Apparatus and methods for use with blinds and louvres

Abstract

The invention to which this application relates is apparatus and a method for use with blinds and louvres, hereinafter referred to, in a non-limiting manner, as blinds and which includes roller blinds, roman blinds and Venetian blinds. The apparatus and method allows the free end of the blind to be selectively positioned and retained at a predetermined position intermediate the fully retracted and fully extended positions and to be retained at that position.

Claims

1. An apparatus which includes at least one portion of sheet material which forms a blind, a drive mechanism for determining and adjusting the extent to which a free end of the blind extends downwardly from a roller of the drive mechanism, the apparatus further including an engagement system which, when engaged, acts to prevent rotation of the drive mechanism and hence retain the blind at least in one predetermined position intermediate a fully retracted position and a fully extended position of the blind, said engagement system including an engaging member and at least one formation portion, said at least one formation portion provided on an elongate drive member of the drive mechanism and engagable with the engaging member to define the said predetermined position, wherein said elongate drive member includes a series of protruding portions on a cord at substantially equally spaced intervals therealong and said at least one formation portion is formed as a length of said cord with no protrusions and the said length is greater than a spacing between adjacent ones of the substantially equally spaced protruding portions, wherein the spacing between the adjacent substantially equally spaced protruding portions prevents engagement between the elongate drive member and the engaging member.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined position is selected by selectively locating the engaging member at a fixed position and a location of the formation portion on the elongate drive member of the drive mechanism.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the predetermined position is selected by locating the engaging member at a fixed location on a structure to which the apparatus is fitted.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein ends of the length of said formation portion are defined by respective protruding portions located on said cord and which are spaced apart by a distance which is greater than the spacing between one of the protruding portions defining the formation portion and a respective one of the protruding portions located on an opposing side from the said formation portion.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the drive mechanism is biased towards a default position.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the blind moves to the default position unless the movement is prevented by engagement of the formation portion with the engaging member.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the engagement occurs automatically as the elongate drive member moves past the engaging member when the formation portion reaches the engaging member.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the engagement occurs when the user selectively positions the elongate drive member with respect to the engaging member so as to cause engagement of the formation portion with the engaging member.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the engaging member includes a component which is biased towards a position to lock the formation portion with the engaging member.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the elongate drive member passes through an aperture formed in the engaging member, said aperture having a longitudinal axis, and said elongate drive member moves through the aperture along an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said aperture.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the aperture has first and second portions located along the longitudinal axis, said first portion of a dimension to allow the protruding portions of the elongate drive member to pass therethrough and the second portion of a size to prevent the movement of the elongate drive member protruding portions therethrough.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the elongate drive member is selectively movable along said longitudinal axis of the aperture to cause the elongate drive member to be moved between free and engaged positions with the engaging member.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the engaging member and elongate drive member are respectively positioned or provided so as to bias the elongate drive member towards the second portion of the aperture so that the formation portion on the elongate drive member locates therein when located at the engaging member.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of blind apparatus are connected such that free ends of the plurality of blind apparatus are movable by operation of a common drive mechanism and engaging member.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of blinds are provided along a length and an engaging member and a drive mechanism with a drive member is provided for each of the blinds, said drive members each provided with a formation portion at a same relative location such that when the formation portion of the drive member for each respective blind is retained by the respective engaging member, a free end of each of the blinds is provided at substantially a same position.

16. An assembly of a plurality of blind apparatus located along an axis which is substantially perpendicular to axes along which a free ends of respective blinds can be raised or lowered when moved by selective movement of a drive mechanism for each blind apparatus and wherein an engagement system for each blind includes an engaging member for selective engagement and retention of a formation portion of an elongate drive member of each drive mechanism such that, when the formation portions are retained, the free ends of each of the blinds are retained at a substantially uniform predetermined position, each said engagement system formation portion engagable with the engaging member to define the said predetermined position, wherein elongate drive member includes a series of protruding portions on a cord at substantially equally spaced intervals therealong and each formation portion is formed as a length of said cord with no protrusions wherein said length is greater than a spacing between adjacent ones of the substantially equally spaced protruding portions, wherein the spacing between the adjacent substantially equally spaced protruding portions prevents engagement between each elongate drive member and each respective engaging member.

