(19)
(11) EP 0 097 140 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
21.09.1988 Bulletin 1988/38

(21) Application number: 83850167.4

(22) Date of filing: 15.06.1983
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)4E06B 9/323, E06B 9/327

(54)

Venetian blind

Lamellenjalousie

Store vénitien


(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE

(30) Priority: 15.06.1982 SE 8203704

(43) Date of publication of application:
28.12.1983 Bulletin 1983/52

(73) Proprietor: Christoffersson, Evert
S-216 22 Malmö (SE)

(72) Inventor:
  • Christoffersson, Evert
    S-216 22 Malmö (SE)

(74) Representative: Ström, Tore et al
Ström & Gulliksson AB Studentgatan 1 P.O. Box 4188
203 13 Malmö
203 13 Malmö (SE)


(56) References cited: : 
CH-A- 520 261
US-A- 2 188 639
US-A- 3 136 357
GB-A- 2 075 099
US-A- 2 788 098
US-A- 4 333 510
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description


    [0001] The present invention relates to a Venetian blind to be mounted in a window casement or window frame, comprising a channelled suspension rail arranged horizontally at the top and mounting the operating mechanism of the blind, and two vertical guide rails for the slats of the blind, mounted one at each side and forming a support for the bottom of the suspension rail of the associated end thereof.

    [0002] A Venetian blind of this kind is disclosed in US-A-3,136,357 wherein the suspension rail is positively engaged with the guide rails at both ends by means of screws.

    [0003] The primary object of the invention is to provide a Venetian blind of the kind referred to above which can be mounted easily to the window casement or the window frame by connecting the guide rails to the side sections of the casement or frame and then connecting the suspension rail to the upper ends of the guide rails.

    [0004] US-A-2,188,639 discloses a suspension rail the ends of which are provided with manually adjustable end extensions for positive engagement with a respective bracket supporting the suspension rail at one end and the other thereof.

    [0005] A further object of the invention is to make possible that this mounting can be performed by anybody without any skill in the art so that the Venetian blind can be manufactured by the manufacturer in accordance with the width and height of the window and can be delivered to the purchaser as a kit to be mounted to the casement or frame by the purchaser in a simple manner.

    [0006] A still further object of the invention is to provide a Venetian blind of the kind referred to above which can easily be dismounted from the window casement or window frame when it is desired to clean the window or to repair the casement or frame.

    [0007] To achieve the foregoing objects and in accordance with the purpose of the invention the Venetian blind of the kind referred to above has obtained the characteristics of claim 1.

    [0008] In order to illustrate the invention embodiments thereof will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

    Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a window casement with a Venetian blind according to the invention;

    Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in Fig. 1;

    Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view of one end of the suspension rail where a latch slide is provided;

    Fig. 4 is an end view of the suspension rail as seen from the end where the latch slide is provided;

    Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the suspension rail at the end thereof where the latch slide is provided, said slide being shown in a disengaged position;

    Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view similar to that of Fig. 5 but with the latch slide shown in an engaged position;

    Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side view of the upper end portion of a guide rail;

    Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side view of the guide rail, perpendicular to the view of Fig. 7;

    Fig. 9 is an end view of the guide rail shown in Figs. 7 and 8;

    Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side view of the suspension rail and one guide rail locked to each other;

    Fig. 11 is a plan view of the suspension rail of Fig. 10 with the guide rail shown from one end thereof;

    Fig. 12 is a fragmentary front view of a window casement with a Venetian blind according to another embodiment of the invention;

    Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in Fig. 12;

    Fig. 14 is a side view of a conducting piece arranged in the channelled suspension rail;

    Fig. 15 is an end view of the conducting piece of Fig. 14; and

    Fig. 16 is a plan view of the conducting piece of Figs. 14 and 15.



    [0009] Referring to Fig. 1, the Venetian blind of the invention shown therein is mounted in a window casement 10 and comprises a suspension rail 11 consisting of a U-shaped channel open at each end thereof, from which the slats 12 are suspended by means of ladder cords 13. A conventional operating mechanism 14 for adjusting the slats between substantially horizontal and vertical positions and tilted positions therebetween is mounted in the suspension rail 11 and is connected to an operating bar 15 detachably mounted in fittings 16 on the window casement. The operating bar can be disengaged from the operating mechanism at a connection 17. A pull cord 18 is provided in the usual manner for stacking the slats from the lowermost slat upwardly as is well known in the art.

    [0010] As will be seen from Fig. 2 a two-pane insulating window 19 is mounted to the window casement 10. The Venetian blind is mounted at the inner side of the window, the slats 12 being guided by means of two vertical guide rails 20 of L-formed cross-sectional form, which are connected to the window casement 10 by means of nails 21 in a groove 22 formed by the casement. The guide rails can also be mounted by means of screws or self-adhesive tape. The suspension rail 11 is connected to the upper ends of the two guide rails 20 in a manner to be described in more detail with reference to Figs. 3 to 11.

