Multi-functional roller blind

Abstract

 A multi functional roller blind for an architectural opening such as a window. The blind has at least two parallel first and second roller blind units (3, 5) provided with first and second shade members (9, 13) respectively and a parallel profile (7). The first roller blind unit is between the profile and the second roller blind unit. The first shade member (9) is attached by a free end (9B) to the profile (7) and the second shade member (13) is attached by a free end (13B) to the first roller blind unit but not retractable into that first unit. Movement of the first or second units respectively extends or retracts the first and/or second shade member. First and second tension cord arrangements (17, 19, 21, 23) are routed through the respective first and second roller blind units, such that each tension cord arrangement prevents the unit through which it is routed from moving on its own accord.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a multi functional roller blind for an architectural opening, such as a window, the blind having multiple shade members with distinct characteristics.

[0002] Various multi functional coverings for architectural openings have been proposed in the past, for example having two shade members one of the shades which will be translucent and the other being able to block light. Or one of the shades provides significant thermal insulation while other is translucent. One of the shades may even be an insect screen. Some of such window coverings are known as so-called night&day shades. The purpose of this type of window covering being that the user can select and operate one of the shade members upon his needs to cover his window.

[0003] Different types of multi-functional roller blinds have also been proposed in the art. Such as a multi functional roller blind having a single sheet of fabric having sections with different characteristics which sheet can be spooled between a pair of rollers. By spooling the one sheet different sections can be selected. This is e.g. disclosed by DE102007028286. This type of roller blind has as drawback that it is not possible to select and operate the sheet to be used.

[0004] Another multi-functional roller blind is disclosed in US 7093643 and this one uses pair of roller blinds one in front of the other. Each of these blinds can be used independent from the other. Although this multi functional roller blind makes it possible to select and use the sheet to be used, it needs double the space to install as for a single roller blind. Such space is often not available.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the invention to propose a multi-functional roller blind covering for an architectural opening combining the advantages of both needing little space for mounting and of the possibility of selecting and using each shade member.

[0006] These and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a multi functional roller blind for an architectural opening such as a window having at least two parallel first and second roller blind units provided with first and second shade members respectively and a parallel profile,
the first roller blind unit is between the profile and the second roller blind unit, and the first shade member is attached by a free end to the profile and the second shade member is attached by a free end to the first roller blind unit but not retractable into that first unit, and movement of the first or second units respectively extends or retracts the first and/or second shade member,
and first and second tension cord arrangements are routed through the respective first and second roller blind units such that each tension cord arrangement prevents the unit through which it is routed from moving on its own accord.

[0007] Thus this blind can be mounted in the same space as would be available for a single roller, and at the same time each unit can be selected and operated.

[0008] According to a further aspect of the invention the first roller blind unit includes a first spring driven roller in a first housing and the first shade member is attached by the first end to the first roller and the first shade member can be wound and unwound from the first roller into and out of the first housing upon movement of the first housing,
and the second roller blind unit includes a second spring driven roller in a second housing, a second shade member attached by a first end to the second roller and by a second end to the first housing and the second sheet can be wound and unwound from the second roller into and out of the second housing upon movement of the first or second housing.

[0009] Advantageously, a pair of parallel side guides is provided extending perpendicular to the rollers and being capable of guiding the movement of each roller blind unit.

[0010] Advantageously, each of the first and second shade members is sized so that when extended by itself it covers the architectural opening.

[0011] According to another aspect of the invention, the first cord guiding arrangement of the multi functional roller blind unit includes a pair of left and right guide cords which are routed through the first roller blind unit according to an H-type cord routing scheme, and advantageously the second cord guiding arrangement also includes a pair of left and right guide cords which are routed through the second roller blind unit also according to an H-type cord routing scheme.

[0012] According to another advantageous aspect of the blind the first and/or second roller blind units include at least one cord channel through which the tension cords can be routed.

[0013] According to another aspect the cord channel is part the first or second housing of the respective roller blind unit.
Advantageously, the cord channel is formed by a U-shape profiled housing flange which flange is closed by a flange covers shaping the channel.

[0014] According to another aspect of the invention the first and/or second housing is provided with a pair of left and right housing ends, the housing ends having an entrance to the cord channel.

