Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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COVERING ASSEMBLY FOR ARCHITECTURAL OPENINGS
The present invention relates to a covering
assembly particularly for windows, doors and other
architectural openings.
There are many known forms of covering assemblies
for windows, doors and the like including curtains, roller
blinds, venetian blinds, drapery and the like. Recently
there has been proposed a window covering assembly which
0 includes a first and second generally parallel spaced apart
vertically extending sheer fabrics having a plurality of
spaced generally parallel transversely extending vanes
fixedly secured to the first and second sheer fabrics to
extend therebetween.
The sheer fabrics are often constructed of a
translucent or transparent material and may be in the form
of woven or knitted fabrics or non-woven fabrics or indeed
may simply be sheets of plastics material. The vanes are
usually opaque or semi-opaque and by adjusting the relative
positions of the sheer fabrics, the vanes can be caused to
tilt relative to the sheer fabrics rather in the manner of
the slats of a horizontal or vertical blind. Conventionally
the vanes extend horizontally in such assemblies and the
sheer fabrics are supported on a tilt roll which can also be
used as a wind up roll. Also known are vertical venetian
blinds in which the individual vanes extend vertically; such
assemblies have a head rail for opening and closing the
assembly and for tilting the vanes when the assembly is in
the closed position covering the opening.
It is a primary object of the present invention to
provide a novel covering assembly that will have all of the
attributes and advantages of a vertical blind while having
all the attributes and advantages of drapery.
The foregoing is accomplished by providing a
vertically oriented fabric assembly with front and rear
sheers and vertically disposed vanes extending therebetween.
A unique carrier system supports the front and rear sheers
2 208580 1-
to enable them to shift from a maximum light admitting
orientation to a minimum light admitting orientation by
rotating the vanes about vertical axes. The carrier system
also enables the panels of the assembly defined as a vane
and the juxtaposed portions of the front and rear sheers, to
collapse and fold up upon themselves much like conventional
drapery. A further important feature of the present
invention is that the front and rear sheers should have
diagonal stability so that when the vanes are operated, by
one means or another, at the top, the diagonal stability
ensures that the vanes operate equally well at their
bottoms.
In order that the present invention may more
readily be understood, the following description is given,
merely by way of example, reference being made to the
accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of one
embodiment of fabric light window covering used in a light
control assembly of the present invention;
Figures la and lb show (as viewed under the
microscope) two different forms of sheer fabric material
suitable for use with the assembly of Figure 1;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a head rail and
one embodiment of carrier used for mounting the covering of
Figure l;
Figure 3 is a schematic side elevation showing how
a sheer fabric is mounted on a hanger of a carrier of Figure
2;
Figure 4 is a plan view of a carrier of Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a schematic top plan view showing the
fabric covering open and where the hanger of the carrier is
attached to the sheer fabric;
Figure 6 is a schematic top plan view showing the
fabric covering nearly closed;
Figure 7 is a schematic top plan view showing the
fabric covering over-closed;
Figure 8 is a schematic top plan view showing the
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fabric covering collapsed or drawn back state;
Figure 9 is a schematic top plan view showing the
over-closed position of Figure 7 in enlarged detail;
Figure 10 is an elevational view, part broken away
of a modified carrier assembly;
Figure 11 is a sectional elevational view of the
modified assembly;
Figure 12 is an enlarged plan view of the modified
assembly;
Figure 13 is a schematic showing cords for moving
carriers and a tilt rod;
Figure 14 is a somewhat schematic view of another
modified carrier assembly;
Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 14 of still
another modified carrier assembly;
Figure 16 is ~ view similar to Figure 14 of a
further modified carrier assembly;
Figure 17 is an fragmentation plan view on the
line XVII-XVII the carrier assembly of Figure 16;
Figure 18 is a schematic perspective view of a
further embodiment of window covering according to the
invention;
Figure 19 is a top view of the covering of Figure
18 in the stretched state;
Figure 20 is a view similar to Figure 18 of a
still further embodiment;
Figure 21 is a perspective view of a still further
embodiment;
Figure 22 is an enlarged cross-sectional plan of
the assembly of Figure 21;
Figure 23 is a schematic perspective view of a
still further embodiment of window covering according to the
invention;
Figure 24 is an enlarged cross-section showing the
assembly of Figure 23;
Figure 25 is a schematic perspective view of a
further embodiment of assembly according to the invention;
Fi 26 i d 1 2tOi 8 5 8fOth bl f
Figure 25;
Figure 27 is a view similar to Figure 26 of a
slightly modified version; and
Figure 28 is a schematic perspective view of yet
another embodiment of blind assembly according to the
invention.
A fabric light control window covering (Figure 1)
comprises first (front) and second (rear) parallel
translucent or transparent fabric sides or faces 10,12 and a
plurality of opaque or semi-opaque vanes 14 extending
between the fabric sides with the vanes being angularly
controllable by relative movement of the fabric sides. The
fabric sides are preferably sheer fabrics and will be so
referenced hereafter.
The window covering has a neat and uniform
construction and outer appearance in all degrees of light
control. The light control vanes are bonded to the sheer
fabric utilizing linear application of a suitable adhesive
along straight bond lines 16 and, thus, a high degree of
controllability of the adhesive application process and
bonding of the vane is obtained. The precisely uniform
construction improves the operation of the covering by
preventing warps or distortions from developing over its
life.
The covering operates with a high degree of
repeatability, that is, always returns to the same
appearance when closed. Thus, a feature of the present
invention is attachment of the vanes to the sheer fabric
sides such that the vanes tend to bias the window covering
toward the minimum light admitting position. A further
feature of the invention in this respect is a novel heat
setting of the three layers together in order to provide a
uniform and wrinkle-free shade at any temperature in
subsequent use. These features allow the window covering to
maintain its original shape and appearance even in the
presence of temperature extremes encountered in a window
environment. 2 0 8 5 8 0 1
Accordingly, a fabric light control shade (door or
window covering) according to the present invention
comprises a first sheer fabric sheet, a second sheer fabric
sheet disposed parallel to the first sheet, and a plurality
of relatively opaque fabric vanes adhesively bonded
transversely between the sheet fabrics. Each vane has a
edge portion bonded to the first sheet and an opposite edge
portion bonded to the second sheet in a manner tending to
bias the first and second sheets together. The window
covering according to the present invention is adjustable
between a closed position, minimum or no light entry,
preferably no see through, and an open position, maximum
light entry. The closed position is characterized by a
central portion of the fabric strips being substantially
parallel to the first ar.d second sheer fabric sheets with
the strips themselves being substantially planar; in this
position, the front and rear sheets with vanes sandwiched
therebetween are collapsed together. The open position is
characterized by the central portion of the fabric strips
being substantially perpendicular to the first and second
fabric sheets and to the bonded edge portions of the strips
themselves; in this position the front and rear sheets are
spaced apart the maximum distance. Also, characteristic of
this position is that portions of the strips between the
bonded edge portions and central portions form smoothly
curving surfaces which are free of creases or sharp folds.