    [0011] As will be seen from Figs. 3 to 6 the web of the U-shaped suspension rail 11 is cut away over a portion of at the left end of the rail as seen in Figs. 5 and 6, so that the two upright sides of the rail project in a counter-lever fashion at 23 and 24, respectively. The upright sides of the suspension rail are folded at the free edge thereof as shown at 25, and the folded portion is flattened on the projecting portion 23. A latch slide 26 comprises a double-folded thin metal sheet which fits between the upright sides of the suspension rail 11 and straddles the web of the rail. A rivet 27 passes through the slide and through a slot 28 in the web of the suspension rail 11, and the latch slide 26 is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the suspension rail within the limits defined by the rivet 27 and the slot 28, between an off position according to Fig. 5 in which the latch slide is withdrawn from the projecting portions 23 and 24 of the upright sides of the suspension rail, and a latch position, Fig. 6, in which the latch slide extends between the projecting portions 23 and 24 of the upright sides of the suspension rail and the left end of the slide is flush with the left end of the suspension rail 11.

    [0012] Referring now to Figs. 7 and 9, two flaps 29 and 31 are punched from one flange of each guide rail 20 at the upper end thereof, viz. from the flange which is connected to the window casement 10. One flap 29 is folded towards the other flange of the guide rail and defines together with said other flange a narrow elongated opening 30, and the other flap 31 is bent to a horizontal position to form a supporting surface.

    [0013] When the guide rails 20 have been connected to the window casement 10 the supporting rail 11 can be mounted in the horizontal position thereof between the upper ends of the guide rails in a manner to be described below.

    [0014] With the latch slide 26 in the off position according to Fig. 5 and with the slats of the Venetian blind stacked, the-blind including the suspension rail in inserted between the guide rails 20 in a tilted position, the right end of the suspension rail being at a higher level than the left end thereof. At the right end of the suspension rail one upright side of said rail is inserted into the narrow elongated opening 30 formed by the guide rail 20 mounted to the right section of the window casement, and the web of the suspension rail is engaged with the upper side of the flap 31 of said guide rail. Then, the left end of the suspension rail is swung upwards such that the projecting portion 23 of the upright side of the rail will be inserted into the narrow elongated opening 30 of the left guide rail 20, and when this has been done the suspension rail is locked in this position by the latch slide 26 being displaced to the latch position according to Fig. 6 on the upper side of the flap 31 of the left guide rail. The latching engagement thus provided between the left guide rail and the suspension rail is shown in Figs. 10 and 11. The suspension rail is now securely mounted in the groove 22 between the two guide rails. The mounting of the Venetian blind is completed by connecting the operating mechanism 14 through one open end of the suspension rail 11, to the rod 15 at the connection 17, also the pull cord 18 being passed from the suspension rail through said open end. The blind is then ready for use.

    [0015] When the groove 22 formed by the window casement 10 is so deep that the suspension rail 11 and the guide rails 20 project beyond the window casement as shown in Fig. 2, the operating rod 15 can be connected to the mechanism 14 through one open end of the suspension rail 11 where also the pull cord 18 is passed from the suspension rail as described above. However, if the groove 22 is considerably deeper, which is not unusual, so that the suspension rail 11 and the guide rails 20 are received in their entirety by the groove as is shown in Fig. 13, it is not possible to connect the operating rod 15 and to pass the pull cord 18 through one end of the suspension rail 11. In order to make possible that the Venetian blind is arranged in a suitable manner without the necessity of drilling passages in the window casement 10, it is proposed according to the invention an arrangement disclosed in Figs. 12 and 14 to 16.

    [0016] In this embodiment there is provided in the suspension rail 11 a rectangular notch 32 in each of the upright sides of the rail, said notches being located one opposite to the other adjacent one end of the suspension rail. In the suspension rail, a conducting piece 33 is arranged formed as is shown in Figs. 14 to 16. The conducting piece 33 comprises a U-shaped plastic body with a web 34 and side flanges 35. The plastic body has on the outside of each side flange a projecting portion 36 and these projecting portions are dimensioned to fit in the notches 32 when the conducting piece is mounted in the suspension rail 11 with the web 34 of the conducting piece resting on the bottom or web of the suspension rail. By engagement of the projecting portions 36 in the notches 32 the conducting piece is held in a fixed position in the suspension rail. The side flanges 35 has on the outside thereof also two side recesses 37 to receive therein the flap 29 and the corresponding flap at the opposite side of the suspension rail 11.

