlling the lift cord so as to extend and retract the blind material, the blind material being connected to the head rail and extending therefrom to a bottom rail; the lift cord extending from the lift cord control mechanism at the head rail to the safety device; the safety device being attached to the blind material at a position distal from the head rail, proximal to the bottom rail; wherein the safety device, in use, is arranged to: clamp the lift cord when a force applied between the lift cord and the safety device is less than a predetermined force; and release the lift cord when a force applied between the lift cord and the safety device exceeds the predetermined force; the predetermined force corresponding to a force applied by an infant caught in a loop formed by the lift cord and the blind material, the release by the safety device of the lift cord breaking that loop.
2. The roman blind assembly according to claim 1, wherein the safety device releasably clamps a lower end portion of the lift cord, with the lower end portion of the lift cord slipping through the safety device when a force applied between the lift cord and the safety device exceeds the predetermined force.
3. The roman blind assembly of claim 2, wherein the lower end portion of the lift cord terminates at a free end that passes through the safety device when a force applied between the lift cord and the safety device exceeds the predetermined force, thereby disconnecting the lift cord from the safety device.
4. The roman blind assembly of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the lower end portion of the lift cord is constructed of a uniform material having a substantially regular cross-section so that the lift cord will slip through the safety device under application of a substantially regular force exceeding the predetermined force.
5. The roman blind assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the safety device is configured so that the predetermined force is greater than a lifting force applied along a lift cord to support and lift the blind material during normal operation of the blind assembly, the difference between the lifting force and the predetermined force being less than 50 Newtons.
6. The roman blind assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the safety device comprises a clamping sleeve through which the lift cord extends, and by which the lift cord is releasably clamped by the safety device, the clamping sleeve and lift cord being configured so that a clamping force applied by the safety device to the lift cord permits release of the lift cord when a force applied between the lift cord and the safety device exceeds the predetermined force.
7. The roman blind assembly of claim 6, wherein the safety device comprises a plunger and a socket each having complementary openings therethrough that together define said clamping sleeve through which the lift cord extends, the plunger being slidable relative to the socket between: a first position at which the complementary openings are registered with one another so as to release a lift cord extending therethrough; and a second position at which the complementary openings are out of registration with one another so as to clamp a lift cord extending therethrough.
8. The roman blind assembly of claim 7, wherein the safety device comprises a biasing member configured to provide said clamping force by biasing the plunger and socket towards the second position.
9. The roman blind assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the safety device comprises a manually-operable adjustment means to control clamping and release of the lift cord by the safety device.
10. The roman blind assembly of claim 9, wherein the manually-operable adjustment means is arranged to be operated with one hand.
11. The roman blind assembly of claim 9 or 10, when dependent on claim 8, wherein the manually-operable adjustment means comprises the plunger which is manually operable against the clamping force provided by the biasing member to move the plunger and socket towards the first position.
12. The roman blind assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the safety device comprises an attachment structure through which the safety device is attachable to the blind material.
13. The roman blind assembly of claim 12, wherein the attachment structure is arranged to constrain the position and orientation of the safety device relative to the blind material during the application of the predetermined force.
14. The roman blind assembly of claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the attachment structure comprises a contact region for contact with the blind material, the contact region extending in a direction substantially parallel to a plane defined by the blind material thereby to minimise pivoting or twisting of the safety device relative to the blind material.
15. The roman blind assembly of any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the attachment structure comprises a loop structure via which the safety device is arranged to be sewn onto the blind material, the loop structure being elongate in a direction parallel to a plane defined by the blind material.
16. The roman blind assembly of claim 15, wherein the loop structure comprises teeth to retain the position of a thread wound around the loop structure, and via which the attachment structure may be sewn to the blind material.
17. The roman blind assembly of any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the attachment structure comprises a clip via which the safety device may be clipped into a pocket of the blind material.
18. A safety device for the roman blind assembly of any preceding claim, the safety device being attachable between a blind material and a lift cord of the roman blind assembly, the safety device comprising: an attachment structure through which the safety device is attachable to the blind material; and a clamping sleeve arranged to applying a clamping force to a lift cord extended through the clamping sleeve, the clamping force: clamping the lift cord when a force acting between the lift cord and the safety device is less than a predetermined force; and releasing the lift cord when a force acting between the lift cord and the safety device exceeds the predetermined force; the predetermined force corresponding to a force applied by an infant caught in a loop formed by the lift cord and the blind material, the release by the safety device of the lift cord breaking that loop.
19. A kit of parts suitable for use in constructing the roman blind assembly of any preceding claim, the kit comprising at least a blind material, a lift cord and a safety device, wherein: at least one of the lift cord and the blind material are arranged to form a loop representing an infant strangulation hazard; and the safety device is part of the loop, and breaks the loop when at least a portion of the loop containing the safety device is tensioned under a predetermined force, the predetermined force corresponding to a force applied by an infant caught in that loop.
20. A method of improving the safety of a blind assembly by connecting a safety device according to claim 18 between a lift cord and a blind material of the blind assembly.
21. A blind assembly, a safety device and/or a kit of parts substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.