In an alternative embodiment, the central portions of the
fabric strips are substantially flat and longitudinally
extending hinge or flex points are provided parallel to the
bonded edge portions. The covering is adjustable between
the two positions by relatively shifting the front and rear
sheets 10,12. This action moves them closer and closer
together until they are collapsed together. In intermediate
positions the light control is achieved.
When the window covering material is in a fully
open, light admitting position, each vane has a central
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6 208580 1
portion which is substantially perpendicular to the first
and second sheer fabrics. Edge portions of the vanes, which
are bonded to the sheer fabrics, are connected to the
central portion by transition portions having a smoothly
curving shape. The adhesive bonding of the vanes allows
formation without creases or sharp folds. The smoothly
curved nature of these transition portions, in the fully
open position, allows the vane to retain its resiliency and
thus tends to bias the sheer fabrics into a closed or drawn
together position. This ensures that the window covering
does not lose its shape over time from repeated opening and
closing. Furthermore, creases along the vanes can develop
into failure points due to repeated bending inherent in the
opening and closing of the window covering.
Moire effect must be avoided in the window
covering. Although sheer woven fabrics having small
interstices between the fibers provide a pleasant and
desirable appearance for the first (front) and second (rear)
sheer fabrics, when the same or very similar material of
this type is used for the first and second sheer fabrics, a
moire pattern is created by the fabrics when viewed in
overlaying relationship due to light interference effects.
This moire effect is eliminated in the present invention by
providing for the first and second sheers woven and
preferably knit fabrics of materials having differently
sized, shape and/or oriented interstices. According to the
present invention, the moire effect is also avoided by using
a nonwoven sheer material as one or both of the first and
second fabrics or by using a transparent plastic material as
one or both of the first and second fabrics.
To avoid the undesirable moire effect when the
first and second sheets of woven or knit material are viewed
in overlying relation in the window covering of the present
invention, the first and second sheers must have different
appearances when the sheer panels are viewed along an axis
perpendicular to the planes of the first and second sheer
fabrics. The required difference in appearance between the
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. .
first sheer and the second sheer can be achieved in several
different ways.
The first or front sheer 10 can be a woven or knit
fabric having interstices of one shape and size and the
second or rear sheer 12 can be a woven or knit material
having interstices of a second shape and/or size and/or
orientation. For example, the threads of the first sheer
may run at an angle in range 30 to 60 relative to the
vertical but in a preferred form run at an angle of 45
relative to vertical. The threads of the first sheer, for
example, may run diagonally, forming diamonds, whereas the
threads of the second sheer may run orthogonally forming
squares. With this relationship between first and second
sheers, the appearance of a moire pattern can be avoided.
Also, as described in more detail below, it is desirable
that both sheer fabrics should have dimensional stability on
the bias or diagonal.
It is also possible to avoid the moire effect and
provide the required difference in appearance by using a
nonwoven sheer material, such as a plastic film material,
for one of the sheers and a woven or knit material for the
other of the sheers of the covering. Alternatively,
nonwoven sheer materials, such as those formed from the same
or different plastic fibres, can be used for both the first
and second sheers. A translucent or transparent plastic
film material can also be used as the first and/or second
fabric. The use of a transparent material for at least one
of the first and second fabrics also avoids the moire
effect.
To achieve a suitable structure of the vanes, the
vane material must have a certain degree of softness. As a
general principle, the wider the vanes 14, the stiffer the
vane material can be. However, since a broad range of vane
widths may be employed in window coverings in accordance
with the present invention, it is difficult to precisely
define an acceptable softness or stiffness range for the
vane material.
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A simple and effective physical test has been
devised to determine whether a particular fabric is suitable
for vanes having a specific vane width. The fabric being
tested is allowed to hang over the edge of a table such that
the distance from the edge of the fabric to the table top
equals the desired vane width. If this width of fabric
hangs substantially vertically, then it has sufficient
softness for a vane of that vane width. For example, if a
fabric is being tested for use as a 50mm wide vane, the edge
of the fabric is extended 50mm beyond the edge of the table.
If the extended 50mm of the fabric hangs substantially
vertically from the table edge, it is suitable for use as a
50mm wide vane material. If the extended 50mm of the fabric
does not hang substantially vertically, the fabric is too
stiff to produce 50mm wide vanes having the gently curved
appearance.
Stiffer fabrics, i.e., those which do not hang
substantially vertically over a table edge at the length of
the desired vane width, can also be used as the vane
material. However, if a stiffer fabric is used for the
vanes, longitudinally extending hinge or flex points must be
provided along the edges of the vanes. The use of a stiffer
fabric provided with hinge points produces a covering having
a somewhat different appearance. In these circumstances,
vanes have a straighter appearance and have a sharp bend at
the hinge points, rather than a gently curving portion. The
hinge points may be provided by score-compressing a stiff
vane material, parallel to the longitudinal edges of the
vane material. The score-compressed lines formed in the
stiff vane material are spaced apart from the longitudinal
edge of the vane material a distance sufficient to allow
adhesive lines to be applied to the vane material between
the longitudinal edge of the vane material and the score-
compressed line.
A structure of the above type can also be produced
using a soft vane material as previously described. In this
embodiment, a stiffening agent is printed on the vane
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- 208580 1
material in the central portion thereof to provide flatter
vanes. The longitudinal edges of the vane material are left
free of stiffening agent and the required hinge points are
formed at the longitudinally extending edges of the printed
on stiffening agent. The adhesive lines are applied to the
longitudinal edges of the vane material, which longitudinal
edges have been left free of stiffening agent.
According to another embodiment of the present
invention, the vanes are formed of a black-out laminate
material to maximize the room darkening effect of the window
covering when the vanes are oriented in the closed position.
A suitable black-out laminate material is a three play
laminate comprising a polyester film such as MYLAR
sandwiched between two layers of a spun bonded or spun laced
polyester nonwoven material. Such a three play laminate
has, by virtue of its ccnstruction, a greater stiffness than
most single ply materials. Accordingly, score-compressed
hinge points could be provided in the black-out laminate
vane material if necessary.
Alternatively, to produce a covering of the
present invention having a maximized room darkening effect,
only a stiffened central portion of the vanes is formed from
a black-out laminate material. The longitudinal edges of
the vanes are left free of the black-out laminate to provide
the required hinge points and flexibility along the edges of
the vanes. When the black-out laminate is provided only on
the central portion of the vanes, it is desirable to space
the vanes closer together than described above in order to
ensure that the black-out laminated central portions overlap
when the covering is closed, for maximum room darkening
effect. For example, for a 63.5mm wide vane with a 38mm
wide black-out laminated central portion, the overlap of the
vanes is preferable about 13mm.
