HK1093545B - Venetian blind - Google Patents

Description

Movable blind window

Technical Field

The present invention relates to venetian blinds and in particular to slats and corresponding fixing means of the slats, and also to control means for lifting and tilting the slats.

Background

Currently, large medium wall panels are used in many modern buildings. Such buildings require the use of curtains to block sunlight. Most conventional lamellar blinds are typically used to provide the required shade. However, the slat size of such blinds and the maximum free span between the support cords are limited and simply scaling up the blinds and slats will lead to various reliability problems. The slats in available venetian blinds typically measure up to about 10cm wide with a free span of about one meter between the support cords. The limited span between support strands and the consequent large number of support strands connecting the numerous narrow slats defeats the aesthetic effect originally presented by large glass windows. Another solution is to have to limit the size of the glazing to the size of the blind, which limits the freedom of construction.

Also, large, non-opening center wall panels can create undesirable reflections of sound from these center wall panels in the room, causing hearing problems. Thus, there is a need for a venetian blind with extendable slats and corresponding extendable support cord spans, for example, which, as an alternative, also allows the sound waves reflected by its window to be attenuated to the desired degree.

In addition, in many prior art techniques, for example, the removal or replacement of venetian blind slats is a cumbersome process, such as according to a conventional ladder cord arrangement, as the lift cords pass through apertures in the individual slats and the slats are supported by the lift cords. This arrangement makes it difficult or even impossible to move the individual slats without disassembling the main part of the venetian blind. It is therefore desirable to provide a venetian blind of the kind described above and to attach tilt cords in a manner to facilitate movement of the individual slats. Furthermore, the provision of slat apertures, whether in the form of centrally located elongate holes, which are often employed as apertures for lift cords, or apertures along the edge portions of the slats for attachment means for tilt cords through each individual slat, is not optimal from a manufacturing and cleaning standpoint for the slats. Furthermore, if the slats have to undergo a tilting process over a major part of the vertical tilting range from one substantially vertical position of the slats through a horizontal position to another substantially vertical position of the slats, it will become very difficult to prevent light from penetrating the slats through these apertures, for example the centrally located aperture for the lifting cord must have a relatively large lateral extension.

This makes it difficult to prevent sunlight from passing through the slats through the apertures, for example, because the centrally located through-hole for passing the lift cord must have a relatively large transverse extent in order to ensure that the slats can experience a transition from a maximum vertical position of the slats through a horizontal position to another maximum vertical position.

Such venetian blind slats, in which tilting cords are coupled to the longitudinal edge portions of the individual slats, are described in GB1512274 and DE3819920a1, for example.

GB1512274 discloses a slat for a movable blind, which slat comprises a longitudinally extending circular flange by means of which a peg is activated and nailed securely. The support line is attached to a staple outside each longitudinal edge portion of the slat. This document also discloses a special tool for facilitating driving of the form nails through the flange.

DE3819920a1 discloses a movable blind slat whose longitudinal edge portions are made as circular flanges, which has something in common with the above document. At a suitable position in the longitudinal direction of the slat, the flange has a cut-out extending through the flange and a distance into the main portion of the slat, in which cut-out a clip is embedded, the clip being formed in such a manner that it can be hingedly engaged with a corresponding ball member to which the support cord is attached.

Disclosure of Invention

Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide a venetian blind of the aforementioned type, which blind is capable of solving the above-mentioned problems.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a venetian blind which can be used for screening large medium wall panels, which blind comprises slats which may comprise a large number of longitudinally extending slats and a large span between supporting or tilting cords for hanging up the slats, and which further allows easy removal or replacement of individual slats without the need for removing other slats of the venetian blind and without the need for applying tools.

The object achieved according to the independent claim 1 is to provide a venetian blind which can use slats of a size which is not possible with ordinary blinds. In order to increase the available size of the venetian blind slats, the overall stiffness of the slats must be sufficiently high. According to the invention, the object of increasing the overall stiffness is achieved by providing a strip with an elongated body portion on each longitudinal side. Each slat is provided on its longitudinal side with an edge portion consisting of a first portion and an opposite second portion, which portions form a space, so that the side edge portions are further provided with a gap through which the space is accessible from the outside. These edge portions, on the one hand, increase the overall rigidity of the slat and, on the other hand, serve as connecting means on the slat for coupling the support or tilt cords to the slat, as will be described further below. The dimensions of the space are larger than the dimensions of the gap so that the connecting means connected to the support line and embedded in the gap will remain in a releasable manner in the space at the edge portion of the slat, as will be described in more detail below.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the stiffness of the slats can be further increased by providing the body portion with an arcuate cross-section, but other shaped cross-sections, including straight slats, are also within the scope of the invention.

To further increase the overall stiffness of the slat, the body portion 2 may also be corrugated or have downwardly extending ribs on the underside of the body portion.

According to the invention, the connecting means for releasably connecting the slats to the supporting line, which connecting means is also connected to the supporting line, are embedded in the edge portion through said gap. In order for the releasable attachment to pass through a gap surrounded by a substantially rigid border, the attachment should be resilient. However, it is also possible according to the invention for the gap to be surrounded by the elastic boundary of the aperture for the substantially rigid connection means via the gap. In this way the connecting device according to the invention forms a gap for insertion through said gap into engagement with at least a part of the boundary of the gap. Some embodiments of the coupling device for use with slats according to the invention have been illustrated and described in the present description, but modifications and variations of these embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

The venetian blind is provided with slats with the width of 200mm, and the free span between the supporting ropes is 2.5m or even longer; a slat at least 4m long; and a blind height of 6m or more. It is conceivable within the scope of the invention to provide more than two pairs of support cords when connecting very long slats, if necessary, that is to say the slats can be far more than 4m long.

