WO2013179149A1

WO2013179149A1 - Slat for venetian blinds, venetian blind and method for producing such venetian blind

Info

Publication number: WO2013179149A1
Application number: PCT/IB2013/052489
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sergio Dallan
Original assignee: Dallan S.P.A.
Priority date: 2012-05-31
Filing date: 2013-03-28
Publication date: 2013-12-05
Also published as: EP2864569A1; AU2013269275A1; ITPD20120177A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a slat (1) for Venetian blinds comprising a profiled element which extends in a main direction of longitudinal extension X with two opposite longitudinal edges (2,3) and which defines the body of the slat, said slat (1) comprises along each longitudinal edge a plurality of through holes (10) made on the profiled element, each hole opens onto the outside of the slat (1) by means of a slit (11) which extends from the hole as far as the nearest longitudinal edge, wherein each hole acts as a housing seat for a support half-ladder (40) of the slat (1), wherein each slit (11) defines on the profiled element at least one portion (20) movable between a raised position, in which it is raised in relation to the profiled element so as to distance the lips of the slit from each other and permit the insertion of the half-ladder in the respective hole, and a lowered position, in which it is lowered onto the profiled element so as to close the slit and retain the half-ladder inside the hole.

Description

DESCRIPTION

"SLAT FOR VENETIAN BLINDS, VENETIAN BLIND AND METHOD FOR

PRODUCING SUCH VENETIAN BLIND"

Field of application

[0001] The present invention relates to a slat for Venetian blinds, a Venetian blind and a method for producing such Venetian blind.

State of .the art

[0002] As is known, Venetian blinds are composed^■ of a plurality of slats, positioned parallel to each other and kept in position by means of support structures in string or in another material. Such support structures are essentially of two types.

[0003] A first type of structure is called a "full ladder" and is composed of two parallel ribs (positioned in the height direction of the blind) and of a plurality of crossbeams which connect them to each other at regular distances. A slat is associated to each crossbeam, resting on it (if a single crossbeam) or inserted in it (if a multiple crossbeam) .

[0004] A second type of structure is called "separate ladders" or "half-ladders" and is composed of threadlike elements separate from each other which are associated in pairs to the opposite sides of the slats. Each threadlike element constitutes a half-ladder. [0005] The half-ladders differ from each other in terms of material and the type of attachment means to the slat. A first type of half-ladder which is extremely widespread is composed of a cord provided along its longitudinal extension with a plurality of eyelets. The half-ladder is attached by means of staples or hooks to the edges of the slats .

[0006] A second type of half-ladder is composed of a metal wire coated externally in plastic. This type of half- ladder is also attached to the edges of the slats by means of staples or hooks. Compared to the half-ladder in cord, the metal wire offers greater mechanical resistance. Compared to the half-ladder with eyelets, the half-ladder in wire may however be subject, over time, to longitudinal sliding (as a result of the give of the plastic coating) to the detriment of the stability of the attachment.

[0007] To overcome this limitation a half-ladder has been proposed still made from metal wire coated in plastic, but provided with a plurality of swellings or beads, grouped in pairs along the longitudinal extension of the wire. The distance between the two swellings of a given pair is substantially equivalent to the thickness of a slat, while the pitch between two pairs of swellings is less than the width of the slats (to permit a partial overlapping in closing of two adjacent slats) . The swellings prevent the longitudinal sliding of the wire in relation to the slat and to the attachment staple.

[0008] As already illustrated above, the half-ladders are all associated to the slats by staples or hooks attached to the lateral edges of said slats.

[0009] This operation is performed both on simple slats (i.e. with a smooth edge), and on edged slats (i.e. with a rolled edge) and generally ensures optimal results in terms of stability and secure attachment of the half- ladder to the slats.

[0010] The limitat of this type of attachment is related to the cost of the hooks and operating complexity related to the handling of such hooks. In fact, the hooks must be applied to the edges of the slat in a stable and secure manner, without detracting from the aesthetics thereof. Presentation of the invention

[0011] Consequently, the purpose of the present invention is to eliminate entirely or in part the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above, by making available a slat for Venetian blinds which can be connected to support half- ladders with or without eyelets without the use of hooks or staples.

[0012] A further purpose of the present invention is to make available a slat for Venetian blinds which is easy and economical to produce.

[0013] A further purpose of the present invention is to make available a method for producing a Venetian blind which, is easy to implement.