Another possible vane material is vinyl or a
laminate of a nonwoven material and a vinyl material.
Generally, vinyl materials and laminates of nonwoven
material and a vinyl material provide an increased room
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darkening effect but are soft enough that score-compressed
hinge points are not required. Of course, score-compressed
hinge points could be provided if necessary.
As discussed with respect to the first and second
sheers of the covering, when two woven fabrics are viewed in
an overlaying relationship, an interference pattern or moire
effect can result. When a nonwoven fabric is used for the
vane material, the problem of a moire effect in the covering
when it is closed is avoided. In some instances, however,
it may be desirable to use a woven or knit material for the
vane material. A basic woven material will give a moire
effect because this type of material has a very ordered
orthogonal surface structure. To avoid a moire effect when
the covering, having a woven or knit vane material, is in
the closed position, a crepe woven materials can be used as
the vane material becau~e crepe woven materials have a much
more randomly oriented surface structure. Alternatively,
the surface of the woven or knit material can be altered to
randomize the surface fibers, for example, by sanding,
napping or calenderizing.
Coverings having first and second sheer fabrics
and vanes of various colours, and combinations of colours
are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
For example, to provide a more transparent covering in the
open position, dark sheer material can be used for the first
and second sheers because dark colours reflect less light
than lighter colours. Similarly, white or light coloured
sheer materials provide a more translucent effect when the
covering is open.
The vanes may be the same colour or a different
colour than the first and second sheer fabrics. A problem
of glue line show-through has been experienced, however,
when the vane material is a dark colour and the first and
second sheer fabrics are of a considerably lighter colour or
white. To overcome the problem of a dark glue line showing
through a light coloured sheer material when the vane is
adhesively bonded to the first and second sheer fabric of
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1l
the covering, a small amount of whitener, about 0.5 to 1.0%
by weight, is added to the adhesive before it is applied to
the vane material. A particularly suitable whitener is
titanium dioxide. The addition of this whitening pigment to
the adhesive eliminates the problem of dark coloured glue
lines being visible in a covering wherein a dark coloured
vane is adhesively bonded to a lighter coloured sheer
fabric. Also, the addition of titanium dioxide to the glue
can be a way to dull the glue lines.
With respect to the vanes, it has been
unexpectedly found that by increasing the machine-direction
or lengthwise tension on the material prior to and during
application of a binder composition, the machine-direction
stiffness of the treated fabric is advantageously and
significantly increased with a slight decreased in cross-
direction stiffness of the treated fabric. The strips used
for the vanes are cut from the treated fabric. A high ratio
of machine-direction stiffness to cross-direction stiffness
is desirable in the treated fabric, particularly when the
treated fabric is to be fabricated into vanes. Depending
upon the type and number of yarns in the woven textile
material, the ratio of machine-direction stiffness to cross-
direction stiffness for treated fabric according to this
invention can range from between about 3:1 to 50:1, or more.
2S Increasing the machine-direction tension on the
woven material while allowing neck down or letting the
fabric go slack in the cross-direction causes the warp yarn
filaments to draw in tightly and then the applied binder
composition bonds these warp yarn filaments together such
that the bonded filaments act as one much stiffer yarn. The
lack of tension in the cross-direction allows the fill
direction filaments to remain fluffy and, therefore, to not
bond as easily to one another when the binder composition is
applied.
3s In this process of treating the woven textile
material to produce the treated fabric for the vanes, the
fabric is treated with a low percentage (up to about S%) by
12 2~ 8~
weight solids add on of a binder composition. The preferred
binder composition is applied to the woven textile material
in an amount of about 2% by weight solids add on.
The binder composition with which the woven
textile material is treated can be any suitable composition
capable of filling the interstices in the woven textile
material to bind the individual fibers. Examples of
suitable types of binder compositions include elastomers
which are capable of binding the individual fibers of the
0 woven textile material and which are resistant to
ultraviolet (W) radiation and to breakdown or degradation
due to other environmental factors. Especially preferred
compositions are elastomeric acrylics and elastomeric
urethane-type compositions.
The maximum spacing of the front and rear sheers
is dependent on the vane width. According to the invention
vane widths of 50 to 150mm before assembly are used but 63.5
to lOOmm widths are preferred. In the best mode for
carrying out the invention the maximum spacing between the
front and rear fabrics is 67mm using vanes 89mm wide with
76mm spacing between successive vanes to achieve an
appropriate vane overlap.
It is also desirable for both sheer fabrics 10 and
12 to have dimensional stability generally in the bias or
diagonal lines as indicated by the arrows A and B in Figure
1. The reason for this is as follows.
In a window covering of this nature, the covering
is opened and closed by moving the front and rear sheer
fabrics 10 and 12 horizontally relative to each other,
conveniently by forces which are applied to the top edges of
the respective sheers by actuators, or the like yet to be
described. When the covering is being closed, the sheers
are moved in the horizontal directions indicated by arrows C
and D. During this operation, to provide effective closure
of the vane over the entire height of the covering the front
sheer 10 should be dimensionally stable diagonally, i.e., in
the direction of arrows A, and the back sheer 12 should also
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be dimensionally stable in the direction of arrows B.
Conversely, when the covering is being opened and the sheers
are moved horizontally in directions opposite arrows C and
D, in order to ensure uniform turning of the vanes from top
to bottom the front sheer 10 should be dimensionally stable
in the direction of arrows B and the back sheer 12 should be
dimensionally stable in the direction of arrows A.
The diagonal stability referenced above can be
obtained from knitted fabrics and such fabrics are
0 preferable for use in the present invention. Knitted
fabrics can be formed in numerous configurations including
those where the knitted yarns run diagonally of the fabric
and thus promote the desired stability. Commercially
available knitted patterns are illustrated in Figures la and
lb and either would be suitable for use in the present
invention. By utilizina the knitted patters of Figure la
for the front or the back sheer and the knitted pattern of
Figure lb for the other sheer, the undesirable moire effect
can be avoided.
This can be best achieved by having the front
sheer 10, i.e., that facing the interior of the room, formed
of a knit material such as that illustrated in Figure lb.
This is a tulle-type fabric made on a warp knitter which is
characterized by diamond-shaped interstices 27. The diamond
shapes effectively counter diagonal forces as well as help
to cancel out moire patterns in conjunction with the more
orthogonal structure of the rear sheer.