The slats can be made of a number of different materials according to the invention. The slats are typically made of a suitable metal, such as aluminum or steel, but other materials may be used. Composite materials may also be used, or the slats may be moulded from fibreglass etc. the preferred choice of material is to ensure the necessary stiffness of the slats but to some extent to compensate for the reduced stiffness when selecting the material, it is also possible to select the appropriate shape of the slats.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a venetian blind for use in a room which can be used to influence the acoustic wave characteristics in the room. According to the invention, this object is achieved in that: a slat is provided having a sound damping arrangement for at least some portions of the slat. Thus, according to one embodiment of the invention, a longitudinally extending floor may be positioned between the edge portions of the slats, preferably, although not necessarily, extending along the entire longitudinal dimension of the slats. The strip is preferably flat but may take other shapes, and in certain cases even this may be desirable. This strip can serve at least two functions: provide a more attractive appearance from the underside of the slat and/or be used as an acoustic construction to enhance the sound damping properties of the slat. For this purpose, such laths may be provided with through holes or cut-outs to communicate the region between the lath and the main portion of the lath, and this region may be filled with a suitable sound-damping material in a known manner. Instead of apertured slats, other sound-damping structures, such as suitable fabrics, may also be employed.

For aesthetic satisfaction, it is important to suspend and manipulate the slats in a manner that ensures that all slats are properly aligned, both when the slats are stationary and during lifting, lowering and tilting of the slats. Even small errors deviating from the correct alignment substantially reduce the overall visual effect of the venetian blind. As noted above, it would be more desirable to facilitate the removal and replacement of individual slats without the need for application of tools. According to the present invention, these needs are met by using a combined lift and tilt mechanism comprising at least two pairs of tilt cords. Each pair of tilt cords is attached to a separate slat, which attachment is embedded in the edge portion of the slat by means of a releasable, preferably resilient, clip. The lift cords are arranged to move in parallel with and almost close to at least two pairs of tilt cords, the lower ends of the lift cords being connected to the lowest slat of the venetian blind, the upper ends of the lift cords being connected to a combined lifting and tilting mechanism, to which mechanism the tilt cords are also connected. The elongation of the lift cords is parallel to the tilt cords, which can be achieved by looping the lift cords through loops formed in the tilt cords on each individual slat layer. Other means of keeping the lift and tilt cords parallel may be envisaged by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

A specific embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail in the detailed description of the invention. In the manner described above, the two pairs of tilt cords move nearly close to and parallel to the corresponding two pairs of lift cords. According to this embodiment, the connection points of the lift and tilt cords to the slat are located approximately equal to 1/5 total slat length from the ends of the slat, thus leaving a free span between the two pairs of lift/tilt cords of approximately 3/5 total slat length. Other arrangements, such as a very long slat arrangement, may be used for arrangements containing more than two sets of lift and tilt cords.

According to a preferred embodiment of the venetian blind according to the invention, in order to increase the longitudinal and lateral overall stability of the venetian blind, i.e. the stability in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the venetian blind, vertically extending support cords or corresponding means are provided at each longitudinal end of the slats. To this end, the slats are provided at each longitudinal end with a support element connected to the slats, and the support elements are provided with suitable openings through the parts for passing through the support lines.

Still according to a preferred embodiment of the venetian blind according to the invention the lift cords-no longer running parallel to the tilt cords-are guided along the support cords, e.g. through the same or another aperture in the support member as the support cords. In this case, the lift cords are also connected to the lowermost slats of the venetian blind.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple but yet reliable lifting and tilting mechanism which can be driven preferably by a single drive means, such as an electric motor, for operating all pairs of lifting and tilting cords of such a venetian blind. It is understood that separate drive devices may be used for each pair of lift and tilt cords without departing from the scope of this invention.

According to the invention, the combined lifting and tilting mechanism is located on a longitudinally extending shaft which is driven in rotation by suitable drive means, such as an electric motor. The drive means may be mounted either externally of the shaft or within a cavity of the shaft.

The lifting and tilting mechanism according to the invention comprises a tube member mounted on said drive shaft for rotation with axial displacement, guide means for holding the lift cords in their proper axial position and guiding the lift cords to the outer circumferential surface of the tube member. Thus, when the tube is rotated, the rotation of the lift cords will helically wind or unwind around the circumferential surface of the tube, causing the slats to be raised or lowered as the tube rotates.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the tube on the outer circumferential surface is provided with a single thread for receiving each lift cord of a given pair of lift cords in the same thread.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the tubular member on the outer circumferential surface is provided with a double thread for receiving each of a given pair of lift cords in the respective thread.

According to both of the above-described embodiments of the lifting and tilting mechanism according to the invention, the rotation of the tube, which is in fact limited by the axial movement from itself, is combined with the downward extension of the lift cords towards the slats, so that the tube is axially displaced. Thus, when the tubular member rotates with the drive shaft, the lift cords are wound or unwound from the tubular member in a single, axially extending layer. However, according to a third alternative embodiment of the lifting and tilting mechanism of the present invention, a single/double thread on the outer circumferential surface of the tubular member is provided to engage with a corresponding thread on a stationary bearing supporting the tubular member. This arrangement increases the axial displacement of the tube and facilitates the correct winding or unwinding of the lift cords on the tube. In a third embodiment of the invention, a gap of sufficient size for accommodating the hoisting rope in said gap is formed between the pipe element and said thread on the stationary bearing.