[0015] Another aspect of the invention is that the first shade member has different shade characteristics from the second shade member

[0016] The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a frontal view of a first embodiment of the multi-functional roller blind according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective exploded view of one of the roller blind units of the multi-functional roller blind according to the invention;

Figure 3A-D are frontal views of the multi functional roller blind according to the invention showing different positions of the roller blind units;

[0017] One embodiment of the multi functional roller blind 1 according to the invention, as shown in Figure 1, comprises a pair of substantially parallel first and second roller blind units 3, 5 and profile 7 parallel to the roller blind units. First roller blind unit 3 is movably arranged between profile 7 and second roller blind unit 5, and includes first blind sheet or shade member 9 fixed on a first spring driven roller 11 with one end 9A (not shown) and an opposite end 9B fixed to profile 7.

[0018] Second roller blind unit 5 is movably arranged beneath the first roller blind unit and includes second blind sheet 13 fixed on second spring driven roller 15 by one end 13A and to unit 3 by an opposite end 13B.

[0019] Also shown in Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a cord guiding arrangement for the multi-functional roller blind, this arrangement includes a first pair of left and right tension cords 17, 19 for first roller blind unit 3 and a second pair of left and right tension cords 21, 23 for second roller unit 5. Each pair of tension cords is routed in a conventional H-type routing. Tension or compression springs (not shown) are present in the cord arrangements to keep the cords tensioned. The ends of the respective cords will be fixed to the window frame directly or to intermediary stationary profiles upon mounting of the blind assembly 1.

[0020] In use either first blind unit 3 or second blind unit 5 can be manipulated by pulling it downward or moving it up. By such movements the unit will slide along the tension cords while at the same time deploying or winding up its sheet depending on the chosen movement. Additionally left and right side guide profiles can be used to guide the roller blind units 3, 5.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2 the first roller blind unit 3 includes a roller 11, a housing 27, a spring bias arrangement 29 with a torsion spring 31, and a pair of left and right housing ends 27a, 27b, and a pair of left and right covers 33a, 33b.

[0022] The roller 11 is rotatably mounted within the housing 27 and has secured to it the first end 9A of the first covering sheet 9 (not shown). The torsion spring 31 is provided to bias the roller 25 in a direction to roll the covering sheet 9 onto the roller 25 and into the housing 27.

[0023] The second roller blind unit 5 has the same parts assembled in the same way and includes a roller 15, a housing 37, a spring bias arrangement 39 with torsion spring 41, a pair of left and right housing ends 43a, 43b and a pair of left and right covers 45a, 45b.

[0024] The torsion springs 31, 41 are chosen so as not to be strong enough to, by winding the fabric about the roller 11, 15, move the associated housing 27, 37 against the force of the tension cords 17, 19, 21, 23 holding the housing in position with respect to the cords.

[0025] Each housing 27, 37, includes a pair of top and bottom cord channels 47, 49. The cord channels are built up by a pair of top and bottom U-shaped profiled flanges 51, 53 closed by flange covers 55, 57. Each of the left and right housing ends 27a, 27b, 43a, 43b is provided with left and right pairs of top and bottom plug tubes 59a, 59b, 61 a, 61 b which fit snugly into the cord channels and define the entrance openings for the tension cords.

[0026] In the installed multi functional roller blind of each roller blind unit preferably only the cord channels facing the adjacent roller blind unit will be used.

[0027] In the arrangement of Figure 1, this means that from the first roller blind unit 3 the bottom cord channel 49 is in use for left and right cords 17, 19 and from the second unit the top cord channel 47 is in use for left and right tension cords 21, 23. The cord routing is as follows. The left tension cord 17 is attached by a first end to a top window frame or the fixed profile 7, the cord is then routed down towards the first roller bind unit 3, enters by left bottom plug tube 59b into bottom channel 49 and exits at the other end by right bottom plug tube 61 b, the cord 17 continues down and will be attached to a lower right corner or portion of a window frame. The left tension cord 21 for the second roller blind unit 5 is routed similarly but enters the lower roller blind unit 5 by the top left plug tube 59a and the top cord channel 47 and exits at the other end by right top plug tube 61 a.

[0028] The right tension cords 19, 23 are routed in mirror image and use the same cord channels as their left siblings 17, 21.

[0029] Figures 3A-3D shows the multi functional roller blind mounted in an architectural opening, having a top side 63, a bottom side 65, a left side 67 and a right side 69. The cord tensioning arrangements 17, 19, 21, 23 for the units 3, 5 have not been drawn into these figures, but are off course present in the installed product.

[0030] Figure 3A illustrates that in the closed position both first and second roller blind units 3, 5 are adjacent the top side 63 of the architectural opening. The profile 7 is fixed to the top side 63 of the architectural opening.