The rear sheer 12, which generally faces the
window or outdoors, is best formed of a knit material such
as that illustrated in Figure la. This type of fabric is
also made on a warp knitter. It will be seen that such a
fabric, as viewed under the microscope, has a plurality of
generally parallel bundles of yarn. These bundles are
joined by a plurality of generally transverse extending very
fine yarns 15,17,19,21. These yarns extend diagonally
upward and to the right at slightly different angles to the
horizontal on one side of each bundle 1 and extend
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14
downwardly and to the left, again at these different angles
to the other side of the bundles.
The above-described fabric structure produces
diagonal dimensional stability to the fabric in the
direction of the arrows A and B in Figure 1 and yet provides
considerable lateral softness and longitudinal strength.
The fabric light control window or door covering
is to be supported from carriage assemblies 20 (Figure 2)
that have freely rotatably mounted wheels 22 that ride on
tracks 24 defined by a conventional drapery track generally
designated as 26. The main body 28 of the carriage is a
plastic molded body in which is held a bearing for a gear
30, easily pushed into the body, and is in meshing
engagement with a worm 32 journalled in body 28 and operated
by a splined tilt rod 34 which extends through the worms of
all the carriers. Rotation of rod 34 via a wand, cord 35
(Figure 13), or the like drives worm 32 causing worm gear 30
to rotate. Optionally, a stop may be included to confine
worm gear 30 to less than 360 rotation. All of the above
is conventional and may be seen, e.g., in US-A-4648436,
which disclosure is here incorporated by reference.
Spacers, not shown, are mounted to assemblies 20 in a
conventional manner via a slot in body 28 and to a cord 29,
spindle or the like in a conventional manner to effect the
conventional drawing action to spread out the carriage
assemblies 20 along the track or to gather them at one end.
Alternatively, a conventional scissors arrangement can be
used to replace the spacers. Furthermore, the spacer or
scissors arrangement may be omitted so that the front and
rear fabric define the distance between carriers when the
light control covering is in its expanded condition.
A threaded shaft 40 is fixed to worm gear 30 and
extends below or depends from the main body 28 via bearing
projection 31 and has an L shaped actuator control element
42 fixed thereon by a nut 43 holding the horizontal leg of
element 42 fixed to shaft 40. Shaft 40 extends further
downwardly passing freely through an actuator arm 44 and has
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a pair of nuts 46 threaded onto its lower end to lock and
establish a stop and provide height adjustment.
Arm 44 extends for a distance at least equal to
the maximum opening of the covering, e.g., 67mm and at
either end is connected with a hanger or an attachment
member 50 consisting of a paddle like lower end having a
hole 52 adjacent its lower free end and an upper end that is
freely pivotally mounted in the end of arm 44 by any
conventional mounting means. A spring 58 is fixed at one
0 end to the arm 44, such as by passing through hole 54 in arm
44 and being bent or crimped. The other end of spring 58 is
fixed to the depending leg of actuator element 42 in a like
manner. When splined tilt rod 34 is actuated and drives
worm 32, worm gear 30 via element 42 and spring 58 will
cause arm 44 to rotate around shaft 40.
Hanger 50 may consist of a body 70 in the form of
a T with a pair of deflectable spaced headed or barbed
connectors 72 extending upwardly from the top of the cross
bar of the T for insertion into the hole at the end of arm
44 as shown in Figure 3. A hole at the lower end of the
depending leg of the T cooperates with a pin 73 having a
pair of spaced deflectable barbed heads. As shown in Figure
5, the light control covering is mounted on the arm 44 by
attaching one hanger 50 to the front sheer, on its inside
face precisely at the glue joint formed between a vane and
the front sheer. The other hanger 50, at the other end of
arm 44 is attached to the inside face of the rear sheer at a
point displaced from the glue joint for the same vane in the
direction toward the front sheer attachment for that vane.
The top inside edge of the front and rear sheers can be
provided with a reinforcing strip 74 so pin 72 can clamp the
top edge of the sheers to hangers as shown in Figure 3.
The light control covering is mounted over a
window with its vanes extending vertically. Actuator arms
44 of the respective carriers 20 are preferably attached to
the covering for every other vane as shown in Figure 5,
which shows the covering fully extended over a window or
16 208580 1
other opening and in the open position (maximum light
passage). Alternatively the carrier may be provided at
every third or fourth vane. To move the covering to the
closed position as shown in Figure 6, the tilt rod is
rotated, driving each worm 32, worm gear 30, shaft 40 and
rotating each actuator 42 which in turn, through spring 58,
carries arm 44 around shaft 40 bringing the covering to its
closed position. At this time, since there is little
resistance to rotation of arm 44, spring 58 is not
substantially extended or loaded. This condition continues
as the covering approaches the closed condition shown in
Figure 6 and proceeds through the closed condition to an
over-closed position shown in Figure 9. The net effect will
be slight overtravel of the closed position with the panels
(a vane sandwiched between front and rear sheers) now
slightly tilted out of the plane of the normally closed
plane. Then the resistance to further rotation of the arms
44 caused by the fabric layers having closed on one another
becomes greater than the force of the springs 58. Thus,
continued rotation of actuators 42 extends and tensions the
springs until the actuators 42 engage arm 44 as shown in
Figure 7.
When the extension of the covering in the over-
closed position (full extension of carriers 20) is relieved,
as the covering is drawn to the retracted position
(gathering of carriers 20 at one end) and retracted from
covering the window successively, the pressure on arms 44
exerted by the extended fabric is released and the springs
58 will draw the arms 44 around to the substantially
parallel positions shown in Figure 8 and cause successive
panels to collapse and fold upon themselves in substantially
parallel folds.
Where the fabric itself or spacers define the
distance between adjacent carriers when the light control
window covering is in its expanded condition, the carriers
are not all moved at the same time to the retracted position
of the light control window covering. A first carrier is
17 2085 801
moved towards an adjacent second carrier by means of a cord,
spindle or the like. When the first and second carriers
abut, the first carrier moves the second carrier towards the
next carrier adjacent to the second carrier, and so on. The
panels of the already abutting carriers will be folded upon
themselves whereby the remaining panels will still be in the
slightly overclosed position. Consequently, the panels are
successively collapsed and fold upon themselves.
Where a scissor arrangement is used, all carriers
are moved to the retracted or stacked position at the same
time. Again, the movement is initiated by a cord, spindle
or the like which acts on a first carrier whereby the
scissor arrangement will cause the other carriers to move
upon movement of the first carrier. Consequently, all of
the panels will gradually collapse and fold upon themselves
at the same time.
The springs 58 store rotational energy in the
actuator arms 44 when the sheers have been closed upon
themselves and release the stored energy when the covering
is retracted across the window opening causing the panels to
fold neatly on themselves with the actuator arms 44 all
parallel and perpendicular to the track rail 26.
