BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention:
[0001] The present invention relates to a window blind apparatus for screening a window
or the like of a building by raising/lowering and tilting a plurality of slats disposed
in the window or the like.
Description of the Related Art:
[0002] In JP-A-2002-168068, for example, a window blind apparatus has been proposed in which
a plurality of slats are connected to each other by link mechanisms each comprising
a pair of foldable front edge link members which are rotatably connected at respective
one ends thereof to a front edge portion of the slat in a slit formed in each of opposite
end portions in the longitudinal direction of the mutually adjacent slats, and which
are rotatably connected to each other at other ends thereof; and a pair of foldable
rear edge link members which are rotatably connected at respective one ends thereof
to a rear edge portion of the slat in the slit of each of the mutually adjacent slats,
and which are rotatably connected to each other at other ends thereof The pair of
front edge link members and the pair of rear edge link members of such a window blind
apparatus are arranged to be folded such that the other ends of the pair of front
edge link members are located rearwardly of the one ends thereof, and the other ends
of the pair of rear edge link members are located forwardly of the one ends thereof.
The pair of front edge link members and the pair of rear edge link members thus constructed
are disposed by being juxtaposed to each other in the longitudinal direction of the
slat so as to avoid their mutual interference during folding.
[0003] With the above-described window blind apparatus, since folding is effected such that
the other ends of the pair of front edge link members are located rearwardly of the
one ends thereof, and the other ends of the pair of rear edge link members are located
forwardly of the one ends thereof, the pair of front edge link members and the pair
of rear edge link members are disposed by being juxtaposed to each other in the longitudinal
direction of the slat so as to avoid their mutual interference during folding. As
a result, it is difficult to narrow the installation width of the link mechanisms
in the longitudinal direction of the slat. It should be noted that if the installation
widths of vertical frames and the link mechanisms of such a window blind apparatus
can be narrowed, it is possible to secure the opening of the building widely, and
enlarge the area of shielding the light, wind, and the like by means of the slats.
In addition, the narrowing of the aforementioned installation width of such a window
blind apparatus is required when there is a demand for narrowing the distance between
the window blind apparatus and the window blind apparatus in connection with the column
width when the window blind apparatuses are juxtaposed for the respective windows
of a building arranged in the lateral direction.
[0004] The present invention has been devised in view of the above-described aspects, and
its object is to provide a window blind apparatus capable of narrowing the installation
width of the link mechanisms.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A window blind apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a plurality
of slats juxtaposed to each other; pairs of foldable link mechanisms connecting the
plurality of slats to each other; a pair of raising/lowering mechanisms for raising
or lowering the plurality of slats, wherein the link mechanism has a pair of foldable
front edge link members which are rotatably connected at respective one ends thereof
to front edge portions of the mutually adjacent slats, and which are rotatably connected
to each other at respective other ends thereof; a pair of foldable rear edge link
members which are disposed in juxtaposition to the pair of front edge link members
in a transverse direction, which are rotatably connected at respective one ends thereof
to rear edge portions of the mutually adjacent slats, and which are rotatably connected
to each other at respective other ends thereof; and specifying means for specifying
a direction of folding each of the pair of front edge link members and the pair of
rear edge link members, such that when the pair of front edge link members and the
pair of rear edge link members are folded, the respective other ends of the pair of
front edge link members and the pair of rear edge link members are located forwardly
of the respective one ends thereof, or the respective other ends of the pair of front
edge link members and the pair of rear edge link members are located rearwardly of
the respective one ends thereof, or the other ends of the pair of front edge link
members are located forwardly of the one ends thereof and the other ends of the pair
of rear edge link members are located rearwardly of the one ends thereof.
