WO2018098531A1

WO2018098531A1 - Roller blind assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2018098531A1
Application number: PCT/AU2017/051321
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tony Hopkins
Original assignee: Silent Shade Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2016-11-30
Filing date: 2017-11-30
Publication date: 2018-06-07

Abstract

A rail is normally provided along a lower edge of a roller blind fabric, and a vertically orientated zipper segment for guiding the movement of the roller blind is typically also fixed to that rail. This can result in jamming of the zipper within an adjacent side guide channel if the rail is for any reason displaced away from its normal vertical plane of movement thereby applying tension on the zipper teeth accommodated within the guide channel. The present invention provides a roller blind assembly including a guide arrangement 35 located along at least one side edge of a blind fabric. The guide arrangement 35 includes a plurality of guide elements 39 spaced along the guide arrangement 35. Each guide element 39 is generally elongate in shape and has rounded opposing ends. The assembly further includes at least one side bracket 21 located adjacent the side edge of the blind fabric. The side bracket 21 includes a guide channel for accommodating and guiding movement of the guide elements 39 accommodated therein. The spacing and shape of the guide elements 39 facilitate rolling of the blind fabric supporting the guide elements 39.

Description

ROLLER BLIND ASSEMBLY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001 ] The present invention is generally directed to roller blind assemblies for external use, and in particular to roller blind assemblies having a guide arrangement for a blind fabric.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] Roller blind assemblies use a roller to support a roller blind fabric. This allows the blind fabric to be unrolled from the roller when required. The blind fabric of all blind assemblies used in external applications can be provided with a zipper segment extending along the side edges of the blind fabric. This zipper segment typically includes a fabric strip with a row of zipper teeth mounted along one edge of that strip. While the zipper segment can allow for adjacent blind fabrics to be joined together, the zipper segment is also now commonly used to guide the movement of the roller blind. Side guide channels can be provided inside brackets located at opposing sides of the blind assembly, with the zipper teeth row being accommodated and allowed to travel within the guide channels as the blind fabric is unrolled or rolled. This helps to ensure that the fabric remains taut during unrolling of the blind fabric, and that there is minimal flapping of the blind fabric in windy conditions. As the zipper segment engages the guide channel, this also ensures that there are no gaps on the side of the unrolled blind thereby minimizing draughts.

[0003] The use of such zipper segments does however have a number of disadvantages. The zipper segment does not roll evenly together with the blind fabric because of the greater thickness of the zipper segment compared with the blind fabric. Also the zipper teeth do not necessarily rest evenly on top of the underlying row when the blind fabric is being rolled up. This can lead to crimping or ripples in the blind fabric adjacent the zipper segments when rolled. The zipper segment can also become jammed within the guide channel, particularly when windy conditions are being experienced on the blind fabric.

[0004] A rail is normally provided along the lower edge of the blind fabric, and the zipper segment is typically also fixed to that rail. This can also result in jamming of the zipper within the guide channel if the rail is for any reason displaced away from its normal vertical plane of movement thereby applying tension on the zipper teeth accommodated within the guide channel.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided:

a roller blind assembly including:

a roller supporting a roller blind fabric;

a guide arrangement located along at least one side edge of the blind fabric, the guide arrangement including a plurality of guide elements spaced along the guide arrangement, each guide element being generally elongate in shape and having rounded opposing ends;

at least one side bracket located adjacent the side edge of the blind fabric, the side bracket including a guide channel for accommodating and guiding movement of the guide elements accommodated therein;

wherein said spacing and shape of the guide elements facilitate rolling of the blind fabric supporting the guide elements.

[0007] The guide elements of the guide arrangement are spaced apart along the guide arrangement, to thereby facilitate rolling of the guide arrangement together with the blind fabric. The spacing of the guide elements allows for the guide elements to nest together, at least at the initial stages of the rolling of the blind. This acts to minimize the increase in diameter of the edge portion of the blind fabric supporting the guide elements as the blind fabric is being rolled. The nesting of the guide elements therefore acts to minimize or prevent crimping or wrinkling of the blind fabric adjacent the edge portion thereof.

[0008] The guide elements are also generally elongate in shape, with the longitudinal axis of the guide element being generally parallel to the blind side edge, and the opposing ends of the guide element being generally rounded in shape. The shape of the guide elements also facilitates the nesting together of the guide elements.

[0009] The guide arrangement may include a support strip for supporting the guide elements. Each guide element may therefore include a longitudinal slot on an inner side thereof for accommodating a portion of the support strip to which it is secured. It is however also envisaged that the guide elements be directly supported on the blind edge, in which case, the longitudinal slot may

accommodate a portion of the blind edge.

[0010] An outer face of the guide element may include a longitudinal channel therealong. This reduces the overall size of each guide element thereby minimising the space taken by the guide elements within the guide channel. This means that it will be less likely for jamming to occur due to the accommodation of any detritus within the guide channel, because of the smaller space taken up by the guide elements accommodated therein.

