NL1040577C2

NL1040577C2 - Cord rings for an architectural covering.

Info

Publication number: NL1040577C2
Application number: NL1040577A
Authority: NL
Inventors: David Martin
Original assignee: Hunter Douglas Ind Bv
Priority date: 2013-12-27
Filing date: 2013-12-27
Publication date: 2015-07-01
Also published as: BE1023566A1; BE1023566B1; AT14435U1; DE202014106109U1

Abstract

A set cord-rings for an architectural covering, wherein the set comprises a plurality of mutually corresponding first and second rings, the first rings are attached to the curtain fabric of the architectural covering, and the second rings absorb the actuating cord and releasable via C-shaped fixing portions are attached to the first rings.

Description

Title: Cord rings for an architectural covering

The present invention relates to a set of cord rings for an architectural covering, an architectural covering including such cord rings and a method of attaching an operating cord to a shade fabric of an architectural covering.

Architectural coverings of many types are well known having operating cords for lifting or otherwise operating the architectural covering. Such cords are often provided along one face, preferably at the rear side, of the covering. For example, as described in WO 2012/087321, a plurality of guide rings are secured to the shade fabric of the architectural covering at regularly spaced, vertically aligned positions. An operating cord runs along the rear side of the shade fabric guided through a line of the guide rings. A well known problem with architectural coverings having such lift cords is that the lift cords can be pulled away from the covering to form a loop in which a child could become entangled.

In the prior art, many solutions have been proposed, for example allowing an end of an operating cord to break away or an intermediate portion to break apart. US 2011/0073260 proposes special two-part guide portions with one part attached to the covering and the other guiding the operating cord. The two parts may break apart from one another, thereby releasing the operating cord from the shade. US 2011/0056633 and US 2011/083816 propose the use of special guide rings which may themselves spring open so as to allow an operating cord to escape. US 2011/0048652 proposes the use of an operating cord having along its length an array of elements which releasably clip directly onto the shade.

All of these previous proposals require some modification of the standard arrangements for fabric shades and architectural coverings. In contrast, the present invention aims to provide a more simple solution, requiring less or no modification of a previous architectural covering and shade fabric arrangements.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of attaching an operating cord to a shade fabric of an architectural covering, the shade fabric having attached thereto a line of first rings capable of receiving therethrough the operating cord. The method includes releasable securing a respective second ring to each first ring and passing the operating cord through the line of second rings rather than the first rings.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a set of cord rings for an architectural covering. The set includes a plurality of first and second respective rings. The first rings are for attachment to a shade fabric and the second rings are each for receiving therethrough an operating cord for the shade fabric. Each second ring is releasably secured to and adjacent a respective first ring.

In this way, it becomes possible to use standard/existing (first) rings of a shade fabric, but, rather than pass the operating cord through those first rings, pass the operating cord through the respective second rings which are releasably secured to the first rings. If a child or anything else becomes entangled in a loop of the operating cord, it can be pulled away from the shade fabric by causing the second rings to release or break away from the first rings.

There may be provided an architectural covering having the set of cord rings. The architectural covering may include a shade fabric and an operating cord for operating the covering. A plurality of first rings may be attached in a line to the shade fabric and the operating cord may extend through adjacent second rings secured to the respective first rings.

The first rings may be sewn onto the shade fabric, for example with loops of thread passing within the first rings and attaching the first rings to the shade fabric.

Noting that the operating cord passes through the second ring, the operating cord does not extend through the first rings.

The set of cord rings may further include a plurality of securing portions. A respective securing portion is located intermediate each first ring and the respective second ring. The securing portion releasably secures the respective first ring to the respective second ring.

Alternatively, each securing portion may be configured to releasably engage with both of the respective first and second rings. When the first and second rings are pulled apart, the securing portion may separate from one or both of the first and second rings. Preferably, each securing portion is integrally formed with one of the respective first and second rings. The securing portion may be configured to releasably engage with the other of the first and second rings. Preferably, the securing portion is integrally formed with the respective second ring so that second rings having the integral securing portions may be used in conjunction with standard first rings attached to the shade fabric.

The securing portions may include any suitable means to be releasably secured to a ring. For example suitable means can include resilient members or an adhesive designed to break under load. Preferably, each securing portion includes a resilient C-shaped clip for releasably engaging the respective ring.

It is preferable that the operating cord should be released with the weight of 6kg kilograms. Noting that this will be distributed over two rings on either side of the force application point, preferably, the respective first and second rings are configured to release when pulled apart by 30N, preferably 25N or more.