[0006] According to the present invention, specifying means is particularly provided for
specifying a direction of folding each of the pair of front edge link members and
the pair of rear edge link members, such that when the pair of front edge link members
and the pair of rear edge link members are folded, the respective other ends of the
pair of front edge link members and the pair of rear edge link members are located
forwardly of the respective one ends thereof, or the respective other ends of the
pair of front edge link members and the pair of rear edge link members are located
rearwardly of the respective one ends thereof, or the other ends of the pair of front
edge link members are located forwardly of the one ends thereof and the other ends
of the pair of rear edge link members are located rearwardly of the one ends thereof.
Accordingly, the pair of front edge link members and the pair of rear edge link members
can be disposed by being arranged in the transverse direction such that they do not
interfere with each other during folding. Thus, it is possible to narrow the installation
width of the link mechanisms in the longitudinal direction of the slat,
[0007] In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, one of a slit and an
elongated hole is formed at an end portion in a longitudinal direction of each of
the slats, and the respective one ends of the pair of front edge link members which
are folded such that the other ends thereof are located rearwardly of the one ends
thereof or the pair of rear edge link members which are folded such that the other
ends thereof are located forwardly of the one ends thereof are rotatably connected
to the respective end portion of the slat in one of the slit and the elongated hole.
[0008] In a preferred further embodiment according to the present invention, the specifying
means has hampering pieces which are respectively provided integrally at the respective
other ends of one of the front edge link members and one of the rear edge link members,
and which prevent the mutual rotation of the pair of front edge link members by not
less than a predetermined amount and the mutual rotation of the pair of rear edge
link members by not less than a predetermined amount by coming into contact with the
respective other ends of another one of the front edge link members and another one
of the rear edge link members, in order to specify the direction of folding each of
the pair of front edge link members and the pair of rear edge link members.
[0009] In a preferred still further embodiment according to the present invention, the window
blind apparatus further comprises: a pair of tilt mechanisms for tilting the plurality
of slats by causing the pairs of front edge link members and the pairs of rear edge
link members to undergo relative positional change.
[0010] In that embodiment, the tilt mechanism may includes a swingable member which is connected
at a front edge portion thereof to the front edge portion of an uppermost one of the
slats or the one end of an uppermost one of the front edge link members, and is connected
at a rear edge portion thereof to the rear edge portion of the uppermost one of the
slats or the one end of an uppermost one of the rear edge link members, so as to be
able to tilt the plurality of slats by swinging; and a clutch mechanism for transmitting
the operation of the raising/lowering mechanism to the swingable member so as to swing
the swingable member.
[0011] In a preferred still further embodiment according to the present invention, the raising/lowering
mechanism is adapted to raise the plurality of slats starting with the lowermost one
of the slats and lower the plurality of slats starting with the lowermost one of the
slats,
[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a window blind apparatus
capable of narrowing the installation width of the link mechanisms,
[0013] Hereafter, a more detailed description will be given of an embodiment of the present
invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the
present invention is not limited to the following preferred embodiment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014]
Fig. 1 is an explanatory perspective view of an embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 is an explanatory side cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig.
1;
Fig. 3 is a partially enlarged explanatory front elevational view of the embodiment
shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a partially enlarged explanatory perspective view of the embodiment shown
in Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is a partially enlarged explanatory plan cross-sectional view of the embodiment
shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram of mainly a clutch mechanism of the embodiment shown
in Fig. 1;
Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram of mainly the clutch mechanism of the embodiment
shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram of mainly the clutch mechanism of the embodiment
shown in Fig. 1; and
Fig. 9 is a diagram explaining the operation of the embodiment shown in Fig.
1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] In Figs. 1 to 9, a window blind apparatus 1 in accordance with this embodiment is
comprised of a plurality of slats 4 juxtaposed in a vertical direction Z between a
pair of vertical frames 2 and 3 which oppose each other in a lateral direction X;
pairs of foldable link mechanisms 5 connecting the plurality of slats 4 to each other;
a pair of raising/lowering mechanisms 6 for raising or lowering the plurality of slats
4 in the vertical direction Z; and a pair of tilt mechanisms 7 for tilting the plurality
of slats 4 by causing pairs of front edge link members 34 and 35 and pairs of rear
edge link members 44 and 45 of the respective link mechanisms 5 to undergo relative
positional change.