In a preferred embodiment, the actuator arms are
74.6mm long and the hangers for holding the top edges of the
front and rear sheers are 76.2mm wide outside-to-outside or
approximately equal to the vane spacing of 76.2mm for 88.9mm
vanes. Because of the S shape or curving of the vanes and
because the hangers are not parallel to the vanes, the
maximum spacing of the front and rear sheers is, by way of
example, 66.7mm. Most of the components noted in the above
description are injection molded plastic parts. The front
fabric may be polyester of about 23.7gm/m2 (from about 4.7-
47.5gm/m2) and is a tulle knit with a diamond pattern.
The rear fabric may also be polyester of the same
weight and is a warp knit with diagonal threads and has an
orthogonal pattern. The principal characteristic of the
rear fabric is the necessity for stability on the bias or
~ 18 208580 1
diagonal. The vanes are a woven polyester of a weight of
47.5gm/m2 (about 24-95gm/m2) weight. The vanes are
preferably opaque but may be translucent for privacy. A
stiffener tape is attached to the inside top edges of the
front and rear fabrics to enable reinforcement to be able to
hang the fabrics on the hangers depending from the actuator
arms. Grommets could be used for this purpose, if desired.
Weights (about 15gm weight) are attached to the bottom edge
portions on the inside of every other vane at its front and
rear portions directly below the attachment points to the
hangers, one 15gm weight per specified location.
The tilt rod can be operated by a wand or by one
or two pull cords 35 as already known in the art, see Figure
13. Also, the carriers or carriages may be associated with
spacers which can be metal strips that fit through slots in
the carriers and have stops at each end so the lead carrier
can be traversed on the track by a cord arrangement and
successively draw out the rest of carriers in appropriate
spacing. When retracting the carriers, the lead carrier is
drawn back and the strips slip through their slots to allow
the carriers to stack at one end. Alternatively a scissors
spacer can be used. Both are known and are coupled to the
carriers in a known way. When moving the carriers from the
retracted or stacked condition of the vanes, the opposite
situation arises and the assembly will move firstly from the
position of Figure 8 to that of Figure 7 and then to that of
Figure 6. Thereafter, if one chooses, one can continue to
operate the vanes so that they finish up more or less in the
position of Figure 5.
The carriers can be provided with a coupling
arrangement between the drive shaft and the actuator to
effect over-closing and a tilt toward collapse with a slight
force favouring collapse upon relief, or an arrangement as
shown in Figures 10-12 whereby a return force is imposed on
the actuator arm 44', such as, by a weight or cam member 80
riding on top of the worm gear 30' and cooperating or
coupling therewith via interfitting inclined camming
19 20858~ 1
surfaces 90. In this arrangement where like references are
used to denote like parts to those in the previous
embodiment, the weight 80 is keyed to the shaft 40' which
carries actuator arm 44' by keys 84. The worm gear 30' is
freely rotatable about shaft 40' and is retained in the
carrier body 28' by a snap ring 86 or the like. When the
actuator encounters little resistance in moving from the
open position shown in Figure 5 to the closed position shown
in Figure 6, the worm gear drives the actuator through the
coupling formed by the interfitting inclined surfaces 90 on
the gear 30' and weight 80. Resistance resulting from over-
closing, however, will cause the worm gear to drive the
weight up the incline out of coupling engagement with gear
30' and store energy in the weight for driving the actuator
when the resistance is relieved by the weight dropping back
into register with the inclined surface on the worm gear.
With an arrangement of the type shown in Figures
10 to 12, retraction of the light control window covering
can be stopped (i.e., in an intermediate position) when some
but not all of the panels are collapsed and folded over upon
themselves. The non-collapsed panels, which are still in
the slightly over-closed condition, can then be used to
regulate the light through the panels as previously
described whereby the already collapsed panels remain in the
collapsed position. A feature of the arrangement of Figures
10 and 12 is that the actuator 44' will be lifted during
overtilting.
In a further modified carrier assembly as shown in
Figure 14, where again like references are used to denote
like parts, the actuator 44'' is carried by a shaft 40''
depending from a rotary cam 92 in the carrier body 28''
which in this case has a closed top 94. The worm gear 30''
is mounted above the cam for rotation about a shaft 96 and
the worm gear and cam have interfitting inclined camming
surfaces 90''. A coil spring 98 may be provided to exert
downward pressure on the worm gear.
In this arrangement, when the covering is being
~ 208580 1
closed and there is little resistance to movement of the
actuator, the cam and actuator are rotated by the worm gear
through the interfitting surfaces 90''. When excessive
resistance is encountered, as previously, the worm gear will
be lifted against the pressure of spring 98, for energy
storage. When the resistance is reduced, the spring pushes
the worm down back into engagement with the cam, thereby
rotating the cam and actuator. Alternatively, the worm gear
itself may comprise a weight for energy storage and the
spring can be omitted.
Contrary to the arrangement of Figures 10 to 12,
the arrangement of Figure 14 does not lift the actuator
during overtilting. The interfitting inclined cam surface
can be so shaped that the holders are naturally returned to
a fixed home centre position. This arrangement is
particularly helpful when one is using a single control or
so called "mono-command" arrangement which provides both
movement of the carriers and tilting of the vanes. The
reason for this is that with this "mono-command" system,
when one operates the control with a view to moving the
carriers in the opposite direction from previously, the
first thing that happens when the panels are in the
collapsed position (light control window covering being
retracted) is that the vanes are starting to tilt in the
direction in which the window covering would give maximum
light passage when it is in its fully expanded condition.
However, because the vanes are still in their collapsed
position and cannot fully tilt towards said maximum light
passage condition, the actuators will be loaded in a
direction opposite to the direction in which the actuators
are loaded when the window covering is in its overclosed
position. Once the actuators are all loaded, the end
carrier begins to move, thereby allowing subsequent vanes to
tilt to their maximum light passage condition whereby the
actuators will be unloaded. Hence, when the window covering
is moved to its expanded condition the vanes reach the
maximum light passage condition. Once the window covering
208580 1
21
has reached its fully expanded condition the window covering
can be closed by operating the mono-command arrangement in
an opposite direction. The vanes will close and will all
substantially lie in one plane as previously described.
Upon further operation of the mono-command system the vanes
will overclose and the actuator will be loaded as described
earlier. Upon again further operation of the mono-command
system the end carrier starts to move towards the collapsed
condition of the window covering and the panels will fold in
a zigzag way whereby the actuators will become unloaded.
