GB2139681A

GB2139681A - Roller blinds

Info

Publication number: GB2139681A
Application number: GB08408485A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Paul Cooper
Original assignee: HALL AND Co Ltd G
Current assignee: HALL AND Co Ltd G
Priority date: 1983-03-31
Filing date: 1984-04-02
Publication date: 1984-11-14
Also published as: GB8408485D0; GB2139681B

Abstract

The invention provides means by which a roller blind (1) may be readily and accurately cut to the required size and comprises a packaging container for the blind in the form of a tube (3) having its ends closed by plugs (4) and end caps (5) which serve to axially centre the blind within the tube and having a longitudinal slit (6) in its wall for the passage of the blind material, and a cutting device (10) which is adapted to be secured by self-adhesive pads (13) to the tube wall at any point thereon in the path of blind material passing through the slit when the blind is drawn out of the tube. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Roller blinds This invention relates to roller blinds and is particularly concerned with the cutting of such blinds to fit window and other openings of different widths.

When the width of a blind is required to be reduced it is usually necessary to draw out the blind to its full extent, mark on the blind material the width required to suit the window opening and cut the material to size by means of scissors.

It is the object of the invention to provide means whereby a roller blind may be cut to size more easily without having to rely on the ability of a individual to cut along a straight line and to this end, according to the invention, there is provided, in combination, (a) a roller blind of conventional form, (b) a packaging container therefor in the form of a tube having its ends closed by members which serve to axially centre the blind within the tube and having a longitudinal slit in its wall for the passage of the blind material, which slit is initially closed by a removable cover, and (c) a cutting device which is adapted to be detachably secured to the tube wall at any point thereon in the path of blind material passing through the slit, in order to automatically cut said blind material along a straight line at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the slit when the blind is drawn out of the tube through the slit.

A preferred form of the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the initially packaged blind; Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the end of the blind withdrawn from the package for initial measuring and marking; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2, showing the cutter in position and the blind being simultaneously withdrawn from the package and cut to size; and Figure 4 is an end view of the package with the cutter in position thereon during the cutting stage.

Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawing, a roller blind 1 in its rolled-up condition is sealed at its mid-point by a strap 2 made of brown paper and is inserted in a tube 3 made of polyvinyl chloride. The ends of the tube 3 are closed by plugs 4 made of polystyrene which serve to engage the ends of the blind 1 and centre it axially within the tube and are held in place by caps 5 which engage over the ends of the tube. The wall of the tube 3 is formed with a longitudinal slit 6 which extends the length of the tube and is just wide enough to permit the passage of the bottom lath 7 (Fig. 2) of the blind 1. The slit 6 in the tube is initially closed by a strip of adhesive tape 8, as shown in Fig. 1.

If the blind 1 is required to be cut to size before installation, the adhesive strip 8 covering the slit 6 in the tube 3 is first removed, the package is placed on a horizontal surface and the paper strap 2 sealing the blind is broken. The bottom lath 7 of the blind 1 is then pulled out of the tube 3 through the slit 6, as shown in Fig. 2, and the lath slid longitudinally in its pocket 9 to leave the pocket empty at the end at which the cut is to be made. The required width is then measured from the opposite end of the blind 1, i.e. that end containing the usual spring (not shown) and the pocket 9 cut transversely across at the appropriate point by means of scissors.After marking the cut, which should extend slightly beyond the pocket 9, the lath 7 is slid back into its original position and a cutter 10 (Figs. 3 and 4) is affixed to the outer wall of the tube 3 with its blade 11 entering the cut already made by the scissors.

The cutter blade 11 which extends in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axes of the slit 6 and the tube 3, is carried by two blade-holders 12 made of polypropylene and detachably secured to the outer surface of the tube on opposite sides of the slit by selfadhesive pads 13 attached to surfaces 14 on the blade holders which are curved to conform with the curvature of the tube.

With the cutter 10 in position on the tube 3 and the tube held firmly at its ends, it is only necessary to exert a uniform pull on the bottom lath 7 of the blind 1 to draw out the blind through the slit 6 in the tube, whereupon it is automatically cut to the required width by the cutting blade 11. When the blind 1 has been fully withdrawn through the slit 6, the cutter 10 is removed from the tube 3 followed by the end caps 5 and the plugs 4 to enable the blind roller to be taken out of the package and cut to the required length in the usual way.

1. The combination, with a roller blind, of (a) a packaging container therefor in the form of a tube having its ends closed by members which serve to axially centre the blind within the tube and having a longitudinal slit in its wall for the passage of the blind material, which slit is initially closed by a removable cover, and (b) a cutting device which is adapted to be detachably secured to the tube wall at any point thereon in the path of blind material passing through the slit, in order to automatically cut said blind material along a straight line at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the slit when the blind is drawn out of the tube through the slit.