[0016] Since the link mechanism 5, the raising/lowering mechanism 6, and the tilt mechanism
7 on the vertical frame 2 side and the link mechanism, the raising/lowering mechanism,
and the tilt mechanism on the vertical frame 3 side are respectively constructed in
a substantially mutually similar manner, a detailed description will be given below
mainly of the link mechanism 5, the raising/lowering mechanism 6, and the tilt mechanism
7 on the vertical frame 2 side. The link mechanism, the raising/lowering mechanism,
and the tilt mechanism on the vertical frame 3 side are denoted by the same reference
numerals in the drawings, as required, and a detailed description thereof will be
omitted.
[0017] The vertical frame 2 and the vertical frame 3 are bridged by an upper frame 11 extending
in the lateral direction X. The vertical frames 2 and 3 and the upper frame 11 define
an opening 12 which is opened and closed by the plurality of slats 4. A slit 14 extending
in the vertical direction Z is formed in a side wall 13 on the slat 4 side of the
vertical frame 2.
[0018] As particularly shown in Figs. 4 and 5, each of the slats 4 has a slat body 21 having
a circular arc-shaped cross section, as well as a pair of connectors 23 which are
respectively provided at end portions 22 in the longitudinal direction (the same direction
as the lateral direction X in this embodiment) of the slat body 21, and each of which
connects the link mechanism 5 to the slat body 21 at the end portion 22. It should
be noted that the number of the slats 4 juxtaposed between the vertical frames 2 and
3 is set appropriately in correspondence with the size and the like of the window
or the like of the building where the window blind apparatus 1 is installed.
[0019] The connector 23 has a substantially circular arc-shaped main body 24; a slit 25
formed in the main body 24 in such a manner as to extend in a transverse direction
Y, such that the pair of front edge link members 34 and 35 or the pair of rear edge
link members 44 and 45, i.e., the pair of front edge link members 34 and 35 in this
embodiment, are disposed therein; and a shaft portion 26 which is inserted in the
slit 14 of the vertical frame 2 and is guided by the slit l4 in the vertical frame
Z. Instead of the slit 25, an elongated hole extending in the transverse direction
Y may be formed in the connector 23.
[0020] The link mechanism 5 has the pair of foldable front edge link members 34 and 35 which
are rotatably connected at respective one ends 32 to front edge portions 31 of the
slats 4 mutually adjacent in the vertical direction Z, and which are rotatably connected
to each other at their other ends 33; the pair of foldable rear edge link members
44 and 45 which are disposed in juxtaposition to the pair of front edge link members
34 and 35 in the transverse direction Y of the window blind apparatus 1, which are
rotatably connected at respective one ends 42 to rear edge portions 41 1 of the slats
4 mutually adjacent in the vertical direction Z, and which are rotatably connected
to each other at their other ends 43; and a specifying means 46 for specifying the
direction of folding each of the pair of front edge link members 34 and 35 and the
pair of rear edge link members 44 and 45, such that when the pair of front edge link
members 34 and 35 and the pair of rear edge link members 44 and 45 are folded, the
respective other ends 33 and 43 of the pair of front edge link members 34 and 35 and
the pair of rear edge link members 44 and 45 are located rearwardly of the respective
one ends 32 and 42.