The actuators must therefore be capable of loading in either
direction so as to enable this operation to take place in
either one direction or the other. In a still further
modified carrier assembly as shown in Figure 15, the
lS actuator 44''' is carried on a shaft 40''' rotatably mounted
in carrier body 28''' and having a cam 92''' at the top of
the shaft. The worm gear 30''' is rotatably mounted about
the shaft and interfitting V-shaped c~mm;ng surfaces 90'''
are again provided on the worm gear and cam. The worm gear
sits on a coil spring 98''' at the base of body 28'''. In
this arrangement, when the resistance to rotation of the
actuator becomes excessive, the worm gear is cammed
downwardly against the bias of the spring 98''' by cam 92'''
and when the resistance is decreased the worm gear is sprung
back up to re-engage the surfaces 90''' and rotate the
actuator 44'''.
The system for operating the opening and closing
of the window covering and the system for tilting the
hangers may be separated (individual operation) or may be
combined in a mono-command system (combined operation),
which systems are well known in the art. In the latter
case, it will be possible to move the carriers and tilt the
hangers by operation of one simple wand, cord or the like.
Furthermore, the above operation may be actuated by motor
drive means which are operable by means of, for example, a
remote control unit.
Experience has shown that there can be a problem
208580 1
22
that the bottom of the end portion of the window covering
tends to move towards the centre of the window covering,
that is the end edges tend to be not truly vertical, but
angled slightly inwardly of the vertical from top to bottom.
According to the invention, this may be overcome by
providing a facility on the carriers at the ends of the
window covering for lifting only the end actuator arms. In
fact the problem comes even more acute when the window
covering is moved to the position in which the vanes are
open, i.e. substantially perpendicular to the sheer fabrics.
The invention therefore further provides a facility by
further lifting of the actuator arm as the window covering
is turned to the open position. One or two carriers
according to the construction of Figures 10 to 12 may be
used at an end location to produce this lifting effect.
Another structure of carriage suitable for
carrying this out is illustrated in Figure 16 in which like
parts have been indicated by like reference numerals to
those of Figure 10, but with the addition of the reference
letter A. In this structure the worm gear 3OA is again
urged downwardly by a spring 98A and is provided with a
lower cam surface 80A provided with opposite flat portion
80B. A cam member 90A is fixedly secured to the housing 28A
of the carrier and has cam surfaces 81A and 81B
complementary to surfaces 80A and 80B respectively. Cam
member 90 is of annular form allowing for the passage of the
downwardly extending threaded shaft 4OA fixedly secured to
the worm gear 30A. The actuator arm 44A is provided with a
central bearing sleeve 82, preferably of metal, which is
freely rotatable about the threaded shaft 40A.
Threaded onto the shaft 40A is a locking ring 83,
the lower surface of which bears against the upper surface
of the bearing sleeve 82. This sleeve is provided with an
upwardly extending projection 82A which is capable of being
engaged in one of a plurality of circumferentially spaced
indentations 83A in the lower surface of the ring 83. (See
Figure 17).
208~80 ~
~_ 23
Located below the bearing ring 82 is a wing nut 85
which can be screwed up to bear against the lower surface of
the ring 82.
Mounted above the wing nut 83 is a spring holding
plate 87 having an aperture therein for the passage of the
shaft 40A, the latter having a key way 40B engaged by a key
87A on the plate 87. In this way the plate 87 is caused to
rotate with the shaft 40A. A spring 58A is connected to the
plate 87 as shown and also to the arm 44A.
0 In order to initially adjust the height of the arm
44A the wing nut 85 is loosened downwardly which enables the
locking ring 83 to be rotated. In this way, if it is
rotated upwardly, then when the wing nut is again tightened,
the arm will be raised to a higher level. By use of a wing
nut and a knurled locking ring 83, this operation can be
carried out readily by the installer.
When the vanes carried by the arm 44A are turned
to a direction perpendicular to the sheer fabrics, the cam
surfaces 80A and 81A will ride up one another to give a
further raising of the arm 44A. The fully opened position
will be determined by the flats 80B and 81B engaging one
another. If necessary, a suitable ridge and groove can be
provided in these flats to determine accurately the
perpendicular position of the vanes. When the blind is
moved back to the closed position of the vanes, the cams
will be such as to allow the worm gear 30A to fall again,
thereby lowering the arm 44A, progressively as the vanes
move to the closed position. The spring 58A will operate as
previously.
However, it will be noted that because there is no
equivalent to the down turned portion of the element 42 of
Figure 2, the arm 44A can move equally in either rotational
sense and the provision of a plate 87 keyed to the shaft
40A, the spring 58A will provide a fixed home centre
position for the arm 44A and thus of the associated vane.
An alternative to the spring 58A and plate 87
would be a C shaped spring having its centre portion secured
208580 1
24
to the shaft 40, 40A and its side arms engaging one on each
side of the arm 44, 44A. This again will provide for a
fixed home centre position.
In one structure according to the invention,
instead of providing for the end vane of any of the blinds
described above to be capable of being turned, provision can
be made for each end vane always to be fixed in the "open"
position, i.e. perpendicular to the sheer fabrics. This can
assist in ensuring that the window covering stacks neatly as
shown in Figure 8, as the covering is drawn back to the
fully open position. It is particularly useful when the
covering for a window comprises two parts, one which is
stacked to the left of a window and the other to the right,
as with conventional curtains or drapes.
It is also contemplated that, as an alternative,
vanes could be controlled so that they remain closed as the
window covering is expanded towards the closed window
covering position.
As illustrated in Figure 20, to be described
later, the hangers may be coupled directly to the vanes. In
this case, the vanes, which are directly tilted by the
hangers, should be sufficiently stiff to operate the window
covering from its open towards its closed and collapsed
condition.
Referring now to Figures 18 and 19, there is again
shown a window covering formed in the same manner with two
sheer fabrics 10,12 and vanes 14. Secured to the sheer
fabric 10 at one end thereof is a first end rail 102 and
secured to the other end of the second sheer fabric 12 is a
second end rail 103.
Extending above the window covering is a
horizontal track 122. The first end rail 102 is mounted on
a bracket 158 having a first arm 156 associated with two
sliding carriers 152,154 slidable in the track 122 and a
second arm 160 engaged in end rail 102. The lower end of
the head rail 102 is shown as not riding in a track but it
is conceived that it could ride in a lower track similar to
upper track 122. 2 0 8 5 8 0 1
Some, but not all, of the vanes 14 are provided
with runners 162. In the construction shown every third
vane 14 is provided with a runner 162. This may be in the
form of a plastics material plate having an upwardly
extending pin with a head on it, which rides in the track
122.
The second end rail 103 is preferably fixed, e.g.
as at 145 to the floor.
It will be appreciated that if one grasps the
first end rail 102 and moves it to the left, then the
covering will concertina up in the manner indicated and will
draw back in the manner similar to that of a curtain. If
one pulls the end rail 102 to the right then it will stretch
out so that the window covering is as shown in Figure 19.