Brief description of the drawings

[0014] The technical characteristics of the invention, according to the aforesaid purposes, will be clearly evident from the contents of the claims below and the advantages thereof will be evident from the detailed description given below with reference to the appended drawings showing one or more embodiments, purely by way of a non-limiting example, wherein:

[0015] - Figure 1 shows a perspective view of slat for Venetian blinds according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0016] -Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a detail of the slat in Figure 1 relative to an attachment tongue for a half-ladder, the tongue being shown in an open position;

[0017] - Figure 3 shows the slat in Figure 2 illustrated with an eyelet of a half-ladder already applied to the tongue in a closed condition;

[0018] -Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a detail of a slat for Venetian blinds according to a second embodiment of the invention, with an attachment tongue shown in the open position;

[0019] - Figure 5 shows the slat in Figure 4 illustrated with an eyelet of a half-ladder already applied in the tongue in a closed condition;

[0020] -Figure 6 is a cross-section view of Figure 3 according to the cross-section plane passing through the hole 10; and

[0021] -Figure 7 shows an orthogonal lateral view of Figure 3 according to the arrow VII shown therein.

Detailed description

[0022] With reference to the appended drawings, reference numeral 1 globally denotes a slat for Venetian blinds according to the invention.

[0023] Here and henceforth in the description and claims, reference will made to the slat in conditions of use. The references to an upper or lower position should be understood in such sense.

[0024] According to a general embodiment of the invention, the slat 1 for Venetian blinds comprises a profiled element which extends in a main direction of longitudinal extension X with two opposite longitudinal edges 2 and 3 and defines the body of the slat.

[0025] The profiled element may be of any type. In particular the slat may have a profile with a flat or curved cross-section (as shown in the examples in the appended drawings) . The longitudinal edges of the slat may be linear (as shown for example in figures 4, 5 and 7) or rolled (as shown in the examples in figures 2, 3 and 6) .

[0026] Preferably, the profiled element is made from metal (in particular steel or aluminium alloy) but may also be made from plastic.

[0027] The slat 1 comprises along each longitudinal edge 2 and 3 a plurality of through holes 10 made on the profiled element.

[0028] In particular the aforesaid through holes 10 are distanced from the edges of the profiled element.

[0029] Each hole 10 opens onto the outside of the slat 1 by means of a slit 11 which extends from the hole 10 as far as the nearest longitudinal edge 2 or 3.

[0030] Each hole 10 acts as a housing seat for a support half-ladder 40 of the slat 1. More specifically, each slit 11 defines on the profiled element at least one portion 20 movable between a raised position, wherein such portion 20 is raised in relation to the profiled element so as to distance the lips of the slit 11 from each other and permit the insertion of the half-ladder 40 in the respective hole 10, and a lowered position, wherein such portion is lowered onto the profiled element so as to draw together the lips of the slit and .thereby retain the half-ladder inside the hole.

[0031] As will be explained further on in the description, the slat 1 may be used with any type of half-ladder, and in particular both with half-ladders with eyelets (as shown in Figures 3, 5, 6 and 7), and with half-ladders without eyelets (for example, made from plastic-coated metal wire with or without swellings or beads) .

[0032] The slit 11 may be of any shape. In particular, the slit may even be rectilinear and orthogonal to the direction of longitudinal extension X of the profiled element .

[0033] Preferably, as shown in the appended drawings, each slit 11 has at least one curved section 12. Compared to an orthogonal rectilinear slit this configuration permits the stresses which are impressed on the half-ladder orthogonally to the direction of extension X of the profiled element, to be countered. This way the risk of sliding of the half-ladder 40 along the slit and thus of the half-ladder coming out of the hole and of the slit is reduced.

[0034] The hole 10 and the starting point of the relative slit 11 on the edge of the profiled element may assume any relative position to each other. In particular they may be aligned with each other in an orthogonal direction to the main direction._.of ..longitudinal extension X of- the profiled element. In such latter case, as already illustrated above, it is preferable for the slit 11 to have a curved section.

[0035] Preferably, as shown in the appended drawings, each hole 10 and the starting point of the relative slit 11 of the edge of the profiled element are, instead, misaligned in an orthogonal direction in relation to the main longitudinal direction of extension X of the profiled element. Thanks to such misalignment, the sliding of the half-ladder along the slit as a result of stresses orthogonal to the main longitudinal direction of extension X is even less probable.

[0036] According to the embodiments illustrated in the appended Figures, each slit 11 is, in particular, J- shaped. Alternatively, each slit 11 may be L-shaped. In these cases, the raisable portion 20 is defined by a tongue-shaped portion of the profiled element, delimited by the slit 11 and by an adjacent section of longitudinal edge 2 or 3.

[0037] Preferably, the - J or L-shaped - slit 11, is positioned so as to have a section substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of extension X and thus to the edge of the profiled element.