[0021] The one end 32 of the upper front edge link member 34 between the pair of front edge
link members 34 and 35 is rotatably connected to the front edge portion 31 of the
upper slat 4 in the slit 25 through a pin 50, while the one end 32 of the lower front
edge link member 35 between the pair of front edge link members 34 and 35 is rotatably
connected to the front edge portion 31 of the lower slat 4 in the slit 25 through
the pin 50. The front edge link members 34 and 35 are in a chain form by being rotatably
connected at their respective one ends 32 in correspondence with the number of slats
4 adjacent to each other in the vertical direction Z in this embodiment. Such pairs
of front edge link members 34 and 35 constitute a train of front edge links. Each
of the front edge link members 34 and 35 is constituted by a link arm or the like,
[0022] As the mutual rotation of the pair of front edge link members 34 and 35 by not less
than a predetermined amount is prevented by a hampering piece 55, a bent angle θ of
less than 180° is maintained even in a case where the pair of front edge link members
34 and 35 are extended.
[0023] The one end 42 of the upper rear edge link member 44 between the pair of rear edge
link members 44 and 45 is rotatably connected to the rear edge portion 41 of the upper
slat 4 through the pin 50, while the one end 42 of the lower rear edge link member
45 between the pair of rear edge link members 44 and 45 is rotatably connected to
the rear edge portion 41 of the lower slat 4 through the pin 50. The pair of rear
edge link members 44 and 45 are in a chain form by being rotatably connected at their
respective one ends 42 in correspondence with the number of slats 4 adjacent to each
other in the vertical direction Z in this embodiment. Such pairs of rear edge link
members 44 and 45 constitute a train of rear edge links. Each of the rear edge link
members 44 and 45 is constituted by a link arm or the like.
[0024] As the mutual rotation of the pair of rear edge link members 44 and 45 by not less
than a predetermined amount is prevented by the hampering piece 55, the bent angle
θ of less than 180° equivalent to the bent angle of the pair of front edge link members
34 and 35 is maintained even in the case where the pair of rear edge link members
44 and 45 are extended.
[0025] The specifying means 46 has the hampering pieces 55 which are respectively provided
integrally at the other end 33 of the front edge link member 35 and the other end
43 of the rear edge link member 45, and which prevent the mutual rotation of the pair
of front edge link members 34 and 35 by not less than a predetermined amount and the
mutual rotation of the pair of rear edge link members 44 and 45 by not less than a
predetermined amount by coming into contact with the other end 33 of the front edge
link member 34 and the other end 43 of the rear edge link member 44, in order to specify
the direction of folding each of the pair of front edge link members 34 and 35 and
the pair of rear edge link members 44 and 45.
[0026] The raising/lowering mechanism 6 includes an ended chain 61 serving as a flexible
elongated body; a connecting member 62 connecting one end of the chain 61 suspended
on the front edge portion 31 side to the shaft portion 26 of a lowermost slat 4 among
the plurality of slats 4; and a traveling means 63 for causing the chain 61 to travel
in directions A and B.
[0027] The traveling means 63 includes a sprocket wheel 65 around which the chain 61 is
wound and which serves as a rotator supported rotatably in directions R1 and R2 by
the vertical frame 2; a rotating shaft 66 with a hexagonal cross section to which
the sprocket wheel 65 is secured, and which extends in the lateral direction X and
is rotatable in the directions R1 and R2; a reduction gear 67 whose output rotating
shaft is the rotating shaft 66 and which is supported by the vertical frame 2; and
an electric motor 68 whose output rotating shaft is an input rotating shaft of the
reduction gear 67 and which is mounted on the reduction gear 67. The traveling means
63 is arranged such that as the electric motor 68 is operated, the sprocket wheel
65 is rotated in the directions R1 and R2 by means of the reduction gear 67 and the
rotating shaft 66, and the chain 61 is caused to travel in the directions A and B
by this rotation.
[0028] The chain 61 is sandwiched between respective two pairs of guide protrusions 71 and
72 which are formed integrally with the vertical frame 2 inside the vertical frame
2 in such a manner as to extend in the vertical direction Z, and its unnecessary deflection
is prevented, so that the traveling of the chain 61 will be guided in the vertical
direction Z. Unnecessary deflection of the chain 61 is prevented by being held down
by a chain holder 70 which is disposed around the sprocket wheel 65 above the guide
protrusions 71 and 72 and is supported by the vertical frame 2.