    [0017] In each of the side flanges 35 of the conducting piece there is provided in the region of the projecting portion 36 a recess with two portions 38 and 39 of different depths, portion 39 having a larger depth than portion 38, the recess being bound by a smoothly curved edge portion 40. Also the web 34 has on the inner side thereof smoothly curved portions 41 and 42 at the ends of the conducting piece.

    [0018] As will be seen from Fig. 12, the operating rod 15 is connected by means of a flexible shaft 43 to the operating mechanism 14, the flexible shaft being extended from the channelled suspension rail 11 at one side thereof through the conducting piece 33, said shaft being passed through portion 38 of the recess in one side flange 35 of the conducting piece. Also the pull cord 18 is extended from the suspension rail 11 at one side thereof passing through portion 39 of the recess below the flexible shaft 43. Thus, it is avoided that the pull cord is jammed between the flexible shaft 43 and the conducting piece 33.

    [0019] The conducting piece 33 thus makes possible that the flexible shaft 43 and the pull cord 18 are extended from the suspension rail 11 at one side or the other of the rail, and also makes possible that the shaft and the pull cord are extended from the end of the suspension rail if this can be done considering the depth of the groove 22. The smoothly curved portions of the conducting piece eliminate the risk of the pull cord being exposed to wear against sharp edges.


    Claims

    1. Venetian blind to be mounted in a window casement (10) or window frame, comprising a channelled suspension rail (11) arranged horizontally at the top and mounting the operating mechanism (14) of the blind, and two vertical guide rails (20) for the slats (12) of the blind, mounted one at each side and forming a support for the bottom of the suspension rail of the associated end thereof, characterized in that each guide rail (20) having L-formed cross section to be connected to the window casement (10) or window frame at one flange thereof, has said flange bent to a horizontal position (31) to form said support and the other flange folded to form an opening (30) to receive therein an end portion (23) of one of the sides of the channelled suspension rail (11), and that the suspension rail (11) at one end thereof is positively engaged with one guide rail (20) and at the other end thereof is provided with a manually adjustable flat latch slide (26) mounted to the bottom of the suspension rail (11), which is manually displaceable between a latching position on top of the support of the other guide rail (20), and a disengaged position in which the slide is withdrawn from said support.
     
    2. Venetian blind as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a conducting piece (33) is provided in the channelled suspension rail (11) for the extension of a pull cord (18) and a flexible shaft (43) connected to the operating mechanism (14), through an opening (32) in the side of the suspension rail.
     
    3. Venetian blind as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the conducting piece (33) comprises a channelled plastic body removably inserted into the suspension rail (11) with the bottom (34) of said body engaging the bottom of the suspension rail, said body forming recesses (38, 39) in the sides thereof for the extension of the pull cord (18) and the flexible shaft (43).
     
    4. Venetian blind as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that each recess forms one portion (38) for the flexible shaft (43) at the adjacent end of the suspension rail (11), and a second portion (39) of greater depth than said first portion and located inwardly of said first portion, for the pull cord (18).
     
    5. Venetian blind as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that each recess (38, 39) is bound by curved slide surfaces (40) for the pull cord (18).
     
    6. Venetian blind as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the conducting piece (33) forms a projecting portion (36) on the outside of at least one side (35) thereof, which is received by said opening (32) in the side of the suspension rail (11).
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Lamellenjalousie zur Befestigung an einem Fensterflügel (10) oder Fensterrahmen mit einer hohlen Aufhängeschiene (11), die horizontal am oberen Ende angeordnet ist und den BetätigungsMechanismus (14) der Jalousie trägt, und mit zwei senkrechten Führungsschienen (20) für die Lamellen (12) der Jalousie, von denen jede an einer Seite angeordnet ist und eine Auflage für die Unterkante der Aufhängeschiene jeweils an dem zugehörigen Ende bildet, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß jede Führungsschiene (20) einen L-förmigen Querschnitt zur Befestigung an dem Fensterflügel (10) oder Fensterrahmen jeweils an einem Schenkel des L aufweist, daß der Schenkel zur Bildung des Lagers in eine horizontale Lage (31) abgebogen ist und der andere Schenkel zur Bildung einer Öffnung (30) gebogen ist, die ein Endteil (23) jeweils einer Seite der hohlen Aufhängeschiene (11) aufnimmt, und daß die Aufhängeschiene (11) mit ihrem einen Ende kraftschlüssig mit einer Führungsschiene (20) und mit ihrem anderen Ende mit einem manuell einstellbaren, flachen, an der Unterkante der Aufhängeschiene (11) gelagerten Klinkenschieber (26) verbunden ist, der manuell zwischen einer Verriegelungsstellung an der Oberkante der Auflage der anderen Führungsschiene (20) und einer Entriegelungsstellung verschiebbar ist, in der der Schieber von der Auflage zurückgezogen ist.
     
