GB2431426A

GB2431426A - Roller blind

Info

Publication number: GB2431426A
Application number: GB0521168A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Ashley Gibson; Anthony William Robinson; Philip John Stankus
Original assignee: Oceanair Marine Ltd
Current assignee: Oceanair Marine Ltd
Priority date: 2005-10-18
Filing date: 2005-10-18
Publication date: 2007-04-25
Also published as: GB0521168D0

Abstract

A roller blind having a roller a blind 16 attached along one edge of the roller and a housing 15 supporting the roller for rotation to enable the blind to be extended and retracted with respect to the roller. A pair of parallel frame members 19 extend from ends of the roller housing, the frame members being of hollow cross section and having elongate slits 21 on adjacent sides thereof. The blind has edge portions 22 which project through the slits and are formed with elongate pockets which are thread over elongate rods which are situated inside the hollow frame members and hold the blind in tension between the frame members. The roller blind may be used on boats or yachts and the frame members may be curved allowing the blind to be drawn through an arcuate path.

Description

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IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO ROLLER BLINDS

This invention relates to roller blinds and is particularly, although not exclusively applicable to roller blinds for companionways, hatches and other access openings for the cabin accommodation of yachts.

Different forms of roller blind arrangements are frequently provided for companionways and hatches used for access to the accommodation on yachts to prevent drafts within the cabin accommodation, to keep sunlight out and to keep insects out. Such blinds utilise different forms of material according to the purpose of the blind.

Particularly for large openings such as those for companionways, it has been difficult to arrange a satisfactory system which controls the edges of the blind.

It has also not been possible to provide an arrangement in which the blind follows a curved or arcuate shape.

This invention provides a roller blind having a roller, a blind attached along one edge to the roller, a mounting arrangement supporting the roller for rotation to enable the blind to be extended and retracted with respect to the roller, a pair of parallel guide members extending from the ends of the roller, the guide members being of hollow cross section and having elongate slits on adjacent sides thereof, the blind having edge portions which project through the slits and are formed with elongate pockets which are threaded over the elongate members to hold the blind in tension between the hollow section members.

In one arrangement in accordance with the invention the elongate members held captive within the hollow sections are anchored against movement with respect to the hollow sections at the opposite ends thereof to the roller.

According to a further feature of the invention, a cross member extends between and is slidably mounted on the hollow section members to which the edge of the blind -is attached for extending and retracting the blind between the members.

In any of the above arrangement the roller may include a pre-tensioned winding mechanism for winding the blind onto the roller when the blind is to be opened.

Also in any of the above arrangements feeder members may be provided between the roller and the hollow sections for feeding the edge formations of the blind into the open ends of the hollow sections onto the elongate members held therein.

In the latter arrangement the feeder members are funnel shaped slotted on one side to receive an edge portion of a blind member and having a narrow end fitted to a hollow section member and an enlarged open end facing the end of - the roller.

Preferably the blind is formed from non-stretch material and means are provided along said edge margins of the blind to allow stretch in the blind across the blind between the respective hollow section members.

In the latter case the means for permitting stretch in the blind comprise folds or pleats along the edge margins of the blind bridged with elastic material which is held under tension by the spaced members between which the edges of the blind slides.

Also it is preferred that the elongate members held captive in the hollow sections comprise circular cross section filamentary members.

For example the filamentary members are formed from PT FE.

According to a further feature of the invention the elongate hollow sections include arcuate portions to enable the blind to be drawn through an arcuate path.

The following is a specific description of the

following embodiments of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a roller blind arrangement according to the invention with the blind partially closed; Figure 2 is a cross-section view through the blind arrangement of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a further perspective view partly cut away; Figure 4 is a detailed view of one corner of the blind arrangement adjacent one end of the roller; Figure 5 is a detailed view partly cut away of the end of the roller blind arrangement remote from the roller; Figure 6 is similar to Figure 5; Figures 7 and 8 show further details of the arrangement; and - Figures 9 and 10 show further detail and variation of the blind.

Turning firstly to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a blind arrangement comprising a perimeter frame indicated generally at 10 which represents the sides of the companionway or other access opening in which the blind is to be mounted. The frame has parallel longitudinal members 11, each of which incorporates an arcuate portion 12. The frame members are connected at one end by a base member 13 and at the other end by a cross member 14.

A square cross-section elongate housing 15 is secured to the inside face of the base member 13 extending the full width of the base member between the longitudinal members 11. The housing contains a roller for a blind, the roller - incorporating a self-rewind mechanism such as a spring operated mechanism which is not shown. Alternatively the roller could have a manual wind/rewind mechanism or could have a powered winding mechanism. A panel of blind material 16 extends from the roller between the longitudinal members 11.

The inside faces of the longitudinal members 11 have hollow section members 17 secured thereto which extend substantially the full length of the longitudinal members 11 stopping short of the housing for the roller. The hollow section members 19 have an internal dividing partition 19 and the adjacent pockets of the hollow section members on opposite sides of the frame have elongate circular cross- section rods or filaments located therein which are anchored to the cross- members 14 by anchorages 20 as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The rods or filaments are otherwise free to float in the cavities in the members 17.