[0029] The rotating shaft 66 extends in the lateral direction X from inside the vertical
frame 2 to inside the vertical frame 3, and is also secured to the sprocket wheel
inside the vertical frame 3 constructed in the same way as the sprocket wheel 65.
[0030] The above-described raising/lowering mechanism 6 is adapted to raise and lower the
lowermost slat 4 among the plurality of slats 4 by means of the connecting member
62 as the chain 61 is caused to travel by the traveling means 63, thereby allowing
the plurality of slats 4 to be raised and lowered starting with the lowermost slat
4.
[0031] The raising/lowering mechanism on the vertical frame 3 side shares the traveling
means 63 on the vertical frame 2 side with the raising/lowering mechanism 6 on the
vertical frame 2 side, since the sprocket wheel of the raising/lowering mechanism
on the vertical frame 3 side is secured to an end portion of the rotating shaft 66
inside the vertical frame 3.
[0032] The tilt mechanism 7 includes a swingable member 73 which is swingable in the directions
R1 and R2, and which is connected at its front edge portion 71 a to the front edge
portion 31 of the uppermost slat 4 or the one end 32 of the uppermost front edge link
member 34, and is connected at its rear edge portion 72a to the rear edge portion
41 of the uppermost slat 4 or the one end 42 of the uppermost rear edge link member
44, so as to be able to tilt the plurality of slats 4 in directions R5 and R6 by swinging
in the directions R1 and R2; and a clutch mechanism 75 for transmitting the operation
of the raising/lowering mechanism 6 to the swingable member 73 so as to swing the
swingable member 73 when the pairs of front edge link members 34 and 35 and the pairs
of rear edge link members 44 and 45 are extended by the raising/lowering mechanism
6.
[0033] The swingable member 73 includes a disk portion 82 which is provided on the rotating
shaft 66 rotatably in the directions R1 and R2 relative to the rotating shaft 66 by
means of a bearing 81; a projecting portion 83 provided integrally on the disk portion
82 and projecting forwardly from the disk portion 82; and a projecting portion 84
provided integrally on the disk portion 82 and projecting rearwardly from the disk
portion 82. The front edge portion 71a of the projecting portion 83 is connected to
the front edge portion 31 of the connector 23 of the uppermost slat 4 through a cord-like
body 86 constituted by a wire or the like, while the rear edge portion 72a of the
projecting portion 84 is connected to the rear edge portion 41 of the connector 23
of the uppermost slat 4 through the cord-like body 86.
[0034] The clutch mechanism 75 includes a projection 96 attached to the chain 61; a disk
member 95 in which a recess 97 for the projection 96 to fit therein in the traveling
of the chain 61 is formed, and which is fixed to the swingable member 73; a latch
member 98 which, when set to a rotation prohibiting state shown in Fig. 8, is engaged
with the disk member 95 to prohibit the swinging of the swingable member 73, while
when fitted in the recess 97 of the projection 96, is set in a rotation allowing state
shown in Fig. 7 by the projection 96, so as to cancel the engagement with the disk
member 95 to allow the swinging of the swingable member 73; and a resilient means
99 for resiliently urging the latch member 98 so as to set the latch member 98 in
the rotation prohibiting state.