According to the invention, the lifting and tilting mechanism further comprises tilting means for connecting the tilting lines of a given lifting/tilting line pair, the tilting means according to a first embodiment comprising a cylindrical tilting housing coaxial with and connected to said drive shaft for synchronous rotation, on the outer circumferential surface of which is provided a tilting member which rotates with the tilting housing within a predetermined angular range due to friction between the tilting member and the tilting housing, this range of rotation being determined by first means on the tilting member which during said rotation of the tilting member come into contact with corresponding stationary abutment means. The tilt cords are wound around the tilt member such that rotation of the tilt member in one direction unwinds one of a given pair of tilt cords from the tilt member while the other of the pair of tilt cords may be wound around the tilt member. By providing suitable dimensioning of the diameters of the tilting member and the tilting housing relative to the width of the slats, the slats can be subjected to a tilting movement within an angular range of about 180 degrees by reasonable calculation of the dimensioning of the diameters of the tilting housing and the tilting member relative to the width of the slats, i.e. the slats can be tilted through a horizontal position of the slats between a substantially vertical position and an opposite substantially vertical position of the slats, wherein adjacent edges of the slats contact each other to form a closed surface for obtaining the blind. If desired, the extent of slat rotation may be limited by varying the ratio between the diameter of the tilt housing/member and the width of the slat.

According to the invention, the tilting members can radially rigidly surround the tilting housing, but according to the invention it is also possible to provide the tilting members with a certain degree of radial elasticity. Thus, the tubular tilting member may be provided with a gap extending radially through the tilting member. As mentioned above the radial resilience of the tilting member is beneficial once rotation of the tilting member relative to the tilting housing is blocked by engagement with the abutment means due to rotation with the drive shaft, and the tilting housing (for lifting or lowering the slats) will tend to increase the inner diameter of the tilting member, since one end of the tilting member is prevented from rotating, while a friction force is exerted between the contact surfaces of the tilting member and the tilting housing. The friction between the tilting housing and the tilting member is thus reduced, which is advantageous from the point of view of the drive means driving the drive shaft. Thus, by providing the tilting members with radial resilience, the drive means can use its full energy for lifting or lowering the slats without wasting energy for overcoming unnecessary friction between the tilting members and the tilting housing. The friction between the tilting member and the tilting housing is only that which it requires, that is to say when the tilting angle of the slats has to be changed, in which case the rotation of the tilting member is not blocked by engagement with the stationary abutment means.

In one case of the tilting device element according to the first embodiment, the tilting member is a tube member comprising a body part and a collar with a central groove for receiving the tilting cord.

According to a second embodiment of the tilting mechanism according to the invention, the tilting mechanism is formed as a separate mechanism remote from the lifting mechanism.

Generally, there is a relationship between the slat width and the tilt housing and tilt member diameter that is necessary for tilting slats from an initial vertical position of the slat through a horizontal position to an opposite vertical position. Thus, wide slats, for example slats 20-25cm wide, require correspondingly large diameters for the tilting housing and the tilting members. Although slats having a rather wide width are applied in venetian blinds, it is desirable to be able to apply a tilting mechanism when the diameter of the tilting housing and the tilting members is limited. This problem is solved according to the invention by means of an embodiment of the tilting mechanism which is particularly advantageous. This embodiment has a double stop function, with the abutment means on the tilting member not engaging the stationary abutment means but engaging the other rotary abutment means when the tilting member is rotated, so that the rotation of the tilting member around the tilting housing can be over 360 degrees around the tilting housing. Eventually, the rotating abutment device will come to rest (rest) due to the contact with the stationary abutment device. The stationary mounting means is for example mounted on bearings supporting the tilting mechanism, which means that the tilting member can rotate from 0 degrees to approximately 720 degrees around the tilting housing. It is also possible to extend the mechanism by providing a series of rotary abutment means so that the tilting members can undergo approximately N x 360 degrees of rotation about the tilt housing, where N is the number of these rotary abutments +1, and the number 1 counts the initial tilting members. In the detailed description of the present invention, such preferred embodiments are described in detail.

In order to prevent light from passing through the contact area along the longitudinal edges of the slats, the edge portions of the slats may be provided with a sealing material, such as felt, rubber or the like.

A number of advantageous effects are obtained with the venetian blind system according to the invention. From an aesthetic point of view, the slat coupling means along the longitudinal edges of the slats have a good advantage, as the apertures cut through the main portion of the slats are omitted, as is typically provided in most known venetian blind devices for apertures of lift cords. The presence of an aperture through the main portion of the slat is also advantageous in view of controlling the passage of light through the aperture of the blind. Typically, in venetian blinds consisting of large slats, as in connection with blinds according to the invention, a relatively large aperture has to be made through the slats for the aperture of the lift cord. Also, in order to make it possible to tilt the slat to its two substantially perpendicular positions, the apertures will extend over a substantial part of the slat width. Thus, in order to prevent light from passing through the venetian blind, light will still pass through said relatively large apertures in the slats even if the corresponding edge portions of adjacent slats are in close contact with each other. It is not possible for the slats with said apertures to completely darken the room, but the venetian blind according to the invention may completely darken the room. If necessary, sealing material, such as rubber, felt, etc., may be mounted at the edge portions of the slats to prevent light from passing through the gaps between adjacent slats.

It is also advantageous from the point of view of cleaning the slats for large non-cut surfaces without cords running through the slats.

Furthermore, as previously mentioned, the presence of longitudinal edge portions along each edge of the slats increases the overall stiffness of the slats, thus giving the venetian blind a large longitudinal extension, which is typically applied to venetian blinds having only two pairs of lift/tilt cords. Thus, it is possible to cover a large surface, which is not limited to windows only, with a single venetian blind having a large extension in the horizontal and vertical direction.

The attachment of the tilt cords along the edge portions facilitates both the original assembly of the venetian blind and the removal or replacement of individual slats without dismantling the main part of the entire venetian blind. Even the venetian blinds, which are of considerable size, can be easily assembled originally, which further expands the possibilities of purchasing the venetian blinds in a set-wise manner for easy assembly. For example, the slats may be stocked in the form of long slats and sold in the actual desired length. From a transportation point of view, it is also advantageous to perform the easy assembly of the venetian blind in situ.