The present invention is particularly advantageous when used with standard first rings to be attached to a shade fabric. The first rings may be substantially circular and may be substantially toroidal. The second rings may be of the same shape and size.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates an architectural covering with which the present invention may be used;

Figure 2 illustrates a rear side of the architectural covering of

Figure 1;

Figure 3 illustrates detail of an operating cord of the architectural covering of Figure 1;

Figure 4 illustrates a loop formed in the operating cord of Figure 3;

Figure 5 illustrates a guide ring embodying the present invention;

Figure 6 illustrates a side view of a guide ring embodying the present invention;

Figure 7 illustrates an end view of a guide rail embodying the present invention; and

Figure 8 illustrates a plurality of guide rings forming a set according to the present invention. A known architectural covering with which the present invention could be used is illustrated in Figures 1 to 4.

Figure 1 shows a retractable covering 22 from the front and it will be seen that the covering includes a head rail 24 in which a significant portion of the control system for the covering may be concealed, a bottom rail 26 and a flexible shade material 28 in the form of a fabric extending between the head rail and the bottom rail. The fabric has a rear sheet 30 as best seen in Figures 2 to 4 and which extends continuously from the head rail to the bottom rail and includes rearwardly directed vertically spaced and horizontally extending pleats 32. A front sheet 34 of the fabric is connected with adhesive, stitching or the like to the rear sheet along vertically spaced horizontal lines of connection with a droop or loops of the front sheet being established between each line of connection due to the fact that the amount of material on the front sheet between the lines of connection is greater than the spacing between the lines of connection. The covering, as best appreciated by reference to Figure 1 therefore resembles a roman shade. A plurality of guide rings 40, which will subsequently be described as first rings, are secured, for instance with threads, adhesive, or the like to each pleat 32 on the rear sheet 30 to define vertical columns of the guide (first) rings. The vertical alignment of the guide (first) rings in each column provides a passage for vertically extending operating cords, such as lift cords 42, which are anchored at their lower end to the bottom rail 26 and at their top end in the head rail 24 to a roller (not seen) or other system whereby the lift cords can be retracted into the head rail to shorten their effective length, thereby raising the bottom rail as desired. Of course, unrolling the lift cords from the roller allows the effective length thereof to be extended and consequently the bottom rail to be lowered when the covering is moved from a retracted position with the bottom rail adjacent to the head rail to an extended position as shown in Figures 1 to 3. The lift cords form part of the control system for the covering and can be raised and lowered with a pull cord 44, as shown, or any other conventional operating means such as a ball chain or motor. When the covering is retracted with the bottom rail adjacent to the head rail, the fabric 28 is gathered between the bottom rail and the head rail with Figure 4 showing a partial gathering thereof.

Figure 4 illustrates how a loop 46 of the lift cord can be formed from the rear of such a covering, with the loop being large enough to encapsulate a body part of an infant or child. The loop can be intentionally or unintentionally formed by grabbing a lift cord 42 and pulling it laterally, thereby causing the bottom rail to elevate as a loop of significant size is formed.

It will be appreciated that there is a danger of harm to an infant or child if they become caught in a loop such as loop 46. Such a danger exists with any similar architectural covering having an operating cord, such as the illustrated lift cord 42 with a line or series of first rings 40 for guiding that operating cord.

Figure 5 illustrates one second ring of a plurality of similar second rings embodying the present invention.

As illustrated, the second ring may be of a similar shape and size as a first ring 40 to be provided on a covering. It may be circular and/or toroidal and is configured to receive an operating cord such as a lift cord of an architectural covering in the same way as the first (guide) rings 40 as discussed above.

The second ring 50 is configured to be releasably secured to a respective first ring 40. In this way, it is not necessary to pass the operating cord 42 through the openings of the first rings 40, but, instead, the operating cord 42 passes through the second rings 50. A standard architectural covering may be provided with standard first rings 40 attached to the covering, for instance by sewing. A line or column of second rings 50 receives an operating cord. If a child or infant becomes entangled in a loop of the operating cord and pulls on that operating cord, the second rings may be pulled so as to release or break away from the first rings 40. For a child or infant of 6kg, each of a pair of adjacent rings 40, 50 will receive a load of approximately 30N. Hence, preferably, the second rings 50 are secured to the first rings 40 in such a way as to release under a load of 25 to 30N or more.

In the illustrated embodiments, the second ring 50 is provided with a securing portion 52. With a second ring 50 releasably secured to a first ring 40, the securing portion 52 is located intermediate the first and second rings 40, 50, with the second ring 50 adjacent and outside the first ring 40.