The adjacent sides of the members 17 on opposite sides of the frame have elongate slits 21 extending the length thereof and the panel of blind material 16 has edge portions 22 which extend through the slits into the hollow section members. The edge portions of the panel of blind material are formed with hollow pockets 23 which are slidably engaged on the rods or filaments to constrain the edge portion of the blind to hold the blind taught between the sides of the frame across the opening to the companionway.

As best seen in Figures 2 and 4, the ends of the hollow section members 17 stop short of the roller housing and tunnel section feeders 24 are mounted on the ends of the members 17. The feeders are cut away on one side adjacent the blind material to feed the edge portion of the blind material to the hollow members 17 and onto the filaments or rods in the hollow members.

The panel of blind material can be drawn out from the roller between the frame members by means of a cross-member having slides 31 at the ends thereof which are slidably mounted on the hollow section members 17. The edge of the blind material is secured in conventional manner to the crossmember and the cross-member has a recessed hand hold 33 to facilitate sliding of the cross-member in either direction in the frame to open and close the blind. As indicated earlier, the roller for the blind has a self- winding mechanism for winding the blind material onto -the roller as the blind is opened and for allowing the blind material to unwind from the roller as it is closed. The slide members 31 are arranged to have sufficient grip with the elongate members 17 on which they run for the blind to remain in any position of opening, closure or partial opening to which it is adjusted.

Reference is now made to Figure 9 of the drawings which shows a part of the panel 16 of blind material and its edge margin engaged around a filament or rod. Preferably the rod is formed from a highly slippery material such as PDFE. It is also preferred that the rod is of circular cross-section.

The blind is formed from a non-stretch fabric and the margin of the blind is formed from rip stop nylon which is sewn to the main panel of the blind. The marginal portion of the blind is formed with a sewn in pocket as indicated above in which the filament or rod is slidable.

Adjacent the pocket the margin portion of the blind is formed with a pleat or pleats and a strip of elastic material is sewn to the marginal portion on either side of the pleats. The pleats allow spare material for the blind to be stretched and held in tension by the elastic strips between the members of the perimeter frame to hold the blind taught in the frame.

It will be appreciated that the marginal portions of the blind when wound on to the roller will not be greatly significant in diameter to the blind itself. The housing for the blind can therefore be kept compact. In an alternative arrangement a bead is formed along the marginal edge portions of the blind which is slidable in the hollow section members of the blind frame to constrain the sides of the blind. However the beads will provide a greater bulk at the ends of the roller when wound on to the roller.

Index to information on Figure 9 9.1 Ripstock nylon (non-stretch) 9.2 X+5mm 9.3 Non-stretch blind fabric 9.4 Elastic that can stretch in the X dimension 9.5 Sailcloth 9.6 PTFE/monofilament 9.7 Non-stretch blind fabric 9.8 Excess folded flat for storage on roller Index to information on Figure 10 10.1 Blind fabric that can stretch in the X dimension 10.2 Moulded-on bead 10.3 Non-stretch ribbon 10.4 Moulded-on bead * SI S * 10.5 Elastic that can stretch in the X dimension * * S...

*.: 10.6 Non-stretch blind fabric 10.7 Non-stretch ribbon * S :1: 108 Non-stretch blind fabric S's.

S

10.9 Moulded-on bead 10.10 Ribbon that can stretch in the X dimension

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A roller blind having a roller, a blind attached along one edge

to the roller, a mounting arrangement supporting the roller for rotation to enable the blind t:o be extended and retracted with respect to the roller, a pair of parallel guide members extending from the ends of the roller, the guide members being of hollow cross section arid having elongate slits on adjacent sides thereof, the blind having edge portions which project through the slits and are formed with elongate pockets which are threaded over the elongate members to hold the blind in tension between the hollow section members.
2. A roller blind as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongate members held captive within the hollow sections are anchored against movement with respect to the hollow sections at the opposite ends thereof to the roller.
3. A roller blind as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a cross member extends between and is slidably mounted on the hollow section members to which the edge of the blind is attached for extending and retracting the blind between the members.
4. A roller blind as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the roller includes a pre-tensioned winding mechanism for winding the blind onto the roller when the blind is to be opened.
5. A roller blind as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein feeder members are provided between the roller and the hollow sections for feeding the edge formations of the blind into the open ends of the hollow sections onto the elongate members held therein.
6. A roller blind as claimed in claim 5, wherein the feeder members are funnel shaped slotted on one side to receive an edge portion of a blind member and having a narrow end fitted to a hollow section member and an enlarged open end facing the end of the roller.
7. A roller blind as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the blind is formed from non-stretch material and means are provided along said edge margins of the blind to allow stretch in the blind across the blind between the respective hollow section members.
8. A roller blind as claimed in claim 7, wherein the means for permitting stretch in the blind comprise folds or pleats along the edge margins of the blind bridged with elastic material which is held under tension by the spaced members between which the edges of the blind slides.
9. A roller blind as claimed in claim 8, wherein the elongate members held captive in the hollow sections comprise circular cross section filamentary members.
10. A roller blind as claimed in claim 9, wherein the filamentary members are formed from PTFE.
11. A roller blind as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate hollow sections include arcuate portions to enable the blind to be drawn through an arcuate path.
12. A roller blind as claimed in any of the preceding claims, for mounting an axis opening or companion to the cabin or other combination of a boat.
13. A roller blind as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the blind is formed from shade or flyscreen or a combination of such materials.
14. A roller blind substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.