[001 1 ] The support strip of the guide arrangement may be provided with a series of slots extending parallel to the peripheral edge of the support strip adjacent the guide elements. The slots act to allow air to pass therethrough when the roller blind is experiencing high wind conditions and air trapped by the blind fabric needs to have a means to escape its entrapment behind the blind fabric. [0012] The roller blind assembly may further include a funnel member supported at an upper end of the side bracket for guiding the guide elements into the guide channel. The funnel member may include a cone shaped cavity having an aperture provided at a tip of the cone, and a slot extending through the cone shaped cavity to the aperture. The aperture of the funnel member may be aligned with a top end of the guide channel, and the guide arrangement can then be inserted through the slot, with the guide elements being guided into the guide channel though the aperture.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a roller blind assembly including:

a roller supporting a roller blind fabric;

a rail provided at a bottom edge of the blind fabric;

a guide arrangement located along at least one side edge of the blind fabric, the guide arrangement including a plurality of guide elements extending therealong;

at least one side bracket located adjacent the side edge of the blind fabric engaging the guide arrangement, the side bracket including a guide channel for accommodating and guiding movement of the guide elements accommodated therein;

wherein the guide arrangement extends to an end portion of the rail and is secured to the rail via a floating bracket facilitating movement of the guide arrangement relative to the rail end portion.

[0014] The use of the floating bracket helps to prevent or minimise jamming of the roller blind assembly in windy conditions as the guide arrangement can be displaced away from the rail end portion thereby limiting the lateral forces applied to the guide elements located within the guide channel.

[0015] The floating bracket may include an arm member slidably supported within a cooperating channel provided within the rail, and an attachment member securable to the guide arrangement. This enables movement of the attachment member away from the rail end portion if the rail is displaced away from its normal vertical plane of movement.

[0016] The roller blind assembly according to the present invention minimises or eliminates jamming of the assembly during unrolling or rolling of the blind fabric. Furthermore, the roller blind assembly according to the present invention preferably provides for more even and uniform rolling of the blind fabric.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] It will be convenient to further describe the invention with respect to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the roller blind assembly according to the present invention. Other embodiments of the invention are possible, and consequently, the particularity of the accompanying drawings is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention.

[0018] In the drawings:

[0019] Figure 1 is a detailed view of the rail end portion of a roller blind assembly according to the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 is an exploded view showing various components of the roller blind assembly according to the present invention;

[0021 ] Figure 3 is a side view of a guide arrangement of another embodiment of the roller blind assembly according to the present invention;

[0022] Figure 4 is a side view of a guide segment of the guide arrangement of Figure 3; [0023] Figure 5 is a top view of the guide segment of the guide arrangement of Figure 3;

[0024] Figure 6 is an end view of a guide segment of the guide arrangement according to Figure 3; and

[0025] Figure 7 is a detailed perspective view of a funnel member of the roller blind assembly according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Referring to Figures 1 and 2 initially, there are shown various components of the roller blind assembly according to the present invention. That roller blind assembly includes a roller (not shown) supporting a roller blind fabric 3. A rail 5 is located at a bottom edge of the blind fabric 3. A guide arrangement 7 is located along the side edge of the blind fabric 3. The guide arrangement 7 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a conventional zipper segment commonly used in the industry. A seal member 9 in the form of a curved blade extending downwardly from the rail 5. Unlike conventional bubble seals used in known roller blind assemblies, the curved blade seal member can adapt to sealing against uneven ground surfaces or allows for sealing even where there is a misalignment of the rail 5 relative to the ground.

[0027] The rail 5 includes an end portion 1 1 . The rail 5 and rail end portion 1 1 together support a floating bracket 15. The floating bracket 15 includes an elongate arm member 17 slidably supported within a cooperating channel 18 provided within the rail 5 and end portion 1 1 . The floating bracket 15 further includes an attachment member 19 securable to the guide arrangement 7. The use of the floating bracket 15 allows for displacement of the end of the guide arrangement 7 attached to the floating bracket away from the end portion 1 1 and rail 5. [0028] The guide arrangement 7 includes a plurality of zipper teeth 8 extending along one edge of the guide arrangement 7. Side brackets 21 are located adjacent the side edge of the blind fabric 3. The side bracket 21 includes a guide channel 23 for accommodating the zipper teeth 8 of the guide

arrangement 7 as the blind is unrolled.

[0029] The top of the side bracket 21 is provided with a funnel member 25 that assists in the feeding of the zipper teeth 8 into the guide channel 23. The funnel member 25 will be subsequently described in more detail.

[0030] The roller blind is accommodated within a housing section 27, a rear housing portion 29, a top housing portion 31 , and an end housing portion 33, as shown in Figure 2.

[0031 ] The use of the floating bracket 15 helps to prevent or minimise jamming of the zipper teeth 8 within the guide channel 23 in windy conditions that can cause the blind fabric 3 and the rail 5 to be displaced away from its normal vertical operating plane. This is because the section of the guide arrangement 7 secured to the floating bracket 15 can move away from the rail 5 and rail end portion 1 1 during such conditions, reducing the possibility of jamming.