    2. Lamellenjalousie nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß in der hohlen Aufhängeschiene (11) ein Führungsstück (33) zur Aufnahme einer Zugschnur (18) vorgesehen ist und eine flexible Welle (43) über eine Öffnung (32) an der Seite der Aufhängeschiene mit dem BetätigungsMechanismus (14) verbunden ist.
     
    3. Lamellenjalousie nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Führungsstück (33) einen hohl ausgebildeten Kunststoff-Körper enthält, der entfernbar in die Aufhängeschiene (11) engesetzt ist, wobei die Unterkannte (34) dieses Körpers auf der Unterkante der Aufhängeschiene aufliegt und der genannte Körper Aussparungen (38, 39) an seinen Seiten aufweist, die zur Durchführung der Zugschnur (18) und der flexiblen Welle (43) dienen.
     
    4. Lamellanjalousie nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß jede Aussparung einen Teil (38) für die flexible Welle (43) an dem anliegenden Ende der Aufhängeschiene (11) und einen zweiten Teil (39) für die Zugschnur (18) bildet, der eine größere Tiefe als der erste Teil aufweist und im Inneren des ersten Teils liegt.
     
    5. Lamellenjalousie nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß jede Aussparung (38, 39) durch abgerundete Seitenoberflächen (40) für die Zugschnur (18) begrenzt ist.
     
    6. Lamellenjalousie nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Fünrungsstück (33) an der Außenseite wenigstens seiner einen Seite (35) einen Vorsprung (36) bildet, der durch die genannte Öffnung (32) an der Seite der Aufhängeschiene (11) aufgenommen wird.
     


    Revendications

    1. Store vénitien destiné à être monté dans un châssis ou dormant de fenêtre (10), lequel comprend un rail de suspension (11) à section en U, disposé horizontalement au sommet et dans lequel est monté le mécanisme (14) d'actionnement du store, ainsi que deux rails verticaux de guidage (20) pour les lattes (12) du store, ces rails de guidage étant fixés respectivement de chaque côté du châssis et formant un support pour le fond ou partie horizontale du rail de suspension, aux extrémités respectives de celui-ci, ce store étant caractérisé par le fait que chaque rail vertical de guidage (20), qui présente une section transversale en L et qui est destiné à être fixé par une aile au châssis ou dormant de la fenêtre (10), est fixé par cette aile (31) coudée jusqu'à l'horizontale pour constituer un support pour le rail de suspension, tandis que l'autre aile est coudée de façon à former une ouverture (30) destinée à recevoir une partie terminale (23) d'un des côtés du rail de suspension (11) à section en U, et que le rail de suspension (11) est encastré positivement par une extrémité dans l'un des rails de guidage (20), tandis que l'extrémité opposée est pourvue d'un coulisseau de verrouillage (26) à réglage manuel, monté contre le fond du rail de suspension (11) et que l'on peut déplacer manuellement entre une position de verrouillage au sommet du support de l'autre rail de guidage (20) et une position de déverrouillage dans laquelle le coulisseau est en retrait par rapport audit support.
     
    2. Store vénitien selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'il est prévu une pièce de guidage (33) dans le rail de suspension à section en U (11) pour recevoir un cordon de tirage (18) et une tringle flexible (43) reliée au mécanisme d'actionnement (14), lesquels traversant une ouverture (32) prévue à cet effet dans le côté du rail de suspension.
     
    3. Store vénitien selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que la pièce de guidage (33) se compose d'un corps en matière plastique à section transversale sensiblement en U, que l'on peut insérer de façon amovible dans le rail de suspension (11) de façon que le fond (34) de ce corps porte contre le fond du rail de suspension, ce corps présentant des cavités (38, 39) dans ses côtés pour le passage du cordon de tirage (18) et de la tringle flexible (43).
     
    4. Store vénitien selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que chacune des cavités précitées comporte une partie (38) pour recevoir la tringle flexible (43) à l'extrémité adjacente du rail de suspension (11) et une seconde partie (39), plus profonde que la première partie (38) et située vers l'intérieur par rapport à celle-ci, pour recevoir le cordon de tirage (18).
     
    5. Store vénitien selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que chacune des cavités (38, 39) est délimitée par des surfaces incurvées de glissement (40) destinées à faciliter le déplacement du cordon de tirage (18).
     
    6. Store vénitien selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que la pièce de guidage (33) présente sur l'extérieur d'au moins un côté (35) une partie saillante (36) qui se loge dans ladite ouverture (32) prévue dans le côté du rail de suspension.
     




    Drawing