Also, the complete surface of the strip from a manufacturing point of view and the fact that the strip can be made in one piece by means of roll forming techniques are very advantageous.

Finally, the slats can be used to change the acoustic properties of the room by providing different forms of sound damping variation on the slats. Tilting of the slats may even be used to change the acoustic effect of the slats, either to obtain an acoustically hard surface when the slats are in the vertical position or to obtain different degrees of sound damping when the slats are tilted.

Drawings

The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a slat according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the strip with an acoustical panel at the bottom as shown in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 3a and 3b are views of a clip used to connect the tilt cord to the slat;

FIGS. 4a and 4b are cross-sectional views of two alternative slats according to the present invention;

figures 4c and 4d are views of alternative attachment means for the slats shown in figures 4a and 4 b;

FIG. 5 is a view of a first embodiment of a combined lift/tilt mechanism according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a view of a second embodiment of a combined lift/tilt mechanism according to the present invention;

FIG. 7a is a schematic perspective view of a tilting mechanism according to the present invention;

FIG. 7b is a schematic view of a tilting mechanism according to the present invention, viewed from one longitudinal end of the tilting mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of a lift and tilt mechanism according to the present invention, consisting of two separate lift mechanisms and one separate tilt mechanism as shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of a tilting mechanism according to the present invention having a two-way stop function for reducing the necessary diameter of the tilting mechanism;

10a, 10b and 10c are schematic views of alternative routes for the hoist from the hoist line to the tubular;

figure 11 is a schematic view of the main components of a venetian blind according to the invention seen from the side;

FIG. 12a is a schematic view of a blind according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, including side support cords to enhance the longitudinal stability of the venetian blind along the slats;

figure 12b is a detailed schematic view of a part of the venetian blind shown in figure 12 a.

Detailed Description

The following presents a detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to fig. 1, there is shown a cross-section of a slat 1 according to the invention comprising a longitudinally extending body portion 2, which in this embodiment is upwardly arcuate, although other cross-sectional shapes are also contemplated. The slat comprises front and rear longitudinal edge portions 3 which are formed of a first portion 3', hereinafter referred to as the top portion, and an inwardly extending, in this embodiment shown as substantially straight, second portion 4, hereinafter referred to as the bottom portion 4. These portions 4 terminate at a connecting portion 5 in the direction of the bottom face of the strip main part 2. A gap 6 is formed between the attachment portion 5 and the underside of the slat for mounting a suitable attachment means 12 in the space formed between the top portion 3', the bottom portion 4 and the attachment portion 5.

The strip according to this embodiment can be manufactured in a simple manner by known processes, such as roll forming.

Referring to fig. 2, which shows a preferred embodiment of the slat 1 according to the invention, where a base plate 7 is mounted on the slat 1, the base plate 7 may be substantially straight as shown in fig. 2, but also may have other cross-sectional shapes. The bottom plate 7 generally comprises an integral surface which may, for example, serve only as a decorative purpose, or may act as an element for attenuating sound waves itself, for example, in a known manner by making suitable forms of apertures 8 in the surface of the bottom plate. The apertures may be, for example, circular or slit-shaped, but other possible shapes are also possible. Along the longitudinal edges of the bottom panel 7, the bottom panel is provided with connecting portions 11 for connection to the slats 1 along the connecting portions 5 or through the gaps 6. For optimum sound damping, the bottom plate 7 may further be provided with a sound damping fabric covering the orifice 8. Furthermore, the cavity 10 formed between the base plate 7 and the bottom surface of the main portion 2 of the panel 1 may be filled with a suitable sound-damping material. It is also possible to replace the plate with only one piece of fabric, provided that there are suitable attachment means along the edges of the fabric.

A plurality of connecting means for the slats according to the invention are foreseen. These connection means firstly require the ability to pass through the gap between the first and second edge portions of the slats and still remain in the space enclosed by these portions after passing through the gap.

With reference to fig. 3a and 3b, which show an embodiment of the connecting means 12 for slats 2 according to the invention, it is assumed here that the edge portions 3 are sufficiently rigid, that is to say that the gap 6 can be delimited by a substantially rigid border between 5 and 3'. The attachment means of this embodiment comprises a clip formed from a wire or other suitable metallic material which is symmetrical with respect to the intermediate ring portion 16 and comprises a first leg portion 15 which is in the same plane as the intermediate ring portion 16 and second and third leg portions 14, 13 which are at an angle a to the plane in which the intermediate ring portion 16 and the first leg portion 15 lie. The angle a is selected in correspondence with the angle B formed by the first and second edge portions 3' and 4 of the strip 2, so that it is ensured that the connecting means 12 remain in the space 3 "of the edge portion 3 after insertion through the gap 6. The strings 17 connect the slats 2 and the tilting strings 19 together by means of the loop portions 16, whereby the slats 2 are suspended by the tilting strings 19. The other end of the string 17 has a loop 18 through which the lift cord 20 passes so that the movement of the lift cord 20 is substantially parallel to the tilt cord 19.

Referring to fig. 4a and 4b, there is shown a schematic view of other cross-sectional shapes of the slats according to the present invention. Many other shapes of cross-section are within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

The connecting means shown in fig. 3a and 3b cannot be used to connect the edge portions 3 of fig. 4a and 4b, and two alternative embodiments of connecting means shown in fig. 4c and 4d can be used for such connection of the edge portions of fig. 4a and 4 b. The connecting device shown in fig. 4c comprises a cylindrical rod 23 of a sufficiently elastic material to allow the rod 23 to pass through the gap 6 shown in fig. 4a and 4b, the rod 23 being provided with a circumferential groove 24 for fastening a string 25 connected to the tilt string 19. Alternatively, the string 25 may be embedded in the rod 23 during compression molding or may pass through a hole in the rod 23. As an alternative to the lever 23, it is also possible to use a resilient ball 26 as shown in fig. 4 d. It will be appreciated that the above-mentioned connecting means can also be made of a rigid material if the edge portion 3 is elastic as described above.