Further movement of the end rail 102 and the bias of the
vanes will cause deflection of the vanes 14 to provide more
or less passage for light through the covering.
If reference is now made to Figure 20, there is
shown a headrail 240 in which are mounted a plurality of
sliding carriers 242 which are preferably provided with
wheels (not shown) for running along guide tracks formed in
the headrail. Movement of the carriers 242 can be effected
in any suitable manner but as shown a cord system 246 is
provided. The assembly of carriers in the headrail may be
generally similar to that disclosed in US Patent 3996988 in
the name Dwight or in US Patent 4267875, in the name Koks.
As in the Koks patent, a tilt rod may be provided and this
may be rotated by a pulley with a bead chain 250. The tilt
rod is associated with a worm and worm wheel, as in Koks US
Patent 4267875, and the worm wheel in each carrier is
connected to a separate hanger 252. Supported by the
hangers is a window covering 210 comprising front and rear
sheer fabrics 270,272 between which extend vanes 274, which
are connected to the fabrics 270,272 in any suitable way
e.g. by adhesive. The upper ends of the vanes 274 are
mounted on the hangers 252. It will be appreciated that the
``- 208580 1
26
operation of the vanes can be effected by operation of the
bead chain 250 rotating the pulley which in turn rotates the
tilt rod. Rotation of this tilt rod will effect rotation of
a worm wheel and pinion (not shown) which will in turn cause
the hangers 252 to rotate about their respective vertical
axes. This rotation will, it will be appreciated, cause
tilting of the vanes 274 about their respective vertical
axes.
If one operates the pull cord 246 then the end one
43 of the carriers will be pulled to the left or the right.
Since these carriers have associated with them spacers 275,
movement to the right of the end carrier 243 will cause the
adjacent carrier 242 to move to the right with it and then
the subsequent carriers will also in turn move to the right
to provide the right spacing.
It will be appreciated that when the end carrier
243 is moved to the right, this will have the effect of
moving the vane associated therewith. After a certain
distance of movement, the sheer fabrics themselves will
cause the next vane, and its carrier, to move to the right
also and so on.
It is also further contemplated that the structure
shown in Figure 20 could be modified so that there is no
facility for moving the carriers 242 along the end rail.
Thus, these carriers could be fixed so that the window
covering is always in the position as illustrated in Figure
20 and the only facility for adjustment, therefore, will be
adjustment of the angle of the vanes.
In Figure 21 sheer fabrics 312,314 are connected
to circumferentially spaced apart fixing means 320,322 on a
wind up roll 324 which is mounted with its longitudinal axis
extending generally vertically to one side of the frame of a
window. The lower end of the roll can be fixed to the floor
or to a location below the window. Vanes 316 extend between
fabrics 312 and 314.
Associated with the roll 324, at the upper end
thereof, is a cord reel 326 and a control pulley 330 at the
27 2085801
end adjacent the reel 326. Rotation of the wind up roll 324
can be effected by operation of a cord, for example a bead
cord 332 wrapped around the control pulley 330.
Alternatively a motor drive could be provided. This
rotation is also imparted to the cord reel 326.
Wrapped around the cord reel 326 is a tension cord
334 which also passes around a fixed pulley 338 and is
connected to the upper end of an end rail 342 having, in its
interior, a tension spring 344 to the upper end of which is
attached the end of the tension cord 334. As can be seen
more clearly in Figure 22, the end rail 342 is attached to
the second sheer fabric 314 only.
Extending generally horizontally above the window
covering 310 is a horizontal track 350 in which are
horizontally movable two sliding carriers 352,354 which are
attached to one arm 356 of the right angled bracket 358
having a second, lower arm 360 secured to the end rail 342
so that the latter can hang downwardly and be supported by
the sliding carriers 352,354 in the track 350. The lower
end of the end rail 342 is not secured although it could be
guided in a further track at the bottom.
In operation initial movement of the wind up roll
324 will effect the change of the relative angles of the
vanes 316 to the sheer fabrics 312,314 and further movement
will cause the covering 310 to wind up on the roll 324. As
it is rolled up, the sliding carriers 352,354 will slide
along the track 350 carrying the end rail 342 with them.
If the roll 324 is operated in the opposite sense,
then the end rail 342 will be pulled back by the tension
cord 334.
In Figure 23 there is illustrated a form of window
covering suitable for covering a skylight in a horizontal or
inclined roof.
The assembly includes a flexible window covering
indicated by the general reference numeral 410 this
including the first sheer fabric 412, a second sheer fabric
414 and a plurality of transversely extending vanes 416
28 20~5~01
extending therebetween, the vanes being generally parallel
to one another. This window covering 410 can be made in a
number of different ways which do not form part of the
present invention. The sheer fabrics 412,414 are made of a
translucent or transparent material such as paper, a woven
fabric or non-woven fabric or indeed they can be made of a
plastics material. Similarly the vanes 416 can be made of
any suitable material. However, they are preferably formed
of a opaque or semi-opaque material.
The sheer fabrics 412,414 are connected to
circumferentially spaced apart fixing means 420,422 on a
wind up roll 424 which is mounted with its longitudinal axis
extending generally horizontally to one side of the frame of
a skylight.
Associated with the roll 424, at each end thereof,
are cord reels 426,428 and a control pulley 430 at the end
adjacent the reel 426. Rotation of the wind up roll 424 can
be effected by operation of a cord, for example a bead cord
432 wrapped around the control pulley 430. Alternatively a
motor drive could be provided. This rotation is also
imparted to the cord reels 426,428.
Wrapped around the cord reels 426,438 are tension
cords 34,36 which also pass around fixed pulleys 438,440 and
are connected to opposite ends of an end rail 442 having, in
its interior, a tension spring 444 to the ends of which are
attached the ends of the tension cords 434,436. As can be
seen more clearly in Figure 24, the end rail 442 is attached
to the second sheer fabric 414 only. Two parallel tracks
443 are provided, one on each side of the covering, the
tracks extending generally perpendicular to the axes of the
wind up roll 424 and the end rail 442, the tracks for
example being of channel or L-cross-section. At each end of
the rail 442 a runner 445 is mounted and is slidable
longitudinally in the adjacent rack 443 and serves to guide
and support the rail. If desired further runners (not
shown) could be provided on some of the vanes 416, these
also sliding in the tracks. It is also contemplated that
29 208~8~1
the tracks 443 and runners 445 could be omitted,
particularly on smaller installations.