[0035] The latch member 98 is attached at its one end 100 to the chain holder 70 rotatably
in directions R3 and R4 by means of a shaft 101. Thus, the latch member 98 is rotatably
attached to the vertical frame 2 by means of the chain holder 70. The latch member
98 has a pawl portion 102 at its other end. When the latch member 98 is set in the
rotation prohibiting state, the pawl portion 102 is disposed in the recess 97 of the
disk member 95, and a guide wedge space 103 is formed between the recess 97 and the
pawl portion 102. The resilient member 99 is constituted by a torsion coil spring,
and is disposed such that its one end is retained by the chain holder 70, its other
end is retained by the latch member 98, and its central portion is wound around the
shaft 101. The resilient means 99 resiliently urges the latch member 98 so as to rotate
it in the direction R4 about the shaft 101. The clutch mechanism 75 has a projection
104 formed on the disk member 95, and the latch member 98 has a recess 105 between
its one end 100 and the pawl portion 102. When the latch member 98 is set in the rotation
prohibiting state, the projection 104 is disposed in the recess 105, so that the projection
104 and the recess 105 are engaged with each other. Owing to the engagement between
the projection 104 and the recess 105, the disk member 95 is prohibited from rotating
in the directions R1 and R2 about the rotating shaft 66. Thus, the arrangement provided
is such that the swingable member 73, to which the disk member 95 is secured, is prohibited
from swinging in the directions R1 and R2 about the rotating axis 66.
[0036] Hereafter, a detailed description will be given of the operation of the window blind
apparatus 1 in accordance with this embodiment with reference to the drawings. As
shown in Fig. 2, in the state in which the link mechanisms 5 are extended, the plurality
of slats 4 are in a state of being tilted with a tilt angle of 60° or thereabouts
with respect to the transverse direction Y so as to close the opening of the building;
the swingable member 73 is also in a state of being swung by a fixed amount; the projection
96 provided on the chain 61 is disposed in the recess 97 and is in a state in which
the projection 104 and the recess 105 are disengaged, as shown in Fig. 6; and the
latch member 98 abuts against an outer edge portion 107 of the disk member 95, and
maintains the rotation allowing state for the disk member 95. When the electric motor
68 is operated in such a state, the sprocket wheel 65 rotates in the direction R1
by means of the reduction gear 67 and the rotating axis 66, and this rotation causes
the chain 61 to travel in the direction A. In conjunction with the traveling of the
chain 61 in the direction A, the projection 96 also moves in the direction R1 about
the rotating shaft 66. As a result of the movement of the projection 96, the disk
member 95 also rotates in the direction R1, and causes the swingable member 73 to
swing in the direction R1. As a result of the swinging of the swingable member 73,
the uppermost pair of front edge link members 34 and 35 and the lower pairs of front
edge link members 34 and 35 connected below that pair of front edge link members 34
and 35 are raised by means of the cord-like body 86 on the front edge portion 71 a
side which is pulled upward. At the same time, the uppermost pair of rear edge link
members 44 and 45 and the lower pairs of rear edge link members 44 and 45 connected
below that pair of rear edge link members 44 and 45 are lowered by means of the cord-like
body 86 on the rear edge portion 72a side which is pulled downward. Thus, the plurality
of slats 4 are synchronously tilted in the direction R5 so as to be set in a substantially
horizontal state, as shown in Fig. 1.
[0037] If the chain 61 is further caused to travel in the direction A, the projection 96
starts to be dislocated from the recess 97, and the projection 96 is disengaged from
the recess 97, thereby allowing the latch member 98 to rotate in the direction R4
about the shaft 101 and engaging the projection 104 and the recess 105, As shown in
Fig. 8, as the projection 104 and the recess 105 are engaged, the rotation of the
swingable member 73 is prevented. As the traveling of the chain 61 in the direction
A is continued, the link mechanisms 5 connected to the chain 61 at the lower portion
thereof start to be folded by the connecting member 62. As a result of this folding,
the plurality of slats 4 connected to the link mechanisms 5 are consecutively superposed
on top of each other starting with the lower ones. When all of the plurality of slats
4 are superposed, the operation of the electric motor 68 is stopped, and the open
state of the opening 12 as shown in Fig. 9 is maintained.
[0038] When the electric motor 68 is reversely operated in the open state as shown in Fig.