Referring to fig. 5, there is shown a schematic view of a first embodiment of a mechanism 30 for venetian blind lifting and tilting according to the invention, for controlling a single pair of lifting/tilting cords. The mechanism 30 is connected to a housing 31 mounted on the upper part of a window or roof. The main components of the venetian blind according to the invention comprise a longitudinally extending shaft 33, typically several, typically two, lifting and tilting mechanisms sharing a longitudinally extending shaft 33. Each lifting and tilting mechanism carries a motor drive as indicated by reference numeral 34, although a separate extension shaft 33 for each of the plurality of lifting and tilting mechanisms is contemplated. In the first case, the lifting and tilting mechanisms are positively synchronized by using a common drive shaft, but in the other devices mentioned later, synchronization devices of different lifting and tilting mechanisms are necessary. In the embodiment shown in fig. 4, the shaft 33 is at least partially hollow for accommodating the motor 34 within the shaft, and other motor and drive arrangements for connecting the shaft 33 and the motor drive shaft 35 are contemplated as long as they do not depart from the lift and tilt mechanism of the present invention. The motor drive shaft 35 shown in this embodiment is connected to the housing 31 mentioned above.

A tube member 36 is arranged around the shaft 33, the tube member 36 rotating with the shaft 33 and performing an axial movement over a predetermined longitudinal distance of the shaft 33, this displacement being indicated by the arrow C in fig. 4 and 5. The movement combined with the shaft 33 and the simultaneous movement on the shaft 33 are obtained by the lifting and tilting mechanism of the present embodiment, by means of engagement means 37 extending radially inwards from the tube 36 and engagement with a longitudinal aperture 38 provided on the shaft 33. The tube 36 is mounted for rotation relative to the housing 31 by means of suitable bearings 40 shown in figures 4 and 5.

As shown in fig. 5, a pair of lift cords 20 for raising and lowering slats 2 are helically wound around tube 36. In order for the shaft 33 and the tube member 36 to hold the lift cords 20 in place longitudinally as they rotate, the tube member 36, the lift cords 20 are shown in this embodiment as passing directly through the apertures 46 provided in the bearings 40, but it will be appreciated that other arrangements for maintaining the longitudinal position of the lift cords 20 may be used without departing from the lift and tilt mechanism according to the present invention. The end 43 of the lift cord is secured to the tube 36 as shown by the double helix of the winding of the lift cord 20 onto the tube 36 and the unwinding of the lift cord 20 from the tube 36, one lift cord being shown in black and the other in open outline. When the shaft 33 and the tube member 36 are rotated under the control of the motor 34, the longitudinal retention of the lift cord 20 in a downward direction of the slat 2 will force a longitudinal displacement of the tube member 36 relative to the shaft 33, whereby the direction of rotation of the tube member 36 also determines whether the lift cord 20 is wound on or unwound from the tube member 36.

Fig. 6 shows a second embodiment of a lifting and tilting mechanism according to the invention. According to this embodiment, the circumferential surface of the tube member 36 is provided with a thread 39 for engagement with a corresponding thread 44 on the stationary bearing 40, and the longitudinal movement of the tube member 36 on the shaft 33 is obtained by engagement between the thread 39 on the tube member 36 and the thread 44 on the stationary bearing 40. Moreover, because the threads are formed to receive both lift cords 20 of a given lift cord pair within a single groove of the threads, the threads on the tube 36 also serve the purpose of ensuring reliable winding and unwinding of the lift cords 20 on the tube. The thread according to this embodiment is thus a single thread which is shaped to accommodate two cords side by side within a single groove of the thread.

According to a third embodiment of the lift and tilt mechanism (not shown) of the present invention, the single threads in the second embodiment are replaced by double threads, each of which receives one lift cord 20 of a given pair of lift cords.

According to the preferred mode of the second and third lift and tilt mechanism embodiments of the present invention described above, the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical tilt housing 41, which will be described below, substantially contacts the crests of the threads 39 on the tubular member 36, thereby forming a substantially closed space between the tubular member 36 and the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical tilt housing 41 for accommodating the lift cord 20, thereby preventing the lift cord 20 from being wound around the tubular member 36 or being disengaged from the tubular member 36 when the mechanism is manipulated.

In order to be able to accommodate the lift cords 20 in the area between the tube 36 and the fixed bearing 40, there must be sufficient space between the corresponding threads as shown in fig. 6. Trapezoidal threads have proven to be the most preferred option, although other shapes of threads may be used.

Referring to fig. 7a and 7b, a tilt mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Referring to fig. 7a, the tilting mechanism comprises a cylindrical tilting housing 41 coaxial with and connected to the drive shaft 33 so that both can rotate simultaneously. An annular, radially resilient tilting member 42 is provided around the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical tilting housing 41, the tilting member 42 may comprise an axially extending gap 47 to allow the tilting member 42 to expand radially, although this is not a necessary prerequisite for the function of the tilting mechanism. The diameter of the tilting member 42 is chosen such that a friction force is created between the tilting member and the tilting housing 41, such that rotation of the tilting housing 41 will cause a synchronous rotation of the tilting member 42 with the tilting housing 41 and the drive shaft 33. When the spring 48 adjacent to the gap 47 contacts the fixed mount 50, the rotation of the tilting member 42 in the direction of arrow D is prevented. Similarly, when tilting member 42 is rotated in the opposite direction as indicated by arrow E, rotation of leaf spring 49 is prevented once it contacts fixed support 51.