The securing portion 52 may take the form of any known means for releasably gripping.

In the illustrated embodiment, the securing portion 52 is provided as a resilient C-shaped clip. The clip includes a pair of arms 54, 56 which extend from the second ring 50 and are configured to extend at least partially around a portion of the first ring 40. As long as the arms 54, 56 can separate so as to release a first ring 40, it is possible for their ends to meet. However, in the illustrated embodiment, the ends of the arms 54, 56 do not meet, but, instead, leave a space therebetween. In order that the portion of the first ring 40 is secured within the arms 54, 56, the space between their ends should be smaller than the extent of the portion gripped by the arms 54, 56. By providing such a space, it becomes possible to push easily the arms 54, 56 around the ring 40.

As can be seen in the side view illustrated in Figure 6, the facing surfaces 58, 60 of the ends of the arms 54, 56 are angled outwardly. Preferably this angle a is substantially 18 degrees.

The arms 54, 56 have resilient properties allowing them to deflect outwardly from one another. The second ring 50 may be secured to a first ring 40 by pushing the facing surfaces 58, 60 of the arms 54, 56 against a side of a first ring 40. The arms 54, 56 are deflected away from each other until a portion of the first ring 40 is received within the securing portion 52 formed by the arms 54, 56. The arms 54, 56 spring back towards each other according to their resilient nature and thereby secure the second ring 50 to the first ring 40.

In use, if an operating cord (threaded through the second ring 50) is pulled away from the architectural covering so as to pull the second ring 50 away from its respective first ring 40 (attached to the architectural covering), the arms 54, 56 are able to resiliently deflect away from each other and release the first ring 40.

In the illustrated embodiment, the plane of the C-shaped clip forming the securing portion 52 is substantially orthogonal to the plane of the second ring 50 such that a secured first ring 40 can be arranged substantially coplanar with the second ring 50.

An end view of the arms 54, 56 illustrated in Figure 7 shows that the facing surfaces 58, 60 of the arms 54, 56 may have a convex curve across the width of the C-shaped clip. In other words, with reference to a centre of the C-shaped clip in the plane of that clip, the facing ends of the arms 54, 56 are closer to one another at the centre (on that plane) than at the edges (away from that plane). This allows the securing portion 52 to be pushed onto and releasably secured to a first ring 40 with variations of the angle of approach between the securing portion 52 and the first ring 40.

In an alternative arrangement, a securing portion may be provided that releasably attaches to both of its respective first and second rings, for example using two back-to-back C-shaped clips.

Also, it would be possible to form first and second rings integrally with a joining securing portion that breaks under a predetermined load. The first rings could be secured to the architectural covering in a conventional manner and the second rings would receive the operating cords.

Claims

A set of cord rings for an architectural shield, the set comprising: a plurality of first and second respective rings, the first rings serving for attachment to a screen fabric and the second rings each serving to receive a control cord for the screen fabric therethrough, wherein: each first ring is detachably attached to and adjacent a respective second ring, further comprising: a plurality of attachment members, wherein a respective attachment member is located between each first ring and respective second ring and said first ring attached to the respective second ring, wherein: each fixing part is adapted to detachably engage at least one of the respective first and second rings, wherein: each fixing part comprises a resilient C-shaped clip for detachably engaging at least one of the respective first and second rings, characterized in that that the plane of the C-shaped clip that it be locating member is substantially orthogonal to the face of a respective second ring such that a mounted first ring can be arranged substantially co-planarly with the second ring.

A set according to claim 1, wherein: each attachment member is integrally formed with the other of the respective first and second rings.

A set according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: each attachment member is integrally formed with the respective second ring.

A set according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the respective first and second rings are adapted to release when they are pulled apart by 25 N or more.

A set according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first rings are substantially circular.

A set according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first rings are substantially toroidal.

A constructional shield comprising: a set of cord rings according to any one of the preceding claims; a screen fabric; and a control cord for operating the shield; wherein the plurality of first rings are attached to the shielding fabric in a row; and the control cord extends through adjacent second rings attached to respective first rings.

An architectural shield according to claim 7, wherein the control cord does not extend through the first rings.

A structural shield according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the first rings are sewn to the shield fabric.

A method for attaching a control cord to a screen fabric of an architectural shield, wherein a row of first rings is attached to the screen fabric through which the control cord can be received, which method comprises: detachably attaching a respective second ring to each first ring and passage of the control cord through the row of second rings.