GB2394745A

GB2394745A - Blind with upper and lower edges which can be moved independently

Info

Publication number: GB2394745A
Application number: GB0225037A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nelson Tse Guang Yang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-10-28
Filing date: 2002-10-28
Publication date: 2004-05-05
Also published as: GB0225037D0

Abstract

A blind 10 comprises a fixed head rail 20 and a structurally independent shade body 11. The upper 12 and lower edge portions can be moved independently towards and away from the fixed rail. The blind may be a pleated blind, and may have a rigid bracing rod 12 at the upper end of the shade body. It may be operated by control cords 121, 122 which pass through the head rail and are secured to the edge portions of the shade 12, 13. The blind may include retaining elements 14 which retain the actuating cords against the blind body.

Description

1 2394745

BLIND The present invention relates generally to a blind for covering an opening such as a window. In 5 particular, the present invention relates to a blind comprising a fixing rail and a moveable blind body.

The conventional window blind comprises a fixing rail, a movable rail and a blind body. The fixing rail is fixed at the top of a window frame and is joined to 10 the blind body which is also joined, at its lower end, to the movable rail. The moveable rail is drawn up or down by a plurality of cords in conjunction with control mechanisms housed on the fixing rail and movement of this rail results in extension of the blind body to 15 cover the window or retraction of the blind body to expose the window. When the blind body is extended to cover the window, i.e. the blind is down, it is bound to obstruct air circulation through the window.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a 20 blind which reduces this obstruction.

In its broadest aspect, the present invention provides a blind comprising a fixing rail and a blind body having an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion wherein the fixing rail and the blind body are

structurally independent such that both the upper edge portion and the lower edge portion of the blind body can be moved independently towards and away from the fixing rail. 5 By allowing movement of both the upper and lower edge portions, the blind is far more versatile and can be used to selectively cover upper and lower portions of, for example, a window or the entire window. By selectively covering the lower portion of a window, a 10 top opening of the window can be opened to increase air flow. Preferably, the blind body comprises a pleated sheet of material. This material may be plastics material, textile or any other suitably flexible 15 material. By pleated, it is intended to refer to a sheet in which at least one fold has been formed, the fold held in place in some manner e.g. by stitching.

In preferred embodiments, the upper edge portion of the blind body comprises a rigid material. In 20 especially preferred embodiments, the upper edge portion of the blind body comprises a bracing rod.

Preferably, the blind comprises a fixing rail having a first control member and a second control member;

a blind body having an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion; at least one first actuating cord having a distal end connected to the lower edge portion of the blind 5 body and a proximal end extending through the first control member; and at least one second actuating cord having a distal end connected to the upper edge portion of the blind body and a proximal end extending through the second 10 control member wherein movement of the proximal end of the at least one first actuating cord towards or away from the fixing rail causes movement of the lower edge portion away from or towards the fixing rail respectively; and 15 wherein movement of the proximal end of the at least one second actuating cord towards or away from the fixing rail causes movement of the upper edge portion away from or towards the fixing rail respectively.

Preferably, the upper edge portion includes at 20 least one fastening hole through which the distal end of the at least one second actuating cord passes, the distal end of the at least one second actuating cord including a fastening member for retaining the second actuating cord in the fastening hole. This fastening

member is preferably a knotted portion of the at least one second actuating cord.

In preferred embodiments, the upper edge portion includes at least one through hole through which the 5 distal end of the at least one first actuating cord passes, the distal end of the at least one first actuating cord being connected to the lower edge portion of the blind body at a respective connecting member.

The blind body preferably includes at least one 10 retaining element for retaining the first actuating cord against the blind body. Preferably, there is provided a plurality of retaining elements arranged in a row to hold the at least one second actuating cord in abutment with the surface of the blind body. The retaining 15 elements are preferably vertically aligned with said connecting member. The retaining elements are preferably in the form of trooped elements, the cord passing through the centre of the hoop. The retaining elements are preferably upstanding from the surface of 20 the blind body. The retaining elements are preferably provided at the position of the pleats or folds in the blind body.

Especially preferred embodiments have two first actuating cords and two second actuating cords, both of

the first actuating cords extending through the first control member and both of the second actuating cords extending through the second control member.

The features and the functions of the present 5 invention will be more readily understood upon deliberation of the following detailed description of a

preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. All references in this specification to a window are to be taken as

10 non-restrictive. The blind can be used to cover any opening across which some visual barrier is required.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows another perspective view of the 15 preferred embodiment; Figure 3 shows a partial sectional view of the top end of the blind body of the preferred embodiment; Figure 4 shows a partial exploded view of the preferred embodiment; 20 Figure 5 shows a top plan view of the preferred embodiment; and Figure 6 shows a schematic front view of the preferred embodiment with the blind body being drawn up towards the fixing rail.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a preferred window blind comprises a blind body 10 and a fixing rail 20.