Fig. 7b is a schematic view of a detail part of the tilting mechanism according to the invention. Tilt cord 19 for venetian blinds₁And 19₂Are attached to diametrically opposed points 56 and 57 of the diagonal member 42 and are wound around the diagonal member 42 (housed in the groove 52 between the main portion 54 of the diagonal member and the collar 53). Thus, the range of rotation of the tilting member 42 of this embodiment of the tilting mechanism, which corresponds either to the contact between the leaf 48 and the abutment 50 or between the leaf 49 and the abutment 51 (hidden behind the abutment 50 in fig. 7 b), is about 360 degrees, the rotation of the tilting member 42 causing one of the tilting cords 19 to rotate₁E.g. downwards, and another tilt cord 19₂It moves upward. The slats 2 attached to the tilting cord will perform a tilting movement. By a correct choice of the ratio between the diameter of the tilting housing 41 and the width of the slats 2, tilting of the slats 2 between a first substantially vertical position I, as shown in fig. 6c, and an opposite substantially vertical position II thereof is made possible. By changing the diameter of the tilting housing 41 or by changing the position of the abutments 50, 51, the angular tilting range of the slats 2 can be changed, so that a substantially complete rotation of the tilting members 42 up to 360 degrees can be prevented.

In the depiction of fig. 7b, tilt housing 41 has been rotated counterclockwise as shown by arrow E so that spring 48 contacts abutment 50, thus preventing further counterclockwise rotation of tilt member 42. The friction force F between the tilting housing 41 and the tilting member 42 will tend to increase the width of the gap 47 in the tilting member 42, thus increasing the diameter there, and reducing the friction force between the tilting housing and the tilting member as described above. If tilt housing 41 is rotated clockwise, tilt member 42 is free to rotate therewith until engagement between the other leaf 49 and the corresponding abutment 51 is established. If one wants to rotate the tilting housing 41 further clockwise, the diameter of the tilting member 42 is increased, thereby reducing the friction between the tilting housing 41 and the tilting member 42.

In the description of fig. 7b, the tilting cord 19₁Maximum release from the diagonal member 42 leaves about 1/2 turns of the diagonal cord around the circumference of the diagonal member 42. A corresponding approximately 1/2 turns of the other tilt cord 192 wind the tilt member 42 to its fullest extent.

Figure 8 shows an alternative embodiment of a lift and tilt mechanism according to the present invention. According to this embodiment, the lifting and tilting mechanisms are mounted on the drive shaft 33 in the form of separate mechanisms remote from each other. According to fig. 8, the tilting mechanism 62 is further designed to handle all pairs of tilting cords 19, although it is possible to provide a tilting mechanism for each pair of tilting cords as described before. The lifting mechanism of the embodiment of fig. 8 includes threads to receive the lift cords, which may be single or double threads as described above, although theoretically no threads could be used. Furthermore, the mechanism may also be provided with other housings (not shown) for closing the threaded open area and for protecting the tubular and winding the lift cords around the tubular as previously mentioned.

The drive shaft of fig. 8 is driven by a suitable motor, which may be embedded in the drive shaft, which is divided into two sections for this purpose. Of course, other drive means may be provided for driving the shaft 33, such as a motor embedded in the hollow portion of the shaft, as previously described.

Fig. 9 illustrates another alternative embodiment of a tilting mechanism 58 according to the present invention, which is provided with the double stop function described above. The tilting mechanism is supported by a fixed bearing 59 and comprises a tilting hub 60 for rotation with the shaft 33, e.g. by means of suitable slots and key means 70. Surrounding the tilting hub is a tilting member 61 which is longitudinally cut out with a cut-out for facilitating radial telescoping of the tilting member. Two abutment means 63 are provided next to the cut-out, i.e. on the circumferential end of the tilting member. In the above described embodiments of the lifting mechanism these abutment means engage with fixed abutment means provided on fixed bearings, but according to the embodiment in fig. 9 said engagement is formed between abutment means 63 and a spring leaf 65 provided on a rotatable abutment ring 64, which abutment ring 64 rotates around the tilting hub 60. During rotation of tilting member 61, when any one of first abutment means 63 engages spring 65, tilting member 61 will continue to rotate until end face 67 at the end of abutment portion 66 provided on the rotating abutment ring engages fixed abutment means 68 provided in place on fixed bearing 59.

The tilt cables 19 are led from the slats through a system of suitable pulleys (e.g. 69) and then wound around the tilting members in the manner shown in connection with the first embodiment of the tilting mechanism hereinbefore. Such a tilt cord is shown in fig. 9, but the manner in which it is wound around the tilting members may vary, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In fig. 9 the tilting line 19 is connected to the first abutment means 63, but the tilting line and the tilting members may be connected at other positions of the circumference. Finally, fig. 9 shows only one of each pair of tilting lines, but in practice the corresponding tilting line is also connected to the tilting member, which is hidden from view by the tilting mechanism and the drive shaft 33.

The range of rotation of the swivel mount ring 64, i.e. the range of rotation of the tilting members 61 about the tilting hub 60, is determined by the circumferential extension of the mount portion 66. Therefore, by selecting an appropriate circumferential extension of the abutment portion 66, a desired range of rotation can be set.

Referring to fig. 10a, 10b and 10c, there is shown a schematic view of an alternative route of the lift cord 20 to the tube 36 of the lift mechanism of fig. 10 a. Here, fig. 10b is a first alternative comprising two pulleys 69, and fig. 10c is a second alternative comprising only one pulley 69. In either case, the pulley is located inside the fixed bearing 40 and suitable openings and/or apertures for the lift cords are provided in the fixed bearing. Of course, other hoisting mechanisms for the hoisting rope are also conceivable to the person skilled in the art.

Fig. 11 shows an overall view of an embodiment of a venetian blind according to the invention, comprising slats 2, connecting devices 12 and lifting and tilting mechanisms 30, according to the above detailed description of the invention.

