NL2016917B1

NL2016917B1 - window covering slat for use in a window covering system

Info

Publication number: NL2016917B1
Application number: NL2016917A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Maria Fonville Eric
Original assignee: Mare Beheer B V
Priority date: 2016-06-08
Filing date: 2016-06-08
Publication date: 2017-12-18

Abstract

Window covering slat for use in a window covering system, having a support portion and at least one strip projecting laterally from the support portion. The support portion is composed of two panels connected to each other along connections along opposite edges of one of the panels. A first one of the panels has a first width between the connections and is substantially flat and a second one of the panels has a larger width between the connections and is curved, such that laterally central portions of the first panel and the second panel are spaced from each other. The or each strip includes an integral lateral continuation of at least the first panel or the second panel extending laterally beyond the other panel.

Description

TITLE: window covering slat for use in a window covering system FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a window covering slat according to the introductory portion of claim 1 and to a window covering system using such a window covering slat.

Such a window covering slat is known from Dutch patent 2 004 599, which describes a window covering slat for use in a window covering system, comprising at least one strip mounted on a support portion, wherein the support portion at least partially supports the decorative strip. Thus, the decorative strip can be made from any material to provide the desired effect, whereas the support portion provides the necessary mechanical properties, thus providing a great freedom of design. The window covering slat is designed to be taken up in a window covering system such as horizontal blinds, vertical blinds, folding curtains, roller shades, panel shades, banners, plantation shutters, vertical or horizontal shutters. Preferably, the support portion is made of a relatively stiff material, for instance a metal, allowing to support materials such as wood, that are prone to deformation under the influence of external factors such as temperature, humidity and mechanical load. The support portion may support the decorative strip by attachment to at least part of a surface of the decorative strip, preferably extending over at least part of the length of the decorative strip, most preferably matching the length of the decorative strip. This is in particular of importance for window coverings that use floating elements, which cannot be supported by for instance a framework.

From German patent 837 171, a window covering slat is known that is particularly light and stiff, in particular in relation to its weight per unit of length, and that can be manufactured at low costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a window covering slat that is light, stiff, can be manufactured at low costs and is provided with a decorative strip along at least of its sides.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by providing a window covering slat according to claim 1. The invention can also be embodied in a window covering system according to claim 9.

Since the support portion is composed of two panels connected to each other along connections along opposite edges of one of the panels, a first one of the panels having a first width between the connections and being substantially flat and a second one of the panels having a second width between the connections larger than said first width and being curved (the second width being measured along the curvature of the panel), such that central portions of the first panel and the second panel are spaced from each other, the slat is very light and stiff and can be manufactured at low costs from very thin material such as a stiff type of paper. Since the at least one strip includes an integral lateral continuation of at least the first panel or the second panel extending laterally beyond the other one of said panels, the decorative strip is integrated in the construction in a very simple manner. Straightness of the decorative strip can be ensured in a simple manner, so that a high quality visual appearance is ensured.

Particular elaborations and embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

Further features, effects and details of the invention appear from the detailed description and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first example of a slat according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second example of a slat according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a third example of a slat according to the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a variant of the slat according to Fig. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In Fig. 1, a first example of a window covering slat 1 according to the invention for use in a window covering system is shown. The elongated slat 1 has a support portion 2 and a decorative strip 3 projecting laterally from the support portion 2. The support portion 2 supports the decorative strip 3 against bending through between supports that are spaced in longitudinal direction of the slat 1 and against tilting sideways.

The support portion 2 is composed of two panels 4, 5 connected to each other along connections 6, 7 along opposite edges of one of the panels 4, 5. A first one of the panels 4 has a first width between the connections 6, 7 and is substantially flat. A second one of the panels 5 has a second width between the connections 6, 7 which is larger than the first width and is curved, such that laterally central portions of the first panel 4 and the second panel 5 are spaced from each other. Thus, the support portion has a lightweight construction, is very stiff and can be manufactured at low costs.

The connection between the panels 4, 5 at a first one of the connections 6 is in the form of a fold where mutually contiguous parts of panel material meet. The connection between the panels 4, 5 at a second one of the connections 7 opposite of the first connecting zone 6 is in the form of an attachment strip 8 contiguous with the second panel 5 and connected thereto along a fold and adhering to the first panel 4 by means of an adhesive material between the attachment strip 8 and the first panel 4. In the present example, the attachment strip 8 is folded to the inside of the support portion 2. The connections between the panels can be provided in many other manners, such as in the form of an attachment strip contiguous with one panel and folded around the other panel or in the form of mutually interlocking patterns in edge areas of the first and second panel.

