Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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WINDOW BLIND FOR DECORATION AND SUN PROTECTION
The invention relates to a window decoration/sun
protection in the form of a horizontal or vertical slatted
blind.
The invention also relates to a window decoration/sun
protection in the form of a pleated blind, comprising an
upper box and a lower beam, while between the upper box and
the lower beam, in the condition ready for use, there is
exclusively located a sheet-shaped material pleated in one
piece:
The invention also relates to a. window decoration/sun
protection in the form of a single-layer roller blind capable
of being wound up at its upper side.
Accordingly, such window decorations are frequently
applied in offices where computers are used. The screens of
the computers prove to be properly readable only when the
incident light from outside is sufficiently subdued. As it
turns out, the window decorations know per se can subdue the
light sufficiently for rendering a screen positioned at a
workplace properly readable. However, a drawback of the known
window decorations is that the use of these decorations is
experienced as unpleasant. Tests have; shown that persons
present in a space in which the windows are provided with the
known window decorations will, after a passage of time, start
to feel unwell, which may lead to mer.Etal and physical
strains.
The object of the invention is to provide a solution
to the above-outlined problem. To th3.s end, the window
decorations according to the invention are each characterized
in that the window decoration, when brought into a condition
ready for use, comprises a first face. extending in horizontal
direction over at least substantially the full width of the
window decoration and that the window decoration, when
brought into the condition ready for use, comprises a second
face extending in horizontal direction of the window
decoration, the first face transmitting at least
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substantially no light (non-transparent or semi-transparent?,
the second face subduing the incident light such that a
person present at his workplace in an. inner space provided
with the window decoration can still look outside through the
second face, the first face being located above the second
face .
As a person can still look out:~ide to a certain extent
through the second face and distinguish at least some
contours of the outside world, he proves not to feel
IO oppressed any longer. Also when a person stays for a longer
period in a space provided with a window decoration according
to the invention, it turns out that the above-mentioned
physical and mental strains do not occur any longer.
Also, the screens still prove t:o be properly readable,
in spite of the transmission of a certain amount of light
through~the second face. However, this is compensated for by
the fact that the first face transmits at least substantially
no light, so that the total light transmission of the window
decoration is sufficiently low to enable reading the screens
properly.
Preferably, it applies that the second face extends at
least substantially over the full width of the window
decoration. This last will be the ca~~e in particular when the
window decoration itself is approximately as wide as a windUw
or door in front of which the window decoration is located.
Further, it applies in particular that the first and
second faces adjoin each other.
Also, it will generally apply that the second face
extends down to a lower side of the window decoration.
However, this is not required. Also, it generally applies
that the first face extends up to thE= upper side of the
window decoration. However, this is not required either,
because-at the upper side of the window decoration, there may
further be present a face whose properties deviate from those
of the first face.
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Tn particular, it applies that the first and second
faces each have a rectangular shape. tMay be horizontal or
vertical).
The invention may be applied to horizontal slatted
blinds, vertical slatted blinds, roller blinds, pleated
blinds, folding curtains, panel curtains, lace curtains, and
the like, as will hereinafter be further explained with
reference to the accompanying drawings. In these drawings:
Fig. 1 shows a first embodime~.it of a horizontal
slatted blind and a pleated blind according to the invention
when this blind is fitted at a window of an inner space in
which a workplace is located;
Fig. 2a is a side elevation of the slatted blind of
Fig. l;
Fig. 2b is a side elevation of the pleated blind of
Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 shows a first embodiment for a roller blind
according to the invention;
Fig. 4 shows a first embodiment of a vertical slatted
blind according to the invention;
Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment of a vertical slatted
blind according to the invention;
Fig. 6 shows a second embodiment of a roller blind
according to the invention; and
Fig. 7 shows a second embodiment of a horizontal
slatted blind and a pleated blind according to the invention.
In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 designates a window
decoration/sun protection in the form of a horizontal slatted
blind according to the invention. The slatted blind 1 is
mounted on a wall 2 of an inner space 4 containing a
workplace 6 with a picture screen 8.
In this example, the horizontal slatted blind is in
use, i.e. the horizontal slatted blind is in its expanded
condition. Fig. 2a is a side elevation of the slatted blind.
The slatted blind comprises he>rizontal slats 10,
attached in a manner known per se to a horizontal upper box,
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known per se. Located in the,upper box 12 is a mechanism for
hoisting and folding-in the window dE~coration by means of a
hoist cord 18. A number of these slats 10.1 of a first type
form a face whose width is indicated by an arrow B in the
drawing and whose height is indicated by an arrow I in the
drawing. Further, a number of slats :L0.2 of a second type-
form a second face whose width is ag<~.in indicated by the
arrow B in the drawing and whose height is indicated by an
arrow II in the drawing.
