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(11) | EP 2 733 301 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Improvements relating to retractable blinds |
| (57) A blind assembly comprises a rectangular frame (30), a pair of self retracting blinds
(10,20) mounted at opposite ends of the frame, a pair of slide members (11,21) supported
in slideways (35,36) extending along either side of the frame to which the respective
blinds are connected to enable one or other or both blinds to be deployed along the
frame, means being provided to couple the slide members together for tandem movement
of the blinds to enable the extent to which the respective blinds are deployed to
be varied and each blind having means to lock the blind fully stowed and thereby to
hold the other blind fully deployed along the frame. In a preferred arrangement, each
slide member is supported in the slideways for tilting movement in addition to linear
movement along the slideways, said tilting movement caused by manual engagement of
the slide member being arranged to release said locking means.
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[0001] This invention relates to retractable blinds, and in particular although not exclusively to blinds comprising a frame supporting a pair of opposing retractable blinds.
[0002] In the marine industry it is known to fit a rectangular blind frame below or behind an opening glazed hatch in a deck or cabin of a vessel, the frame supporting a pair of retractable roller blinds located at opposite ends of the frame. One blind is usually a light-excluding blind and the other a fly or mosquito resistant blind the latter being deployed particularly when the hatch is open. A free or leading edge of each blind is supported on a slide member or cross bar which is guided in common slideways along the sides of the frame so that each blind can be drawn along the frame from one end of the frame towards the opposite end. The slide members (or cross bars) may embody magnetic, or other holding devices, to impart a finite holding force between the opposing slide members so that the blinds can be operated in tandem or, with the slide members separated, independently.
[0003] It is desirable therefore that the action of releasing the slide member from its stowed position can be achieved without the need for separately operating a catch.
[0004] Optionally it may be desired to connect the two opposing slide members, via magnets or equivalent devices, and release the catch to allow the stowed blind to deploy simultaneously as the opposing blind stows. This allows part of a hatch (or other aperture) to be covered by one of the blinds and the other part of the hatch to be covered by the other blind. It is highly desirable that the action of securing or releasing a crossbar to or from its blind housing can be achieved in an intuitive manner by a person not previously acquainted with the blind frame.
[0005] The invention also provides a blind assembly comprising a rectangular frame, a pair of self retracting blinds mounted at opposite ends of the frame, a pair of slide members supported in slideways extending along either side of the frame to which the respective blinds are connected to enable one or other or both blinds to be deployed along the frame, means being provided to couple the slide members together, for tandem movement of the blinds to enable the extent to which the respective blinds are deployed to be varied and each blind having means to lock the blind fully stowed and thereby to hold the other blind fully deployed along the frame.
[0006] The arrangement enables the locking means to be released by the user intuitively in operating the blind without the need for a separate operation.
[0007] Preferably the self retracting blinds are roller blinds. More particularly the self retracting roller blinds are spring driven blinds.
[0008] It is also preferred that each slide member is supported in the slideways for tilting movement in addition to linear movement along the slideways said tilting movement caused by manual engagement of the slide member being arranged to release said locking means.
[0009] More specifically the slide members have fulcrum which engage the slideways and provide said tilting movement to release the locking means.
[0010] In the latter arrangement each slide member may be formed with a fulcrum which is engageable with a respective slide way to allow the slide member to tilt about an axis extending longitudinally of the slide member to engage and disengage said locking means to hold the slide member in the blind stowed position, operator pressure on the slide member to deploy the blind causing the slide member in the stowed condition to tilt and release the locking means to allow the blind to be deployed.
[0011] In any of the above arrangements the means to lock each of the blinds fully stowed may comprise means at the ends of the slideways adjacent a respective blind to hold the slide members against movement in a deployment direction.
[0012] For example the means at the ends of the slideways may comprise abutments facing outwardly of the frame with which the slide members are engageable to prevent movement in directions to deploy the respective blinds.
[0013] Further the slideways may have ramps at their respective ends which ramps end in said outwardly facing abutments and the slide members may have hook shaped projections which engage over the abutments in the stowed position of the slide members to resist deployment of the respective blinds, tilting of the slide members releasing the projections from the abutments to allow other deployment of the blinds.