9, the chain 61 travels in the direction B. In consequence of this traveling, the
uppermost pair of front edge link members 34 and 35 and the uppermost pair of rear
edge link members 44 and 45 start to be consecutively extended, with the result that
the superposition of the plurality of slats 4 is consecutively canceled starting with
the upper slats 4. When all the link mechanisms 5 are extended, and the superposition
of all of the plurality of slats 4 is canceled, the projection 96 passes the guide
wedge space 103 and is fitted in the recess 97, as shown in Fig. 7. As a result of
this fitting in, the projection 96 rotates the latch member 98 in the direction R3
against the resiliency of the resilient means 99 to disengage the projection 104 from
the recess 105. As a result of this disengagement, the swingable member 73 is swung
in the direction R2 opposite to the direction R1 in conjunction with the movement
of the projection 96. As a result of this swinging, the pairs of rear edge link members
44 and 45 are raised through the cord-like body 86 on the rear edge portion 72a side
which is pulled upward. At the same time, the pairs of front edge link members 34
and 35 are lowered through the cord-like body 86 on the front edge portion 71a side
which is pulled downward. Thus, the plurality of slats 4 are rotated synchronously
in the direction R6 to obtain the closed state of the opening 12 as shown in Fig.
2. Subsequently, the operation of the electric motor 68 is stopped, and the closed
state of the opening 12 is maintained.
[0039] According to the above-described window blind apparatus 1, there are provided the
plurality of slats 4 juxtaposed to each other; the pairs of foldable link mechanisms
5 connecting the plurality of slats 4 to each other: and the pair of raising/lowering
mechanisms 6 for raising or lowering the plurality of slats 4. The link mechanism
5 has the pair of foldable front edge link members 34 and 35 which are rotatably connected
at the respective one ends 32 to the front edge portions 31 of the mutually adjacent
slats 4, and which are rotatably connected to each other at their other ends 33; the
pair of foldable rear edge link members 44 and 45 which are disposed in juxtaposition
to the pair of front edge link members 34 and 35 in the transverse direction Y, which
are rotatably connected at the respective one ends 42 to the rear edge portions 41
of the mutually adjacent slats 4, and which are rotatably connected to each other
at their other ends 43; and the specifying means 46 for specifying the direction of
folding each of the pair of front edge link members 34 and 35 and the pair of rear
edge link members 44 and 45, such that when the pair of front edge link members 34
and 35 and the pair of rear edge link members 44 and 45 are folded, the respective
other ends 33 and 43 of the pair of front edge link members 34 and 35 and the pair
of rear edge link members 44 and 45 are located rearwardly of the respective one ends
32 and 42. Accordingly, the pair of front edge link members 34 and 35 and the pair
of rear edge link members 44 and 45 can be disposed by being arranged in the transverse
direction Y such that they do not interfere with each other during folding. Thus,
it is possible to narrow the installation width of the link mechanisms 5 in the longitudinal
direction of the slat 4.
[0040] The window blind apparatus 1 may have, instead of the specifying means 46, a specifying
means for specifying the direction of folding each of the pair of front edge link
members 34 and 35 and the pair of rear edge link members 44 and 45, such that when
the pair of front edge link members 34 and 35 and the pair of rear edge link members
44 and 45 are folded, the respective other ends 33 and 43 of the pair of front edge
link members 34 and 35 and the pair of rear edge link members 44 and 45 are located
forwardly of the respective one ends 32 and 42, or the other ends 33 of the pair of
front edge link members 34 and 35 are located forwardly of their one ends 32, and
the other ends 43 of the pair of front edge link members 44 and 45 are located rearwardly
of their one ends 42. In the case where the window blind apparatus 1 has the specifying
means for specifying the direction of folding each of the pair of front edge link
members 34 and 35 and the pair of rear edge link members 44 and 45, such that when
the pair of front edge link members 34 and 35 and the pair of rear edge link members
44 and 45 are folded, the respective other ends 33 and 43 of the pair of front edge
link members 34 and 35 and the pair of rear edge link members 44 and 45 are located
forwardly of the respective one ends 32 and 42, the window blind apparatus I may have,
instead of the connectors 23, connectors in each of which a slit or an elongated hole
extending in the transverse direction Y is formed and where the pair of rear edge
link members 44 and 45 is disposed. Alternatively, in the case where the window blind
apparatus 1 has the specifying means for specifying the direction of folding each
of the pair of front edge link members 34 and 35 and the pair of rear edge link members
44 and 45, such that when the pair of front edge link members 34 and 35 and the pair
of rear edge link members 44 and 45 are folded, the other ends 33 of the pair of front
edge link members 34 and 35 are located forwardly of their one ends 32, and the other
ends 43 of the pair of front edge link members 44 and 45 are located rearwardly of
their one ends 42, the window blind apparatus 1 may have, instead of the connectors
23, connectors in which the configurations of the slits or elongated holes are omitted.