Tn this example, the slats 10.1 of the first type are
designed so as to transmit at least ;substantially no light.
Further, the slats 10.2 of the second type are of such design
that they transmit incident light from outside in subdued
form. For this purpose, the.slats 10.2 of the second type are
perforated in a manner known per se .and each comprise a large
number of small apertures. '
As a result, in the apparatus according to Fig. 1, the
window decoration, when brought into a condition ready for
use, comprises a first face (B, I) extending in horizontal
direction over at least substantially the full width and in
this example even over the entire width of the window
decoration, and the window decoration in this condition
comprises a second face (B, II) extending in horizontal
direction of the window decoration, the first face
transmitting at least substantially no light, the second face
subduing the incident light such that the person present in
an inner space at his workplace can still look outside
through the second face, the first face being located above
the second face.
In this example, it also applies that the second face
(B, II) extends over at least substantially the full width of
the window decoration and in this example even over the
entire width. Further, in this case, it applies that the
first and the second face adjoin each other. Moreover, the
second face extends down to the lower side 14 of the window
decoration. In turn, the first face extends up to an upper
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side 16 of the window decoration. In this example, it also
applies that the first face (B, I) i;~ higher than the second
face (B, II ) .
The slats 10.1 of the first type can, for ir_stance, be
5 of aluminum, plastic or wooden design. It also applies that
the slats of the second type 10.2 may be constructed of the
same materials. It is also possible i~hat the slats of the
second type 10.2 are manufactured from transparent plastic,
in which case perforation is not necessary.-
In the situation as show in Fig. l, a person,who is
present at the workplace 6 and wishes to read the screen 8,
will be able to do so in a proper manner. Due to a
combination of the first face, transmitting no light, with
the second face which does actually 'transmit a portion of the
light from outside, the total amount of incident light is
sufficiently subdued to provide that the screen 8 remains
properly readable. At the same time, a person present at the
workplace 6 is still able to look outside through the second
face (B, II) and distinguish at least some contours of the
outside world. In this example, a number of tress 2o are
vaguely visible.
If the window decoration is deaigned as a pleated
blind, comprising a sheet-shaped material pleated in one
piece, its appearance will be comparable to Fig. 1. This
window decoration comprises an ~apper box 12 and a lower beam
21, while between the upper box 12 and the lower beam 21, in
the (expanded) condition ready for use, there is exclusively
located a sheet-shaped material pleated in one piece.
However, this material, pleated in one piece, may be built up
from different sheets of material. T'he first face is then
formed by a pleated, sheet-shaped material 22 which transmits
at least substantially no Light (non-transparent or semi-
transparent; see Fig. 2b). The second face is formed by a
pleated, sheet-shaped material 24 which transmits incident
light at least partially. The sheet-shaped firs material 22
may, for instance, consist of a cloth having a coating of
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aluminum applied thereto by vaporization. The same holds for
the second pleated sheet-shaped material 24, in which,
however, a perforation has moreover been provided in the
sheet-shaped material, so that a person present at the
workplace can still look outside to some extent. The second
pleated sheet-shaped material may also consist of a
transparent cloth. The first and second sheet-shaped
materials are directly interconnected and constitute the
sheet-shaped material pleated in one piece, in other words:
without intermediate beam between the first and second sheet-
shaped materials 22, 24 and the like. The connection may
consist of a layer of adhesive 25.
Fig. 3 shows a second possible embodiment of a window
decoration according to the invention. Here, corresponding
parts have been provided with the same reference numerals.
In the window decoration according to Fig. 3, the
window decoration is designed as a single-layer roller blind
of the type which can be wound up on a roll 12 at the upper
side 16. In this window decoration, the first face (B, I) is
formed by a cloth 26 of the roller blind, which cloth 26
transmits at least substantially no light. The second face
(B, II) of the roller blind is formed, by a second cloth 28 of
the roller blind, which second cloth transmits incident light
partially. The first cloth can again consist, for instance,
of textile with a plasticized rear side. It may also consist
of entirely plasticized cloth and texaile having an aluminum
coating applied thereto by vaporization.
The second cloth 28 may, for instance, consist of
gauze, dark-colored transparent plastic, transparent cloth,
.30 textile having an aluminum coating that has been perfarated,
etc. The first and second cloths can again be attached to
each other by means of adhesive 25 and together form a single
layer which can be wound onto the ro7.1 12 for opening the
roller blind.
Fig. 4 shows a fourth variant of the window decoration
according to the invention. Parts corresponding to those of
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the preceding Figures have been provided with the same
reference numerals. In the window decoration according to
Fig. 4, it applies that it is designed as a vertical slatted
blind. The first face (B, I) and the second face (B, II) are
each formed by the same vertical slats 30.