[0014] Preferably the slideways extending along either side of the frame are common to the slide members of the two blinds so that one or other or both blinds can be deployed but not in overlapping relationship.
[0015] Also in any of the above arrangements the means to couple the slide members comprise magnetic means in one or both slide members providing finite attraction force between the slide members to hold the slide members together up to the limit of that force and to allow the members to be unlinked by overcoming the force.
[0016] According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is. provided a roller blind having, a tension roller upon which material is wound, a crossbar to support the front end of each blind, and 'a pair of tracks to guide the crossbar, towards and away from the tension roller, said roller blind comprising:
- a) a first engaging member at one end of each track adjacent the tension roller, and
- b) a second engaging member at each end of the crossbar to releasably engage with the first engaging member, in use the first and second engaging members engage when the cross bar slides along the track and is adjacent the tension roller
[0017] Preferably a guide member is provided at each end of the crossbar to guide the ends of the cross slide member along the track, each guide member including the second engaging member to releasably engage with the first engaging member.
[0018] Preferably the first and second engaging members are biased to engage when the crossbar slides along the track and is adjacent the tension roller, and means are provided to act against said bias to disengage the first and second engaging members when the crossbar is to be drawn away from the tension roller.
[0019] Preferably the first engaging member is a hook recess at one end of the track, and the second engaging member is a hook to engage with the hook recess.
[0020] Preferably each guide pivots about a pivot point whereby the hook can be pivoted from a first position with the hook in the hook recess to a second position with the hook removed from the hook recess. Preferably the hook is biased towards the first position by the blind tension.
[0021] It is further preferred that the crossbar includes a finger hold to slide the crossbar away from the tension roller using fingers in the slot and to pivot each guide to the second position.
[0022] In any of the above arrangements each roller blind is one of a pair of roller blinds each with tension rollers spaced apart and each adjacent the ends of a pair of tracks.
[0023] The following is a description of some specific embodiments of blind assemblies in accordance with the invention with reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a pair of roller blinds;
Figure 2 is a part sectional view on Figure 1 showing the guides in a first position;
Figure 3 is a part sectional view of Figure 1 showing the guides in a second position;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a blind assembly in accordance with the invention;
Figure 5 is a plan view of the blind assembly of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view through the blind assembly along the line 6-6 on Figure 5 showing the slide members for the blinds at one end of the frame.
Figure 7 is a similar cross-sectional view through the blind assembly to Figure 6 with the slide members in the blinds moved slightly away from one end of the frame; and
Figures 8 to 16 are cross-sectional views of the blind assembly showing the blinds in different operational positions.
[0024] Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a pair spring powered self retracting of roller blinds 10, 20 mounted in a rectangular frame 30 which can be fitted to the underside of the deck of a yacht around an opening for a deck hatch. The frame can be surface mounted under the deck or recessed into the deck around the opening. Roller blind 10 has a light block screen 10A and roller blind 20 has a mosquito net screen 20A (although any other variations of screens are possible as is known in the art).
[0025] Frame 30 has two opposing blind housing members 31,32 for the blinds 10,20, and a pair of frame spacer members 33,34 in which are a pair of tracks 35,36
[0026] The front end of each blind is supported on a crossbar 11, 21 which is guided by the tracks 35, 36 so that each blind can be drawn across the frame from one blind housing member to another. One blind is a light excluding blind and the other a mosquito net blind. Crossbars 11, 21 have indented channels 12, 22 acting as finger holds to allow fingers of a user to slide the crossbars in the tracks to operate the blinds. Crossbars 11, 21 have magnetic strips 13, 23 to connect the crossbars together whereby the deployment of one blind across the frame off its roller also stows the other blind on to its roller. This allows part of the frame to be covered by one blind and the other part of the frame to be covered by the other blind. At either end of crossbars 11, 21 are guides 40.
[0027] Referring to Figures 2 and 3 there is shown a view of track 35 (track 36 is identical). At the ends of track 35 is a first engaging member in the form of a hook recess MA adjacent the tension roller of roller blind 10 and a hook recess 35B adjacent tension roller of roller blind 20.