The decorative strip 3 constitutes an integral lateral continuation of the first panel 4 extending laterally beyond the second panel 5. Thus, the decorative strip 3 is provided in a simple manner and, because it is integral with one of the panels, it can be ensured relatively easily that the decorative strip is very straight without significant warping or other deviations, which is important for a high quality visual appearance.

For taut straightness, it is furthermore advantageous that the decorative strip 3 is in-line with an adjacent portion of the panel 4 of which it is an integral continuation.

For achieving a minimal height of the slat if the slats of a window cover are turned in the most open orientation, it is advantageous that the decorative strip 3 is a continuation of the substantially straight first panel 4.

If the decorative strip 3 is provided on one lateral side of the support portion 2 only, the lateral position of the centre of gravity of the slat 1 will not be in the centre of the support portion 2, but more to the side of the decorative strip 3. Since hanging systems are typically arranged for supporting the slat 1 on opposite sides of the support portion 2, such a support bands 9 in Fig. 4, or centrally, such as cords through suspension openings 10 in Fig. 4, it would, at least from a manufacturing point of view, be advantageous if the slat would be balanced about the centre in lateral direction of the support portion 2. In the example shown in Fig. 4, this is achieved by providing counterweights 11 on a lateral side of the support portion 2 opposite to the side where the decorative strip 3 is located. Since the counterweights 1 are concentrated in longitudinal direction at positioning parts (openings 10 and openings 12) for holding the cords or bands 9 of the hanging system, the counterweights 11 do not cause the slats 1 to bend through between longitudinally spaced support positions provided by the hanging system.

In Fig. 2, a second example of a slat 51 according to the invention is shown in which the support portion 52 supports two strips 53. A first strip 53 is supported on a first lateral side of the support portion 52 and a second strip 53 is supported on a second lateral side of the support portion 52, opposite to the first side. In this example the attachment strips 58 are contiguous with the second panel and folded to the outside of the support portion 52.

In Fig. 3, a third example of a slat 101 according to the invention is shown in which the strip 103 is in the form of an integral continuation of the second panel 105. The strip 103 is then oriented in a slight sloping orientation if the straight side of the support portion 102 is in a horizontal orientation.

For achieving a smooth filtering of light if the window covering is open or partially closed, it is advantageous if the at least one strip and the panel of which the at least one strip is an integral continuation areof translucent material. The other panel may then be light blocking, for achieving a high degree of darkness when the window covering is closed, or the other panel may be of translucent material if instead of a maximum darkening, several degrees of light reduction and diffusion are desired. Since the slats are less translucent at the support portion than at the strip, turning the slats to such an extent that edges of the support portions overlap will nevertheless provide a substantial reduction of the amount of light shining through a window.

The slat will generally have a length of 50 cm to 3 m and a width of 3 -10 cm of which 1-5 cm is the width of the strip. The panels and the strip or strips may for instance be of paper material or of rigid polymer film material, with or without reinforcement fibres preferably in longitudinal direction.

Several features have been described as part of the same or separate embodiments. However, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention also includes embodiments having combinations of all or some of these features other than the specific combinations of features embodied in the examples.

Claims

A window covering slat for use in a window covering system, comprising a support portion and at least one strip protruding laterally from the support portion, the support portion supporting the decorative strip, characterized in that the support portion is composed of two panels facing longitudinally opposite each other edges of one of the panels are connected to each other, wherein a first of the panels has a first width between the joints and is substantially flat and wherein a second of the panels has a second width between the joints greater than said first width and is curved so that laterally central portions of the first panel and of the second panel are spaced apart and wherein the at least one strip comprises an integral lateral extension of at least the first panel or the second panel extending laterally beyond the other of said panels.

The window covering slat of claim 1, wherein the decorative strip is aligned with an adjacent portion of the panel of which it forms an integral preposition.

A window covering slat according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one strip is a continuation of the substantially straight first panel.

A window covering slat according to any one of the preceding claims, with a single strip along a first lateral side of the support section, positioning parts for keeping a suspension system positioned relative to the slat in the longitudinal direction of the slat and counterweights on a second lateral side of the support section opposite said first lateral side, wherein said counterweights are concentrated longitudinally at said positioning members.

The window covering slat according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the support portion supports at least two strips, a first strip being supported on a first lateral side of the support portion and a second strip being supported on a second lateral side of the support portion, opposite the first side.

A window covering slat according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one strip and the panel of which the at least one strip forms an integral continuation of translucent material.

The window covering slat according to claim 6, wherein the other panel is made of light-blocking material.

The window covering slat according to claim 6, wherein the other panel is made of translucent material.

A window covering system comprising horizontally hung window covering slats according to any one of the preceding claims.