Alternatively, the slats may be provided with an elastic band at the contact area between adjacent slats, which prevents light from passing through the contact area between the slats. Such an elastic band also prevents noise when adjacent slats touch each other when the venetian blind is manoeuvred.

Referring to fig. 12a and 12b, a further alternative embodiment of a venetian blind according to the invention is shown. Here, in order to improve the overall stability of the venetian blind, vertically extendable support cords 71 are provided at each longitudinal end of the slats 2. Although as support lines, other means can be used, such as substantially rigid rods of suitable dimensions. The support cords 71 pass through apertures 73 in supports 72 attached to the longitudinal ends of the slats. To this end, the ends of the slats may be provided with end caps or members 74, which end caps or members 74 may be shaped, for example, as hollow structures for embedding the slats. In order not to interfere with the tilting of the slats, the support 72 is mounted for rotation about the X' axis by the component, that is, can rotate relative to the slats.

The provision of the supports 72 at the longitudinal ends of the slats, or equivalent parts thereof, introduces embodiments of the venetian blind according to the invention into a further alternative category. As shown in fig. 12a, only support cords 71 are provided at the longitudinal ends of the slats, while the tilt and lift cords 19, 20 are also positioned relative to the slats as described above. However, it is also possible to provide a lift cord at each longitudinal end of the slats, for example by means of a lift cord 20 'passing through a second aperture 75 in the support 72 and connecting the lift cord 20' to the lowermost slat. By this alternative embodiment, the problem of omitting the lift cords through the apertures of the slats, a primary object of the present invention, is also solved.

Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated in detail in the foregoing sections of the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments of the invention may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope thereof, which is defined by the following claims.

Reference numerals

1. Lath

2. Slat main body portion

3. Longitudinal edge portion of the strip

4. Bottom part of the slat

5. Lath connecting part

6. Gap

7. Base plate

8. Orifice

9. Fabric

10. Inner cavity

11. Connection part of bottom plate

12. Connecting device

13. Third leg part

14. Second leg portion

15. First leg part

16. Middle ring part

17. Connecting rope

18. Retaining ring

19. Inclined rope

20. Lifting rope

21. Connecting device

22. Connecting device

23. Cylindrical rod

24. Circumferential groove

25. Rope

26. Ball body

30. Lift-tilt mechanism

31. Shell body

32. Top board

33. Shaft

34. Motor with a stator having a stator core

35. Connection of motor drive shaft to housing

36. Pipe fitting

37. Pipe fitting jointing device

38. Longitudinal groove

39. Pipe fitting screw thread

40. Static bearing

41. Cylindrical inclined shell

42. Tilting member

43. End of hoisting rope

44. Stationary bearing screw

45. Thread clearance

46. Lift cord port through stationary bearing

47. Clearances in tilting members

48. Spring leaf connected to one side of gap of tilting member

49. Spring leaf connected to the other side of the gap of the tilting member

50. Support base

51. Support base

52. Inner circumferential groove of tilting member

53. Circumferential collar for tilting elements

54. Main body part of tilting member

55. Bottom part of the housing

56. Inclined rope connecting point

57. Inclined rope connecting point

58. Tilt mechanism (second embodiment)

59. Stationary bearing for a tilting mechanism

60. Inclined hub

61. Tilting member

62. Incision

63. Support device

64. Rotatable seat ring

65. Support spring leaf

66. Support part

67. End surface of the support part

68. Static support

69. Pulley wheel

70. Key with a key body

71. Support rope

72. Support piece

73. Orifice

74. End cap

75. Orifice

Claims (27)

1. A venetian blind for covering large medium wall panels, comprising a plurality of parallel elongated slats having front and rear longitudinally extending edge portions (3) connected by a main portion (2), wherein each edge portion (3) comprises a first portion (3 ') extending transversely with respect to the main portion (2) and an opposite second portion (4) forming a space (3 ") therebetween, which edge portion (3) is further provided with a gap (6), said space (3") communicating with the exterior through the gap (6), the width of the gap (6) being smaller than the maximum distance between the first and second portions (3', 4), said gap (6) being adapted for insertion of connecting means (12, 21, 22) into said space (3 ") without the connecting means penetrating the slats, said slats comprising:

-at least two pairs of tilting cords (19) for releasable connection to the front and rear edge portions (3) of the slats by means of a connecting means (12) formed for insertion into said space (3 ") through said gap (6) in engagement with the boundaries (3', 4, 5) of said space (3");

-at least two pairs of lift cords (20) running substantially parallel to the tilt cords (19) and connected to the lowest of the slats.

2. A venetian blind according to claim 1, characterised in that the attachment means comprise a centre ring part (16) attached to the first leg part (15) and the second and third leg parts (14, 13), wherein said first leg part (15) lies substantially in a plane with the centre ring part (16), and said second and third leg parts (14, 13) lie in a plane forming an angle (A) in relation to the plane of the centre ring part (16) and the first leg part (15).

3. Venetian blind according to claim 1, characterised in that each of said pairs of tilt cords (19) and said pairs of lift cords (20) is operated by an independent lift and tilt mechanism (30) provided on a common drive shaft (33) rotationally driven by a common drive means (34).

4. Venetian blind according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said pairs of tilt cords (19) and said pairs of lift cords (20) is operated by a separate lift and tilt mechanism (30) provided on a separate drive shaft (33) of each of said lift and tilt mechanisms (30) rotatably driven by a separate drive means (34).

5. A Venetian blind according to claim 3, characterised in that the drive means (34) is one or more motors securely housed within a drive shaft (33).

6. A Venetian blind according to claim 1, characterised in that each of said lift cords (20) passes through a loop (18) associated with the corresponding tilt cord (19), whereby the lift cords (20) move substantially parallel to the corresponding tilt cord (19).