2. The combination according to Claim 1, wherein said tube is made of polyvinyl chloride.

3. The combination of Claim 1 or 2,

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Roller blinds This invention relates to roller blinds and is particularly concerned with the cutting of such blinds to fit window and other openings of different widths. When the width of a blind is required to be reduced it is usually necessary to draw out the blind to its full extent, mark on the blind material the width required to suit the window opening and cut the material to size by means of scissors. It is the object of the invention to provide means whereby a roller blind may be cut to size more easily without having to rely on the ability of a individual to cut along a straight line and to this end, according to the invention, there is provided, in combination, (a) a roller blind of conventional form, (b) a packaging container therefor in the form of a tube having its ends closed by members which serve to axially centre the blind within the tube and having a longitudinal slit in its wall for the passage of the blind material, which slit is initially closed by a removable cover, and (c) a cutting device which is adapted to be detachably secured to the tube wall at any point thereon in the path of blind material passing through the slit, in order to automatically cut said blind material along a straight line at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the slit when the blind is drawn out of the tube through the slit. A preferred form of the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the initially packaged blind; Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the end of the blind withdrawn from the package for initial measuring and marking; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2, showing the cutter in position and the blind being simultaneously withdrawn from the package and cut to size; and Figure 4 is an end view of the package with the cutter in position thereon during the cutting stage. Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawing, a roller blind 1 in its rolled-up condition is sealed at its mid-point by a strap 2 made of brown paper and is inserted in a tube 3 made of polyvinyl chloride. The ends of the tube 3 are closed by plugs 4 made of polystyrene which serve to engage the ends of the blind 1 and centre it axially within the tube and are held in place by caps 5 which engage over the ends of the tube. The wall of the tube 3 is formed with a longitudinal slit 6 which extends the length of the tube and is just wide enough to permit the passage of the bottom lath 7 (Fig. 2) of the blind 1. The slit 6 in the tube is initially closed by a strip of adhesive tape 8, as shown in Fig. 1. If the blind 1 is required to be cut to size before installation, the adhesive strip 8 covering the slit 6 in the tube 3 is first removed, the package is placed on a horizontal surface and the paper strap 2 sealing the blind is broken. The bottom lath 7 of the blind 1 is then pulled out of the tube 3 through the slit 6, as shown in Fig. 2, and the lath slid longitudinally in its pocket 9 to leave the pocket empty at the end at which the cut is to be made. The required width is then measured from the opposite end of the blind 1, i.e. that end containing the usual spring (not shown) and the pocket 9 cut transversely across at the appropriate point by means of scissors.After marking the cut, which should extend slightly beyond the pocket 9, the lath 7 is slid back into its original position and a cutter 10 (Figs. 3 and 4) is affixed to the outer wall of the tube 3 with its blade 11 entering the cut already made by the scissors. The cutter blade 11 which extends in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axes of the slit 6 and the tube 3, is carried by two blade-holders 12 made of polypropylene and detachably secured to the outer surface of the tube on opposite sides of the slit by selfadhesive pads 13 attached to surfaces 14 on the blade holders which are curved to conform with the curvature of the tube. With the cutter 10 in position on the tube 3 and the tube held firmly at its ends, it is only necessary to exert a uniform pull on the bottom lath 7 of the blind 1 to draw out the blind through the slit 6 in the tube, whereupon it is automatically cut to the required width by the cutting blade 11. When the blind 1 has been fully withdrawn through the slit 6, the cutter 10 is removed from the tube 3 followed by the end caps 5 and the plugs 4 to enable the blind roller to be taken out of the package and cut to the required length in the usual way. CLAIMS

3. The combination of Claim 1 or 2, wherein the blind is sealed in its rolled-up condition within the tube by a breakable strap.

4. The combination of Claim 3, wherein said strap is made of strong paper.

5. The combination according to any preceding claim, wherein said centering members are plugs which engage the ends of the blind and are held in place by caps engaging over the ends of the tube.

6. The combination of Claim 5, wherein said plugs are made of polystyrene.

7. The combination according to any preceding claim, wherein said removable cover is a strip of adhesive tape.

8. The combination according to any preceding claim, wherein said cutting device comprises a blade carried by and bridging the space between two blade holders which are adapted to be secured to the wall of the tube on opposite sides of said slit.

9. The combination according to Claim 8, wherein each blade holder has a surface which is curved to conform to the curvature of the tube and carries a self-adhesive pad for attachment thereto.

10. The combination with a roller blind, of a packaging container therefor and a device for cutting the blind to size, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.