[0028] Guide members 40 at each end of the crossbars 11, 21 guide the ends of the crossbar along the track 35 (and 36). Each guide member includes a second engaging member to releasably engage with the first engaging member. The second engaging member is in the form of a hook 41 adapted to engage with a hook recess 35A or 35B
[0029] Referring firstly to Figures 4 to 7, there is shown a rectangular frame 30 to be fitted under an opening glazed deck hatch of a yacht with a pair of roller blinds 10, 20 mounted at opposite ends of the frame 30. Roller blind 10 is in the form of an opaque screen 10A to block out light and roller blind 20 in the form of a mosquito net screen 20A to block flies/mosquitos. Other variations of screens are possible as is known in the art.
[0030] Each roller blind has a conventional spring powered retraction mechanism to roll the blind up. The ends of the frame 30 are formed with housings 31, 32 for the blinds 10, 20, and side members 33, 34 of the frame have internal slideways 35, 36 extending along the length thereof for guiding extension and retraction of the blind.
[0031] The front end of each blind is supported on a transverse slide member 11, 21 which extends across the frame and the slide members have slides 40 mounted at each end which run in the slideways 35, 36 so that each blind can be drawn along the length of the frame from its housing to the opposite end of the frame. The slide members 11, 21, have open channels running along the undersides of the members to provide finger holds for a user to slide the crossbars in the slideways to open and close the blinds. The slide members 11, 21 embody elongate magnet strips 13, 23 to hold the members together to move in tandem drawing one blind from its roller across the frame allowing the other blind to be stowed on to its roller. Thus one blind can be deployed and the other retracted and vice versa or both blinds can be partially deployed and the retraction forces of the respective rollers will hold both the blinds in equilibrium partially deployed in the frame.
[0032] Referring now to Figure 6 and 7, there are shown cross-sectional views of the frame through a side 34 and slideway 35. Each slide way comprises upper and lower parallel wall 35a, 35b which extend the length of the respective sides of the frame. The upper wall 35a has downwardly inclined ramps 35c which terminate in end stops 35d adjacent the ends of the rollers.
[0033] The slides 40 at each end of the slide members 11, 21 guide the ends of the member along the slideways 35, 36 and each slide 40 includes an integral hook 41 to engage over the end stops 35d to hold the respective blind stowed.
[0034] Each slide 40 can pivot on fulcrum 42 formed integrally with the slide and which runs along an upper wall 35a, 36a of a respective slideways 35, 36 whereby the hooks can be pivoted from a first position with the hooks 41 engaged over end stop 35d or 36d to a second position with the hooks 41 are released from the end stops. The hooks are biased towards the first position by the tension of the blind screens 10A, 20A which are secured to the top faces of the slides 40 and so rock the slides about the fulcrum 42 whereby the hooks are biased towards engagement with the end stops 35d, 36d. Moreover gravity has a small effect on operation. The position of 'slide members' relative to the slide means that there is a tendency for the slide members to be pulled against the bottom 35b of the slideways due to their weight. This has a beneficial effect on the operation.
[0035] When the user's fingers are placed in channels 12, 22, in the slide members to operate the roller blinds, the slides 40 are automatically caused to rock about the fulcrum points 42 to release the hooks from the end stops, and in the same action, moving the slide member away from its tension roller. This provides means to act against the bias to disengage the first and second engaging members when the slide member is to be drawn away from the tension roller. This action can be achieved whether or not the opposing blind is deployed and engaged with it (via the magnetic strips). The slide members are so designed that the force imparted on them by the opposing blind, via the crossbar, also act to bias the hooks to engage the respective end stops.
[0036] In use the hooks 41 engage over the end stops 35a, 36a when the slide member slides along the track to be located adjacent its tension roller.
[0037] Reference is now made to Figures 8 to 16, which show the blind assembly in different modes of operation. In Figure 8 the slide members are separated and both blinds are fully stowed leaving the frame open.
[0038] In Figure 9, the right hand blind remains stowed and the slide member for the left hand blind has been released and is in the course of being drawn across the frame thereby deploying the blind attached to it.