[0032] Figures 3 to 7 show an alternative guide arrangement 35 that can be located on the side edge of the blind fabric 3. This guide arrangement 35 includes a support strip 37, and a plurality of guide segments 39 spaced along one side edge of the support strip 37.

[0033] Unlike conventional zipper segments, the guide elements 39 are spaced apart along the side edge of the support strip 37, and are generally elongate in shape, with the longitudinal axis of each guide element 39 being generally parallel to the side edge of the support strip 37. The guide elements 39 respectively have a generally rounded configuration as best shown in Figures 4 to 6. In particular, referring to Figure 5, one side of the guide segment 39 has a shallow concave radius. Furthermore, as best shown in Figure 6, the guide element 39 includes a longitudinal slot 43 for accommodating the side edge of the support strip 37. The opposing face of the guide element 39 has a shallow concave longitudinal channel 45 extending therealong. That channel 45 acts to reduce the overall size of the guide element 39 thereby further reducing the probability of jamming of the guide elements 39 within the guide channel 23 due to the accommodation of detritus therein.

[0034] According to a preferred configuration, the guide elements 39 can be spaced approximately 15 mm apart along the support strip 37. Each guide element 39 may be approximately 10 mm in length and 4 mm wide. The concave side wall 41 may have a radius of around 1 10 mm. Each guide segment 39 may have a depth of approximately 3.5 mm. The longitudinal slot 43 may be

approximately 0.5 mm in width. The present invention is however not restricted to these dimensions which may change in different applications.

[0035] The support strip 31 includes a plurality of slots 38 extending between each guide element 39. These slots 38 act as vents to allow air trapped behind the blind fabric 3 to escape during windy conditions.

[0036] The spacing of guide segments 39 and their shape, for example the concave side wall 41 , help to facilitate rolling of the blind and the guide

arrangement 35 secured to the blind edge. This is because the guide elements 39 will nest together to thereby allow for more uniform rolling of the guide

arrangement 35 reducing the increase in diameter of the edge of the blind fabric 3 relative to the rest of the blind during rolling. This has the effect of minimising or preventing crimping or wrinkling of the blind fabric 3 adjacent the guide

arrangement 35.

[0037] Figure 7 shows in more detail the funnel member 25 when supported on the top of the side bracket 21 . The funnel member 25 includes a cone shaped cavity 47 that ends in an aperture (not shown). A slot 49 extends through the cone shaped cavity 47 to the aperture. The cone shaped cavity 47 is aligned with the guide channel 23 of the side bracket 21 . The guide arrangement 35 can then be inserted through the slot 49, and the funnel member 25 can act to direct the guide segments 39 into the guide channel 23. This minimises the possibility of jamming of the guide segments 39 at the entrance to the guide channel 23 as the blind fabric 3 is being unrolled.

[0038] Modifications and variations as would be deemed obvious to the person skilled in the art are included within the ambit of the present invention as claimed in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A roller blind assembly including:

a roller supporting a roller blind fabric;

2. A roller blind assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the guide

arrangement includes a support strip for supporting the guide elements.

3. A roller blind assembly according to claim 2, wherein the support strip of the guide arrangement is provided with a series of slots extending parallel to a peripheral edge of the support strip adjacent the guide elements.

4. A roller blind assembly according to claim 2 or 3, wherein an inner side of each guide element includes a longitudinal slot for accommodating a portion of the support strip to which it is secured.

5. A roller blind assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an outer face of the guide element includes a longitudinal channel therealong.

6. A roller blind assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a side face of the guide element includes a concave radius.

7. A roller blind assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a rail is provided at a bottom edge of the blind fabric, and wherein the guide arrangement extends to an end portion of the rail and is secured to the rail via a floating bracket facilitating movement of the guide arrangement relative to the rail end portion.

8. A roller blind assembly according to claim 7, wherein the floating bracket includes an arm member slidably supported within a cooperating channel provided within the rail, and an attachment member securable to the guide arrangement.

9. A roller blind assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the roller blind assembly includes a funnel member supported at an upper end of the side bracket for guiding the guide elements into the guide channel, the funnel member including a cone shaped cavity having an aperture provided at a tip of the cone, and a slot extending through the cone shaped cavity to the aperture, the aperture being aligned with a top end of the guide channel.

10. A roller blind assembly including:

a roller supporting a roller blind fabric;

a rail provided at a bottom edge of the blind fabric;

a guide arrangement located along at least one side edge of the blind fabric, the guide arrangement including a plurality of guide elements provided along the guide arrangement;

1 1 . A roller blind assembly according to claim 10, wherein the floating bracket includes an arm member slidably supported within a cooperating channel provided within the rail, and an attachment member securable to the guide arrangement.

12. A roller blind assembly according to claim 10 or 1 1 , wherein the roller blind assembly includes a funnel member supported at an upper end of the side bracket for guiding the guide elements into the guide channel, the funnel member including a cone shaped cavity having an aperture provided at a tip of the cone, and a slot extending through the cone shaped cavity to the aperture, the aperture being aligned with a top end of the guide channel.