7. A venetian blind according to claim 1, characterised by comprising two pairs of lift and tilt cords (19, 20), the connection points of each of the two pairs of lift and tilt cords (19, 20) to the slats (2) being at a distance from the longitudinal ends of the slats (2) corresponding to 1/5 being substantially the total length of the slats (2).

8. A venetian blind according to claim 1, characterised in that support cords (71) are provided at each longitudinal end of the slats (2) for engagement with the slats, whereby the stability of the venetian blind is enhanced.

9. A venetian blind according to claim 8, characterised in that the support cords extend through apertures (73) in supports (72) provided at the longitudinal ends of the slats (2).

10. A venetian blind according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the slats (2) are provided with end caps (74) for connecting the supports (72) to the slats (2).

11. A venetian blind according to claim 8, characterised in that the lift cords (20') run parallel to the support cords (71) and through apertures (75) in supports (72) provided at the longitudinal ends of the slats (2).

12. A separate lifting mechanism for a venetian blind according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the lifting mechanism (30) comprises a tube (36) mounted for rotation with the drive shaft (33) and for axial displacement on the drive shaft (33), and guiding means (46) for holding the lifting cord (20) in its proper axial position and guiding the lifting cord (20) to the outer circumferential surface of the tube (36), whereby the lifting cord (20) will be wound helically around the circumferential surface of the tube (36) when the tube (36) is rotated, or unwound from the circumferential surface of the tube (36), so that the slats (2) are lifted or lowered with the rotation of the tube (36).

13. A hoisting mechanism as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that a single thread (39) is provided on the outer circumferential surface of said tube member (36), each groove of the single thread being intended to receive two hoisting cords of a given pair of hoisting cords.

14. The lift mechanism of claim 12, wherein a pair of double threads are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the tubular member (36), each thread for receiving one lift cord of a given pair of lift cords.

15. A lifting mechanism as claimed in claim 13 or 14, characterised in that the single/double thread on the outer circumferential surface of the tubular member (36) engages with a corresponding thread (44) in a stationary bearing (40) supporting the tubular member (36).

16. The lift mechanism of claim 15, wherein the threads are trapezoidal.

17. The lifting mechanism of claim 16, characterized in that a gap (45) is formed between the pipe member (36) and the thread on the stationary bearing (40) for accommodating the lifting cord (20).

18. A self-contained tilt mechanism for a venetian blind according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the tilt mechanism (30) comprises tilt means for connection to the tilt cord (19) of a given lift and tilt cord pair, that the tilt means comprises a cylindrical tilt housing (41) coaxial with and co-rotating with the drive shaft (33), that around the outer circumferential surface of the tilt housing (41) there is arranged a tilt member (42), that the tilt member (42) follows the rotation of the tilt housing (41) due to friction between the tilt member (42) and the tilt housing (41) within a predetermined angular range determined by first means (48, 49), that the first means (48, 49) are arranged on the tilt member (42) and during said rotation are in contact with corresponding stationary abutment means (50, 51), wherein the tilt cords (19) are wound around the tilt member (42) such that rotation of the tilt member in a direction causes one tilt cord of a given pair of tilt cords to unwind from the tilt member (42) and the other tilt cord of the given pair of tilt cords to wind around the tilt member (42).

19. A tilting mechanism according to claim 18, characterized in that said tilting members (42) are radially elastic.

20. A tilting mechanism according to claim 19, characterized in that the tilting member (42) is provided with an axially extending gap (47).

21. A tilting mechanism according to claim 20, characterized in that said tilting member (42) is a tube member comprising a body portion (54) and a collar (53) for defining an intermediate channel (52) for accommodating the tilting cord (19).

22. A tilting mechanism according to claim 21, characterized in that each tilting cable (19)₁，19₂) Are connected to the tilting member (41) at points (56, 57) which are located substantially diametrically opposite each other on the tilting member (42), and the tilting cord is wound around the tilting member (42) in the opposite direction.

23. A self-contained tilting mechanism for a venetian blind according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the tilting mechanism comprises tilting means for connecting the tilting cords (19) of one or more pairs of lift and tilt cords, that the tilting means comprises a tilting hub (60) coaxial with and co-rotating with the drive shaft (33), that around the outer circumferential surface of the tilting hub (60) there is provided a tilting member (61), that the tilting member (61) follows the rotation of the tilting hub (60) due to the friction between the tilting member (61) and the tilting hub (60) within a predetermined angular range determined by first abutment means (63), that the first abutment means (63) is arranged on the tilting member (61) and is brought into contact with abutment tongues (65) arranged on a rotatable abutment ring (64) during said rotation, whereby further rotation of the tilting hub (60) causes the rotatable mount ring (64) to rotate about the tilting hub (60) until further rotation is prevented by engagement of a portion of the rotatable mount ring (64) with the stationary mount means (68), wherein said tilting cords (19) are wound around the tilting members (61), whereby rotation of the tilting members (61) in one direction causes one of a given pair of tilting cords to unwind from the tilting members (61) and the other of the given pair of tilting cords to wind around the tilting members (61).

24. A tilting mechanism according to claim 23, characterized in that said tilting members (61) are radially elastic.

25. A tilting mechanism according to claim 23, characterized in that said tilting member (61) has an axially extending cut-out (62).

26. A tilting mechanism according to claim 23, characterized in that each tilting cable (19)₁，19₂) Is connected to points on the tilting member (61) which are located substantially diametrically opposite to each other on the tilting member (61), and the tilting cord is wound around the tilting member (61) in the opposite direction.

27. A tilting mechanism according to claim 23, characterized in that said portion of the rotatable mount ring (64) is provided with circumferentially spaced end faces (67), whereby the circumferential extension of said portion is used to set the range of rotation of the tilting members (61) about the tilting hub (60).