1. A window blind apparatus comprising:
a plurality of slats juxtaposed to each other;
pairs of foldable link mechanisms connecting the plurality of slats to each other;
a pair of raising/lowering mechanisms for raising or lowering the plurality of slats,
wherein said link mechanism has a pair of foldable front edge link members which are
rotatably connected at respective one ends thereof to front edge portions of the mutually
adjacent slats, and which are rotatably connected to each other at respective other
ends thereof; a pair of foldable rear edge link members which are disposed in juxtaposition
to said pair of front edge link members in a transverse direction, which are rotatably
connected at respective one ends thereof to rear edge portions of the mutually adjacent
slats, and which are rotatably connected to each other at respective other ends thereof;
and specifying means for specifying a direction of folding each of said pair of front
edge link members and said pair of rear edge link members, such that when said pair
of front edge link members and said pair of rear edge link members are folded, the
respective other ends of said pair of front edge link members and said pair of rear
edge link members are located forwardly of the respective one ends thereof, or the
respective other ends of said pair of front edge link members and said pair of rear
edge link members are located rearwardly of the respective one ends thereof, or the
other ends of said pair of front edge link members are located forwardly of the one
ends thereof and the other ends of said pair of rear edge link members are located
rearwardly of the one ends thereof.
2. The window blind apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of a slit and an elongated
hole is formed at an end portion in a longitudinal direction of each of the slats,
and the respective one ends of the pair of front edge link members which are folded
such that the other ends thereof are located rearwardly of the one ends thereof or
the pair of rear edge link members which are folded such that the other ends thereof
are located forwardly of the one ends thereof are rotatably connected to the respective
end portion of the slat in one of the slit and the elongated hole.
3. The window blind apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said specifying means
has hampering pieces which are respectively provided integrally at the respective
other ends of one of said front edge link members and one of said rear edge link members,
and which prevent the mutual rotation of said pair of front edge link members by not
less than a predetermined amount and the mutual rotation of said pair of rear edge
link members by not less than a predetermined amount by coming into contact with the
respective other ends of another one of said front edge link members and another one
of said rear edge link members, in order to specify the direction of folding each
of said pair of front edge link members and said pair of rear edge link members.
4. The window blind apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:
a pair of tilt mechanisms for tilting the plurality of slats by causing said pairs
of front edge link members and said pairs of rear edge link members to undergo relative
positional change.
5. The window blind apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said tilt mechanism includes
a swingable member which is connected at a front edge portion thereof to the front
edge portion of an uppermost one of the slats or the one end of an uppermost one of
said front edge link members, and is connected at a rear edge portion thereof to the
rear edge portion of the uppermost one of the slats or the one end of an uppermost
one of said rear edge link members, so as to be able to tilt the plurality of slats
by swinging; and a clutch mechanism for transmitting the operation of said raising/lowering
mechanism to said swingable member so as to swing said swingable member.
6. The window blind apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said raising/lowering
mechanism is adapted to raise the plurality of slats starting with the lowermost one
of the slats and lower the plurality of slats starting with the lowermost one of the
slats.