Further, it applies to each of these slats that they
transmit at least substantially no light for a first portion
32 of the slats located in the first face (B, I) and that
these slats comprise a second portion. 34 which partially
transmits the light, said second portion forming part of the
second face (B, II) . The above can for instance be realized
by manufacturing the slats 30 from aluminum and/or plastic
(PVC), while only the lower sides of the slats, i.e. the
portion 34 of each of the slats, is perforated. Other
variants are slats which are each manufactured from colored,
transparent plastic which partially transmits incident light,
while it moreover applies that the first portion 32 of each
of the slats is provided with a coating that transmits at
least substantially no light. Accordingly, the effect is
again that the first face (B, I) extends in horizontal
direction over the full width of the window decoration and
transmits at least substantially no 7_ight, and that the
second face (B, II) likewise extends in horizontal direction,
in this case even over the entire width of the window
decoration, the second face subduing the incident light in
such a manner that the person present: at his workplace in the
inner space can still look outside through the second face,
the first face being located above the second face.
Fig. 5 shows a window decoration which at least
substantially corresponds to the window decoration of Fig. 4.
In this case, however, the slats are of longer design, to
form a third face (B, III) . This third face (B, III) can, for
instance, have the same properties a;s the second face (B,
II). Each slat 30 then comprises a third portion 34 having
the same properties as the portion 3:2 of the relevant slat.
However, it is also possible that th~~ third face (B, III) has
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the same properties as the first face: (B, I). Each slat 30
then comprises a third portion 36 having the same properties
as the portion 22 of the relevant slat. The face (B, III)
can, for instance, be located below the window sill and need
not be especially partially light-transmitting for creating
the possibility of looking outside therethrough. Also if,the
window extended down to the floor 40, the third face (B, III)
may be designed for transmitting no light. Indeed, a person
present at his workplace can always 7.ook outside to some
extent via the second face (B, II). Of course, the third face
(B, _III) may also have properties regarding light
transmission that differ from those of the first and second ,
faces (B, I) and (B, II) . ,
Fig. 6 shows the roller blind according to Fig. 3,
with the understanding that it is likewise enlarged by a face
(B, III) having the same properties <~s discussed in relation
to Fig. 5. Hence, the face (B, III) rnay be manufactured from
the same cloth as the cloth from which the face (B, II) is
manufactured. It is also possible th<~t the face (B, TII) is
manufactured from the same cloth as i~he cloth of the face (B,
I). Where they adjoin each other, the different cloths used
can readily be glued together. Such variants are each
understood to fall within the framework of the invention.
Also to the window decoration according to Fig. 2
(relating both to a horizontal blind and to a pleated blind),
it applies that it may further be provided with a third face
(B, III), see Fig. 7. In the case where a horizontal blind is
concerned, the horizontal slats located in the face (B, III)
may be identical to the horizontal slats located in the face
B, II or to the horizontal slats located in the face B, I.
Such variants also fall within the framework of the
invention. When the apparatus according to Fig. 7 forms a
pleated blind, the material from which the pleated blind is
formed in the face (B, III) may correspond to the material of
the pleated blind in the face (B, II) or in the face (B, I)
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or be of further deviating material. Such variants fall
within the framework of the invention. as well.
In the foregoing, the first facie and the first face
are each of rectangular design. However, it is also
conceivable that; for instance, the second face has a shape
differing from the rectangle. It is also possible that the
vertical slatted blind (Figs. 4, 5) i.s on one or either side
enlarged with additional slats which are entirely or
partially transparent and/or non-transparent. The slats may,
for instance, be suspended beyond a window in front of a wall
and, for instance, exclusively have a decorative function. It
is also possible that two or more vertical slatted blinds
according to the invention are fitted on one horizontal rail
or box 12, for instance for suspending in front of two or
more windows. Before an interspace between the windows,
additional slats may then be suspended from the horizontal
rail or box 12. These additional slats may again be entirely
or partially transparent and/or non-transparent and form
again additional window decorations.
20. In the embodiments outlined hereinabove, the first
face (B, I) extends at least substantially over the full
width of the window decoration.
Of course, the horizontal blinds, (Figs. 1, 2a, 7);
pleated blinds (Figs. 1, 2b) or roller blind (Fig. 6) may
also be one-sidedly or two-sidedly widened utilizing
additionally longer slats or additionally wider, sheet-shaped
material. The widened parts may then have properties similar
to or different from those of the material of the faces (B,
I), (B, II) or (B, III) and constitute additional window
decorations. Such variants are each understood to fall within
the framework of the invention.