It will be understood that initial operation of
the bead cord 432 will cause a certain rotation of the wind
up roll 424. This will cause relative movement of the two
sheer fabrics 412,414 with respect to one another in a
direction parallel to one another. Thus the vanes will be
caused to move from a position in which they extend in
spaced apart relation, somewhat as shown in Figure 24, in
which light can readily pass therethrough, to a closed
position in which they overlap each other thus blocking off
the passage of light.
Further movement of the wind up 424 will cause
both of the sheer fabrics 412,414, with the flattened and
overlapping vanes 416 therebetween, to be wound up onto the
roll 424. As this happens, the end rail 442 will move
towards the wind up roll 424 so that the window covering can
be pulled back by a desired distance and in fact can be
pulled back completely.
If the bead chain 432 is operated in the opposite
sense, then the cord reels will rotate in the opposite
direction as will the wind up reel 424. The tension cords
434,436 will then tend to pull the end rail 442 back to the
right as shown in Figure 23, thereby drawing the window
covering to cover the window.
In Figure 25 there is illustrated a further form
of window blind assembly indicated by the general reference
numeral 510. This assembly 510 is associated with a
headrail 512 provided with an elongate tilt roll member 514
means (not shown) being provided to rotate this roll about
its generally horizontal axis.
The material 510 includes a front sheer fabric 516
provided with a plurality of spaced parallel, horizontal
forward pleats 518 and rearward pleats 520. The material
510 also includes a rear elongate sheer fabric 522 formed
with forward pleats 524 and rearward pleats 526 similar to
the pleats 518,520 of the front elongate sheer fabric 516.
20858~1
As best seen in Figure 26 a plurality of vanes 528
interconnect the front and rear sheer fabrics 516,522. The
vanes 528 in Figure 26 extend between a rear, interior, face
of a rearwardly extending pleat 520 of the front sheer
fabric 516 diagonally upwardly to where it is connected to
the forward interior face of a forwardly extending pleat 524
of the rear sheer fabric 522.
As shown the front and rear sheer fabrics 516,522
are connected to a bottom rail 530 adjacent their lower ends
and are connected to the elongate tilt roll 514 at their
upper ends. In the construction illustrated a spacer member
532 is provided below the headrail and is connected to the
front and rear sheer fabrics adjacent further pleats 518,526
thereof. This spacer 532 is not essential but provides a
better configuration for the upper parts of the pleated
blind material.
Figure 27 shows a slightly modified structure in
which like parts have been indicated by like reference
numerals. The vanes are here indicated by the reference
numeral 534 and are connected slightly differently. In this
construction the lower parts of the vanes 534 are connected
to the rear, interior, face of a forwardly extending pleat
518 of the front sheer fabric 516 and the vanes are again
inclined diagonally upwardly and connected to the front,
interior, face of a forwardly extending pleat 524 of the
rear sheer fabric 522. In this construction the vanes 534
are not planar as in Figure 25 but are reversed curved as
shown at 536 and 538.
It will be appreciated that such a structure is,
in some ways, rather similar to a venetian blind with the
vanes 528,534. It will be appreciated that if the tilt roll
514, in either structure, is rotated in a clockwise sense,
as seen in Figure 26 or Figure 27, the vanes 528,534, will
overlie one another because they are in an overlapping mode
and will thus, effectively, block the passage of light. If,
however, the tilt roll 514 are tilted in a counter-clockwise
sense, then the vanes 528,534, can be moved to a position in
208580 1
31
which they extend substantially horizontally, while
remaining parallel to one another, so that there can be a
passage of light therebetween.
For this purpose, therefore, the sheer fabrics
516,522, need to be formed of a translucent or transparent
material, such as paper, or woven fabric, or non-woven
fabric, or indeed they can be made of a plastics material.
Similarly, the vanes 528,534 can be made of any suitable
material. However, they are preferably formed of an opaque
or semi-opaque material.
The vanes are connected in a suitable manner to
the respective pleats 518,520,524,526 as appropriate. While
i-t is contemplated that this could be done by a heat
technique, such as by welding, they are preferably adhered
by means of a third material such as stitching or stapling,
but according to a preferred arrangement they are connected
by being adhered, preferably using a hot melt adhesive,
which melts at a temperature significantly below the melt
temperature of the sheer fabric. It would be appreciated
that the sheer fabric needs to have the pleats set in it and
this can be done by a heat setting process which should
again be conducted at a temperature in excess of the
temperature of melting of the hot melt adhesive.
If reference is now made to Figure 28, a further
rather different structure is illustrated. This structure
has the pleats of the sheer fabrics extending generally
vertically. In detail, therefore, the structure of Figure
28 employs a headrail 540 in which are mounted a plurality
of sliding carriers 542 which are preferably provided with
wheels (not shown) for running along guide tracks 544 formed
in the headrail. Movement of the carriers 542 can be
effective in any suitable manner but as shown a cord system
546 is provided. The assembly of carriers in the headrail
may be generally similar to that disclosed in US Patent
3996988 in the name Dwight or in US Patent 4267875, in the
name Koks. As in the Koks patent, a tilt rod 547 is
provided and this may be rotated by a pulley 548 with a bead
32 208580 1
chain 550. The tilt rod 547 is associated with a worm and
worm wheel, as in Koks US Patent 4267875, and the worm wheel
in each carrier is connected to a separate hanger 552.
Now the blind material shown in Figure 28 is
generally similar to the blind material shown in Figure 26
and like parts have been shown by like reference numerals.
In this structure, however, the pleats 518,520,524,526
extend vertically as do the vanes 528. The upper ends of
the vanes are mounted on the hangers 552. It would be
appreciated that the operation of the vanes can be effected
by operation of the bead chain 550 rotating the pulley 548
which in turn rotates the tilt rod 547. Rotation of this
tilt rod will effect rotation of the worm wheel and pinion
(not shown) which will in turn cause the hangers 552 to
rotate about their respective vertical axes. This rotation
will, it will be appreciated, cause tilting of the vanes 528
about their respective vertical axes.
If one operates the pull cord 546 then the end one
543 of the carriers will be pulled to the left or the right.
Since these carriers have associated with them spacers 554,
movement to the right of the end carrier 543 will cause the
adjacent carrier 542 to move to the right with it and then
the subsequent carriers will also in turn move to the right
to provide the right spacing.
As shown in this structure, a first end rail 560
is associated with the right hand end of the sheer fabrics,
rather in the manner of the bottom rail 530 of Figures 26
and 27. This end rail can be mounted on its own hanger
which would then be associated with the end carrier 543, or
it can be mounted on the same carrier as the right hand most
vane. This end rail will then move with the end carrier and
will act as a positive end to the "curtain" formed by the
blind assembly of the invention. A second end rail 564 may,
if desired, be provided at the other end. However, neither
of the end rails are absolutely essential with the
structure.