The blind body 10 is formed of a pleated cloth 11 having an upper edge portion 12 and a lower edge 5 portion. A bracing rod 50 is located at the upper edge portion 12 of the blind body 10. The pleated cloth 11 is provided with two rows of a plurality of retaining elements 14 in the form of upstanding hoops and two connecting portions 13 which are each vertically aligned 10 with one of the rows of retaining portions 14. The retaining elements are provided at each of the pleats of the pleated sheet. The bracing rod 50 is provided with two fastening holes 121 and two through holes 122. Two first actuating cords 41 are provided and these both 15 pass through the first control member 21', through a respective through hole 122, down the surface of the blind where they are retained in place by the retaining elements 14 and then to the respective connecting member 13 which connects the distal ends of the first actuating 20 cords to the lower edge portion of the blind body 10.

Two second actuating cords are provided which pass through the second control member 21 and through a fastening hole 121, the distal ends being retained in the fastening hole.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the second actuating cords are retained in the fastening holes by a fastening member which comprises a knotted portion of cord.

The fixing rail 20 is provided with two control 5 members 21 and 21' for controlling the two second actuating cords 31 and the two first actuating cords 41.

These control members are standard in the art and are used to temporarily lock the position of the cords.

As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, both first 10 actuating cords 41 pass through the first control member 21', one of the first actuating cords passing along the length of the fixing rail prior to meeting the control member. Similarly, both second actuating cords 31 pass through the second control member 21, one of the second 15 actuating cords passing along the length of the fixing rail in the opposite direction to the first actuating cord which extends along the fixing rail.

At their proximal ends, both first actuating cords are joined in a pull tab. If the tab is pulled away 20 from the fixing rail 20, the distal end of the first actuating cords 41 and thus the lower edge portion of the blind body move towards the fixing rail thus folding the blind body 10 between the pleats and therefore raising the blind to reveal the window.

The proximal ends of the second actuating cords are also joined at a pull tab. If the pull tab is moved towards the fixing rail 20, the distal ends of the cords and therefore the bracing rod 50 move away from the 5 fixing rail and a gap is obtained between the upper edge portion 12 and the fixing rail as shown in Figure 1.

Air can circulate through this gap as an upper opening of the window is accessible.

If both sets of proximal ends are pulled away from 10 the fixing rail, the blind can be drawn up to the fixing rail so that the bracing rod abuts the fixing rail and blind body is folded as shown in Figure 6. It can also be seen in Figure 6 that the pull tab at the proximal ends of the cords can be replaced with a plurality of 15 pull tabs, one at the proximal end of each cord.

Claims

1. A blind comprising a fixing rail and a blind body having an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion 5 wherein the fixing rail and the blind body are structurally independent such that both the upper edge portion and the lower edge portion of the blind body can be moved independently towards and away from the fixing rail.

2. A blind according to claim l wherein said blind body comprises a pleated sheet of material.

3. A blind according to claim or claim 2 wherein the 15 upper edge portion of the blind body comprises a rigid material.

4. A blind according to claim 3, wherein the upper edge portion of the blind body comprises a bracing rod.

5. A blind according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a fixing rail having a first control member and a second control member;

a blind body having an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion; least one first actuating cord having a distal end connected to the lower edge portion of the blind 5 body and a proximal end extending through the first control member; and at least one second actuating cord having a distal end connected to the upper edge portion of the blind body and a proximal end extending through the second 10 control member wherein movement of the proximal end of the at least one first actuating cord towards or away from the fixing rail causes movement of the lower edge portion away from or towards the fixing rail respectively; and 15 wherein movement of the proximal end of the at least one second actuating cord towards or away from the fixing rail causes movement of the upper edge portion away from or towards the fixing rail respectively.

20

6. A blind according to claim 5 wherein said upper edge portion includes at least one fastening hole through which the distal end of the at least one second actuating cord passes, the distal end of the at least one second actuating cord including a fastening member

for retaining the at least one second actuating cord in the respective fastening hole.

7. A blind according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein 5 said upper edge portion further includes at least one through hole through which the distal end of the at least one first actuating cord passes, the distal end of the at least one first actuating cord being connected to the lower edge portion of the blind body at a respective 10 connecting member.

8. A blind according to any one of claims 5 to 7 in which the blind body includes at least one retaining element for retaining the at least one first actuating 15 cord against the blind body.

9. A blind according to claim 8 wherein the at least one retaining element is a upstanding from the blind body at a pleat.

10. A blind according to any one of claims 5 to 9 having two first actuating cords and two second actuating cords, both of the first actuating cords extending through the first control member and both of

the second actuating cords extending through the second control member.

11. A blind according to claim 10 including two rows of 5 retaining elements, each row for holding one of the two first actuating cords in abutment with the blind body.

12. A blind substantially as any one embodiment herein described with reference to the accompanying figures.