[0031] Upon manipulation of top unit 3 and moving it downward to the opposite side of the architectural opening, the lower side 65, the first covering sheet 9 is unwound from the roller and pulled to cover the entire architectural opening. The result of this action is shown in Figure 3B.

[0032] Alternatively, starting from the position of Figure 3A when both blind units are adjacent the top side 63, by manipulating and moving downwardly the lower unit 5, the second covering sheet 13 is unwound form the roller and pulled to cover the entire architectural opening. The result of this action is shown in Figure 3C.

[0033] Alternatively both units 3, 5 can be pulled down to different positions, such that both the first and second covering sheets 9, 13 are partially extended. One of such possible situations is shown in Figure 3D.

[0034] This invention is, of course, not limited to the exact details of the above-described embodiments which may be modified without departing from the scope of the claims or sacrificing all of its advantages. In this regard, the terms in the foregoing description and the following claims, such as "right", "left", "front", "rear", "above", "beneath", "vertically", "horizontally", "longitudinally", "upper", "lower", "top" and "bottom", have been used only as relative terms to describe the relationships of the various elements of the movable blind units, tension cord arrangements, profile, housing, cord channels, housing ends and the like of the blinds as described and shown in the figures.
Also variations in arrangement of the roller blind units are possible. For example instead of mounting the profile to a top side of an architectural opening, the blind can be turned over and the profile can be mounted on the bottom side of an architectural opening.
More than two roller blind units can be used. Springs for tensioning the guide cords can be tension springs or compression springs, and can be adjacent the stationary structural sides of the architectural opening, or incorporated into the movable roller blind units. Such choice of springs depends on the type of cord routing that will be used.

Claims

1. A multi functional roller blind for an architectural opening such as a window the blind having at least two parallel first and second roller blind units (3, 5) provided with first and second shade members (9, 13) respectively and a parallel profile (7),
wherein the first roller blind unit being between the profile and the second roller blind unit,
and the first shade member (9) being attached by a free end (9B) to the profile (7) and the second shade member (13) being attached by a free end (13B) to the first roller blind unit but not retractable into that first unit,
such that movement of the first or second units respectively extends or retracts the first and/or second shade member,
and wherein first and second tension cord arrangements (17, 19, 21, 23) are routed through the respective first and second roller blind units, such that each tension cord arrangement prevents the unit through which it is routed from moving on its own accord.

2. The multi functional roller blind of claim 1 wherein

- the first roller blind unit (3) includes a first spring driven roller (11) in a first housing (27) and the first shade member (9) being attached by the first end (9A) to the first roller (11) and the first shade member capable of being wound and unwound from the first roller into and out of the first housing upon movement of the first housing,

- the second roller blind unit (5) includes a second spring driven roller (15) in a second housing (37), a second shade member (13) attached by a first end (13A) the second roller (15) and by a second end (13B) to the first housing (27), and the second sheet being capable of being wound and unwound from the second roller into and out of the second housing upon movement of the first or second housing.

3. The multi functional roller blind of claims 1 or 2 wherein a pair of parallel side guides is provided extending perpendicular to the rollers and being capable of guiding the movement of each roller blind unit.

4. The multi functional roller blind unit of claims 1-3 wherein each of the first and second shade members (9, 13) is sized so that it when extended by itself it covers the architectural opening.

5. The multi functional roller blind unit of claims 1-4 wherein the first cord guiding arrangement includes a pair of left and right guide cords (17,19) which are routed through the first roller blind unit according to an H-type cord routing scheme.

6. The multi functional roller blind unit of claims 1-4 wherein the second cord guiding arrangement includes a pair of left and right guide cords (21, 23) which are routed through the second roller blind unit according to an H-type cord routing scheme.

7. The multi functional roller blind of claims 1-6 wherein the first and/or second roller blind units include at least one cord channel (47, 49) through which the tension cords can be routed.

8. The multi functional roller blind of claim 7 wherein
the cord channel is part the first or second housing of the respective roller blind unit.

9. The multi functional roller blind of claim 8 wherein
the cord channel is formed by a U-shape profiled housing flange (51, 53) which flange is closed by a flange covers (55, 57) shaping the channel.

10. The multi functional roller blind of claim 7-9 wherein the first and/or second housing includes is provided with a pair of left and right housing ends (27a, 27b, 43a, 43b) having an entrance to the cord channel.

11. The multi functional roller blind of any of the preceding claims wherein the first shade member (9) has different shade characteristics from the second shade member (13).

Drawing