[0038] This "tongue" conformation of the portion 20 is highly advantageous in that it makes the slats 1 according to the invention easily utilisable with half- ladders with eyelets. The tongue shaped portions (with main direction of extension parallel to the edge of the profiled element) may, in fact, be easily inserted in the eyelets 41 of the half-ladders 40. In this sense it is preferable for the tongue shaped portion to extend mainly in the direction X, that is that the section parallel to the longitudinal edge 2 or 3 (i.e. parallel to the direction X) has a greater extension than the orthogonal (or oblique) section.

[0039] Preferably, each slit 11 has an opening smaller than the diameter of the portion of the half-ladder 40 which must be inserted in the hole 10 so as to prevent the half-ladder from easily sliding along the slit and disengaging from the slat 1.

[0040] Preferably, the hole 10 has a greater cross-section than the opening of the relative slit 11, to permit the half-ladder to be easily housed inside said hole.

[0041] In the case in which said half-ladder is composed of a wire comprising a metal core and an external coating in plastic material, the hole 10 preferably has a cross- section which is less than the ^'diameter of the wire and is substantially equivalent to the diameter of the metal core. This way, when the portion 20 of the profiled element is brought into the lowered position after insertion of the wire inside the hole through the slit 11, the portion 20 can engage the wire with interference deforming the coating in plastic material and thereby blocking it in position.

[0042] In the case in which the slat is provided with eyelets 41 , the hole 10 preferably has a greater cross- section than the diameter of the element forming the eyelet. This way, when the portion 20 of the profiled element is brought into the lowered position after insertion of the eyelet in the portion 20 along the slit as far as the hole, the eyelet 41 remains free to move inside said hole. A configuration of the hole analogous to that described above may be adopted in the case in which the half-ladder is made from a plastic coated metal wire, provided however with swellings or beads suitable for blocking the half-ladder in position. In this case in fact it is not necessary to block the wire in position by means of the portion 20.

[0043] Preferably, each hole 10 has a bevelled edge to prevent the half-ladder inserted inside it from being lacerated with use.

[0044] In particular, each hole may be obtained by deep drawing. The conformation of the hole with a deep drawn edge is visible in the example in Figure 7. In particular, to such purpose the punching machine to which the European patent EP2146811B1 in the name of the Applicant refers, may be used.

[0045] Preferably, as may be observed in Figure 1, the holes 10 are distributed in two rows 14 and 15. Each of the two rows is positioned next to one of the two longitudinal edges 2 and 3 of the profiled element.

[0046] As already said the profiled element which forms the body of the slat may be of any type. In particular, the longitudinal edges of the slat may be linear (as shown for example in figures 4, 5 and 7) or rolled (as shown in the examples in figures 2, 3 and 6) .

[0047] In the case in which the profiled element is of the type with rolled longitudinal edges, as shown in detail in Figure 6, the holes 10 and relative slits 11 are made at the rolled edge area 16, which is the area of the profiled element with the greatest mechanical resistance. In particular, as shown in Figure 6, the slit interests the rolled edge 16 throughout its cross-section; the through holes 10 are in pairs, aligned with each other, one upper 10' and one lower 10".

[0048] The present invention relates to a Venetian blind comprising a plurality of slats 1 and a plurality of half-ladders 40 which connect the slats 1 overlapped to each other. Each half-ladder 40 is provided with eyelets 41 by means of which it is fixed to the slats -1. [0049] The totality or at least some of the slats are slats 1 according to the invention. As shown in detail in Figures 3 and 5, each half-ladder is inserted with a coupling portion 41 inside one of the holes 10.

[0050] As already said the size of the holes 10 may be chosen depending on the type of support half-ladder.

[0051] The present invention also relates to a method of producing a Venetian blind, comprising a plurality of slats overlapped to each other and a plurality of support half-ladders 40 which connect the slats to each other by means of coupling portions 41.

[0052] The method comprises the following operating steps:

[0053] a) preparing a plurality of slats 1 according to the invention, in particular as described above;

[0054] b) preparing a plurality of half-ladders 40;

[0055] c) raising "the portions 20 of the slats 1 so that the holes 10 are accessible through the relative slits

11;

[0056] d) inserting the coupling portions 41 of the half- ladders 40 into the raised portions 20 as far as reaching the relative holes 10; and

[0057] e) lowering the raised portions 20 with the coupling portions 41 of the half-ladders 40 retained inside the holes 10.

[0058] The invention permits, . numerous . advantages - .to be achieved, some of which already described.

[0059] The slat for Venetian blinds according to the present invention can be connected to support half- ladders (with or without eyelets) without the use of hooks or staples. Thanks to the holes and to the relative slits, the elements for blocking the half-ladders are already incorporated in the slat itself.

[0060] As well as avoiding the supply cost of the traditional hooks or staples, the attachment of the half- ladders is easier to control and more accurate. In fact, the holes and relative slits can be made by mere mechanical operations.