[0039] In Figure 10 the left hand blind has been fully deployed and the slide members are engaged together. In Figure 12 the left hand blind is in the course of being returned to the stowed position and in Figure 13 the left hand blind has been returned to the fully stowed position. In Figure 14 one blind is fully deployed and one blind is fully stowed and the slide members have been manually depressed to tilt the members on their respective fulcrum to disengage the hook of the right hand slide member to allow the blinds to be moved in tandem with the slide members engaged together to partially close the left hand blind and partially open the right hand blind as seen in Figure 15.
1. A blind assembly comprising a rectangular frame, a pair of self retracting blinds
mounted at opposite ends of the frame, a pair of slide members supported in slideways
extending along either side of the frame to which the respective blinds are connected
to enable one or other or both blinds to be deployed along the frame, means being
provided to couple the slide members together for tandem movement of the blinds to
enable the extent to which the respective blinds are deployed to be varied and each
blind having means to lock the blind fully stowed and thereby to hold the other blind
fully deployed along the frame.
2. A blind assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blinds are roller blinds.
3. A blind assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the blinds are spring powered blinds
4. A blind assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein each slide member is
supported in the slideways for tilting movement in addition to linear movement along
the slideways said tilting movement caused by manual engagement of the slide member
being arranged to release said locking means.
5. A blind assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the slide members have fulcrum which
engage the slideways to provide said tilting movement to release the locking means.
6. A blind assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein each slide member is formed with a
fulcrum which is engageable with a respective slide way to allow the slide member
to tilt about an axis extending longitudinally of the slide member to engage and disengage
said locking means to hold the slide member in the blind stowed position, operator
pressure on the slide member to deploy the blind causing the slide member in the stowed
condition to tilt and release the locking means to allow the blind to be deployed.
7. A blind assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the means to lock each
of the blinds fully stowed comprise means at the ends of the slideways adjacent a
respective blind to hold the slide members against movement in a deployment direction.
8. A blind assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the means at the ends of the slideways
comprise abutments facing outwardly of the frame with which the slide members are
engageable to prevent movement in directions to deploy the respective blinds.
9. A blind assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the slideways have ramps at their
respective ends which end in said outwardly facing abutments and the slide members
have hook shaped projections which engage over the abutments in the stowed position
of the slide members to resist deployment of the respective blinds, tilting of the
slide members releasing the projections from the abutments to allow deployment of
the blinds.
10. A blind assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the means to couple the
slide members comprise magnetic means in one or both slide members providing a finite
attraction force between the slide members to hold the slide members together up to
the limit of that force and to allow the members to be de-coupled by overcoming the
force.
11. A roller blind having a tension roller upon which material is wound, a crossbar to
support the front end of each blind, and a pair of tracks to guide the crossbar towards
and away from the tension roller, said roller blind comprising:
a) a first engaging member at one end of each track adjacent the tension roller and
b) a second engaging member of each end of the crossbar to releasably engage with the first engaging member, in use the first and second engaging members engage when the cross bar slides along the track and is adjacent the tension roller.
12. A roller blind as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first and second engaging members
are biased to engage when the crossbar slides along the track and is adjacent the
tension roller, and means are provided to act against said bias to disengage the first
and second engaging members when the crossbar is to be drawn away from the tension
roller.
13. A roller blind as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12, wherein a guide member is provided
at each end of the crossbar to guide the ends of the cross member along the track,
each guide member including the second engaging member is releasably engage with the
first engaging member.
14. A roller blind as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first engaging member is a hook
recess at one end of the track, and the second engaging member is a hook to engage
with the hook recess.
15. A roller blind as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, wherein each guide member pivots
about a pivot point whereby the hook can be pivoted from a first position with the
hook in the hook recess to a second position with the hook removed from the hook recess.
16. A roller blind as claimed in claim 15, wherein the hook is biased towards the first
position by blind tension.
17. A roller blind as claimed in any of claim 11 to 16, wherein the crossbar includes
a finger hold to slide the crossbar away from the tension roller using fingers in
the slot and to pivot each guide to the second position. 4811934; GCB; BJS