GB2173847A - Venetian blinds - Google Patents

Abstract

A support device for venetian blinds enabling the blind to be moved to a swung back position facilitating window opening, comprises a plurality of support mounts (3) for the blind casing (4) which mounts (3) are pivotally carried by hinges (6) on the window frame. At least one of the mounts (3) is coupled to a lever system (7, 8, 16) adapted to conveniently enable movement of the mounts (3) from a normal (blind operating) position to the swung back position. The blind slats can be supported in the swung back position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Venetian blind support device Description The present invention relates to a support device for venetian blinds, particularly venetian blinds of the type having horizontal slats which are movable vertically between a retracted position and a screening position.

It is customary at the present time to have domestic and other windows pivoted about a horizontal axis intermediate (usually halfway) the top and bottom edges of the window to facilitate cleaning of the window panes etc.

When a venetain blind of the above type is used with such a window there is the problem that the blind even in the retracted position can impede opening of the window, and whereas it may be possible to manually swing back the retracted slats to clear the path of the opening window this manual swinging back of the slats has proved to be an inconvenient operation bearing in mind that there will be simultaneous opening of the window.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a venetian blind support device which conveniently enables the venetian blind to be set in a position which permits the window to be conveniently opened.

According to the present invention a support device for a venetian blind fitted at a window comprises a mechanism serving for support of the venetian blind adapted for securement at the window, said mechanism serving for movement of at least part of the venetian blind to a position clear of a path of opening movement of the window, and actuating means for said mechanism.

Preferably, said mechanism comprises a pivotal support mounting for a top casing part of the venetian blind, said pivotal support mounting serving for pivotal swinging back of the venetian blind.

Preferably said actuating means comprises a lever system coupled to said mechanism supporting the blind. The lever system preferably comprises a multi-arm concertina lever system.

Preferably said mechanism includes a support element to support the retracted slats of the blind during the pivotal swinging back movement.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a pivotal support device for a venetian blind, in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic front view of an opening double-window fitted with the device of Fig. 1; Figure 3 shows a plan view of a detail of the device indicated by arrow D in Fig. 1; and Figure 4 shows by a side view of part of the device including a slat support element.

Referring especially to Fig. 1, a pivotal support device 1 for a venetian blind 2 (Fig. 2) comprises a U-support 3 for a top casing 4 of the blind 2 which U-support 3 is pivotally attached to the window surround frame 5 by means of a clip 14 fitted on the support 3 being pivotally attached to a hinge 6. The blind casing 4 is secured in the support 3 by suitable means e.g. by screws. At least two spaced U-supports 3 are present and one Usupport 3 is pivoted by a lever mechanism 1A comprising arms 7, 8 hinged together at common ends 9, the other end 10 of the arm 7 being pivotally attached to the window surround 11 by a hinge 6A exactly similar to hinge 6, while the other end 13 of the arm 8 is pivotally carried by a clip 14 A (similar to clip 14) secured to the U-element 3.Referring to Fig. 3, the arm 8 comprises a flat member with curled ends to receive the fulcrum pins at 9, 13, the end 13 being secured to the clip 14A by means of a screw 15 and nut 15A with washers 15B therebetween. Clip 14 is similarly secured to hinge 6. The lever mechanism 7, 8 operates in concertina manner and operation of the mechanism 7, 8 is effected by a hand bar 16 of strip form pivotally coupled to the arms 7, 8 at end 9.

In the non-swung position (as shown in full line in Fig. 1) the bar 16 is positioned in a slot 18 of an elbow bracket 19 with opposed pins 17 of the bar 16 resting on the bracket 19. The bracket 19 being secured to the window surround 11 by means of screws 26 which pass through slots 27 in the bracket 19. The slots 27 are of elongate form to enable vertical adjustment of the bracket 19 to ensure that the supports 3 (and the blind casing 4) are correctly positioned in the nonswung condition.

Fig. 2 shows the device 1 in use with a venetian blind 2 on a double-window. In particular the frame 23 of each window is swingably mounted on pivot blocks 24 on the window surround 11 whereby the window pivots about a horizontal axis H-H. The blind slats 21, are arranged horizontally and are supported from the casing 4 by operating cords 25, in a manner known per se. The blind casing 4 is carried by three pivotal U-supports 3 but only the central support 3 is coupled to an operating mechanism 7, 8 carried by a central pillar 11A of the window surround.

Fig. 4 shows a support strip 20 attached to a U-support 3 by means of a,clip 14B similar to clip 14 and serving to support the retracted slats 21 of the blind 2 when the U-supports 3 are swung back. In this example the strips 20 are only provided at the outer U-members 3 where no lever mechanism 1A is present. The U-members 3 can be deeper (as shown dashed in Fig. 1) to cater for a deeper blind casing 4. The parts of the device can be made of any suitable material e.g. mild steel or plastics.

Normally, the support 3 and lever mechanism 7, 8 wil be in the full line (non-swung) position shown in Fig. 1 with bar 16 supported on bracket 19. When it is desired to open a window the slats 21 will firstly be retracted and the bar 16 is then released and pulled downwards to take-up the position shown dashed in Fig. 1: the supports 3 are consequently swung back together with the venetian blind 2 and as can be seen the pivoted blind 2 does not obstruct opening of the window which it would in the normal position.

To return the blind 2 to the normal position the bar 16 is pushed upwards and moved into the slot 18 so as to be supported on the bracket 19. It will be evident therefore that clearance and return movements of the blind 2 are simply and conveniently achieved. By the use of exactly similar clips and hinges, the number of parts in the support device can be minimised with resulting economics. Also the device can be easily fitted and the device can be readily supplied as a conversion kit for already installed venetian blinds.

The support device 1/1A possibly with adjustment, could cater for windows pivoting inwards about a vertical axis V-V. Also where there is no central pillar 11A, the pivoting arm device 1A could be located at one side of the window (single) arrangement. Usually, the venetian blind has side overlap with the window edges, but if necessary a wider U-support 3 could be used projecting from the end of the casing 4 to enable coupling to the lever mechanism.

Claims (11)

1. A support device for a venetian blind fitted at a window comprising a mechanism serving for support of the venetian blind and adapted for securement at the window, said mechanism serving for movement of at least part of the venetian blind to a position clear of a path of opening movement of the window, and actuating means for said mechanism.

2. A support device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mechanism comprises a pivotal support mounting for a top casing part of the venetian blind, said pivotal support mounting serving for pivotal swinging back of the venetian blind.

3. A support device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said actuating means comprises a lever system coupled to said mechanism supporting the blind.

4. A support device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lever system comprises a multiarm concertina lever system.

5. A support device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lever system comprises double arms pivotally coupled at a common end with the other arm ends pivotally coupled to said support mechanism and a stationary support respectively, and an operating handle is provided pivotally coupled to the double arms at said common end.

6. A support device as claimed in claim 5, wherein a carrying element is provided and adapted to support said operating handle when the device is in a non-swung condition.

7. A support device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the lever system is coupled to said support mechanism by a clip, while the mechanism is pivotally carried by hinge means via a clip.

8. A support device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lever system includes a stop to limit outward concertina opening of the lever system.

9. A lever system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said support mechanism includes a support element to support the retracted slats of the blind during the pivotal swinging back movement.

10. A support device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including positional adjustment means.

11. A support device for venetian blinds, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.