[0061] The slat 1 according to the invention is thus easy and economical to produce.

[0062] The method for producing a Venetian blind according to the invention is easy to implement. The application of the half-ladders to the slats in fact requires merely the raising and lowering of the portions defined by the slits, already predisposed on the slats. All the laborious operations of attaching hooks to the edges of the slats are thus no longer necessary.

[0063] The invention thus conceived thereby achieves the intended purposes .

[0064] Obviously, its practical embodiments may assume forms and configurations different from those illustrated above while remaining within the scope of protection of the invention.

[0065] In addition, all . the parts may be replaced with r technically equivalent elements and the dimensions, shapes and material used may be varied as needed.

Claims

1. Slat for Venetian blinds, comprising a profiled element which extends in a main direction of longitudinal extension (X) with two opposite longitudinal edges (2,3) and defines the slat body, characterised by the fact of comprising along each longitudinal edge (2, 3) a plurality of through holes (10) made on the profiled element, each of which opens onto the outside of the slat (11) by means of a slit (11) which extends from the hole (10) as far as the nearest longitudinal edge (2 or 3), each hole acting as a housing seat for a support half- ladder (40) of the slat (1), each slit (11) defining on the profiled element at least one portion (20) movable between a raised position, wherein such portion (20) is raised in relation to the profiled element so as to distance the lips of the slit from each other and permit the insertion of the half-ladder (40) in the respective

v hole (10), and a lowered position, wherein such portion is lowered onto the profiled element so as to draw together the lips of the slit and thereby retain the half-ladder inside the hole.

2. Slat according to claim 2, wherein each slit (11) has at least one curved section (12) .

3. Slat according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each hole (10) and the starting point of the relative slit (11) of the edge of the profiled element are misaligned with each other in an orthogonal direction in relation to the main longitudinal extension direction (X) of the profiled element .

4. Slat according to claim 2 or. 3, wherein each slit (11)· is L or J-shaped.

5. Slat according to claim 4, wherein said raisable (20) portion is defined by a tongue-shaped portion of the profiled element, delimited by the slit (11) and by an adjacent section of longitudinal edge (2 or 3) .

6. Slat according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein each hole (10) has a greater cross- section than the opening of the relative slit (11) .

7. Slat according' to one or more of the previous claims, wherein each hole (10) has a bevelled edge to prevent the half-ladder inserted inside it from being lacerated with use.

8. Slat according to claim 7, wherein each hole is obtained by deep drawing.

9. Slat according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein the holes are distributed in two rows (14, 15), each of which is positioned next to one of said two longitudinal edges (2,3) of the profiled element.

10. Slat according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein the longitudinal edges (2, 3) are rolled, the holes (10) and relative slits (11) being made at the rolled edge area.

11. Venetian blind comprising a plurality of slats (1) and a plurality of support half-ladders (40) which connect the slats overlapped to each other, characterised in that the totality or at least some of the slats (1) are according to one or more of the previous claims, each half-ladder being inserted with a coupling portion (41) inside one of the holes (10) .

12. Blind according to claim 11, wherein each slit (11) has an opening smaller than the diameter of the portion (41) of the half-ladder (40) which is inserted in the hole (10).

13. Blind according to claim 11 or 12, wherein said half-ladder is composed of a wire comprising a metal core and an external coating in plastic material, each hole (10) having a section which is less than the diameter of the wire and is substantially equivalent to the diameter of the metal core, in such a way that, when the portion (20) of the profiled element is brought into the lowered position after insertion of the wire inside the hole (10) through the slit (11), the portion (20) engages the wire with interference deforming the coating in plastic material and thereby blocking it in position.

14. Blind according to claim 11 or 12, wherein said half-ladder (40) is provided with eyelets (41), each hole (10) having a greater cross-section than the diameter of the element forming the eyelet, in such a way that, when the portion (20) of the profiled element is brought into the lowered position after insertion of the eyelet in the portion (20) along the slit (11) as far as the hole (10), the eyelet (41) remains free to move inside the hole (10).

15. Method of producing a Venetian blind comprising a plurality of slats (1) overlapped to each other and a plurality of support half-ladders (40) which connect the slats to each other by means of coupling portions (41), said method comprising the following operating steps: a) preparing a plurality of slats (1) according to one or more of the claims from 1 to 10; ,

b) preparing a plurality of half-ladders (40);

c) bringing the portions (20) of the slats (1) into the raised position so that the holes (10) are accessible through the relative slits (11) ;

d) inserting the coupling portions (41) of the half- ladders (40) into the raised portions (20) as far as reaching the relative holes (10); and

e) bringing the raised portions (20)^ into the lowered position with the coupling portions (41) of the half- ladders (40) retained inside the holes (10).