Description

(1) Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein;

(2) FIGS. 1a and b illustrate an elevation and end elevation of a blind apparatus in accordance with one embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed view of a portion of the drive member in the form of a pull cord of a blind apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

(4) FIGS. 3a and b illustrate perspective end views of part of the drive mechanism and engaging member;

(5) FIGS. 4a-c illustrate views of the drive mechanism and engaging member of FIGS. 3a-c in an engaged position;

(6) FIGS. 5a-c illustrate views of the engaging member in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

(7) FIGS. 6a and b illustrate a detailed view of the formation portion of the pull cord of FIG. 2 in engagement with an engagement member in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;

(8) FIGS. 7a and b illustrate a detailed view of the formation portion of the pull cord of FIG. 2 in engagement with an engagement member in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

(9) FIGS. 8a and b illustrate a detailed view of the formation portion of the pull cord of FIG. 2 in engagement with an engagement member in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

(10) FIG. 9 illustrates a blind apparatus assembly with blinds held at a uniform position in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

(11) FIGS. 10 and 11 disclose a further embodiment of a mechanism which can be used to provide the required stop of the blind at the intermediate position;

(12) FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of a buffer system to absorb movement of the drive mechanism once the predetermined position has been reached;

(13) FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention which allows the predetermined intermediate position of the blind to be achieved; and

(14) FIG. 15 illustrates an escapement mechanism for use in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

(15) Referring firstly to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a blind 2. The blind includes a portion of sheet material 4 which has a free end 6 and an opposing end 8 which is connected to a roller 10 of a drive mechanism for the blind which moves the sheet material between extended and retracted positions. The drive mechanism 12 also include a sprocket arrangement engaged with the roller and a drive member in the form of a pull cord, also known as a ball chain, 14. The pull cord is typically provided as a loop and movement of the loop causes the rotation of the drive mechanism 12 and in turn rotation of the roller. The rotation of the roller in a first direction 16 causes the free end 6 to be lowered away from the roller and rotation in the opposite direction 18 causes the free end to rise towards the roller as the sheet material 4 is wound round the roller. Typically the free end 6 will stay in the position in which it is placed until the pull cord is moved and hence the drive mechanism is driven.

(16) FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of the length of the pull cord 14 which is to act as the engaging portion in accordance with the invention. The pull cord is typically formed with a number of protrusions 20 which are provided to engage in recesses formed around a circular path 22 shown in broken lines in the drive mechanism 12 so that the movement of the pull cord is imparted to the drive mechanism. At any given time, a number, such as 5, of the protrusions will be engaged with the respective recesses so as to ensure good contact between the pull cord and the drive mechanism. The protrusions are typically spaced by apart by a set distance 24. However, in accordance with the invention at at least one formation portion 26, but possibly a number of portions, is provided along the length of the pull cord 26 at which the spacing between the protrusions, indicated by protrusions 20′, 20″ is at a different distance 28, typically a greater distance, than the spacing 24.

(17) In FIGS. 3a-5c there is illustrated an assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. In this case there is shown one part of the drive mechanism 12 which is located at one end of the blind apparatus roller mechanism. The drive mechanism includes a roller 30 with the circular path for the protrusions 20 on the drive member pull cord 14. An end support 32 is provided to which the roller 30 is attached and also attached to the same is an engaging member 34 which is located below the end support. The engaging member 34 is provided with buffer or damping springs 36 in this embodiment but these need not always be provided. A fitting 58 is provided which engages with the remainder of the drive roller mechanism.

(18) The engaging member 34 is provided with a passage 38 through which the drive member 14 passes and the drive member is provided as an endless pull cord such that the movement of the same causes movement of the roller 30 and hence movement of the free end 6 of the blind.

(19) In this embodiment the free end of the blind and the drive mechanism can be provided so as to be automatically movable to a default position when the drive member is released and is therefore free to move with respect to the engaging member 34. The default position is typically either that the free end is at a fully extended blind position 40 as shown in broken lines in FIG. 1a or a fully retracted position 42 as shown in broken lines in FIG. 1a.

(20) The engaging member 34 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 5a-c and comprises a body portion 44 which includes apertures 46 to allow the same to be engaged to the end support 32 and an aperture passage 38 which has a longitudinal axis 39 and includes a first, wider, portion 48 and a second, narrower, portion 50. The wider portion 48 is provided of a size so as to allow the protrusions 20 of the drive member to pass therethrough as the drive member moves along the axis 41 and thereby allow the free movement of the drive member through the engaging member whilst the narrower portion is of a size to only allow the cord 27 to be located thereon and not the protrusions 20. Furthermore the depth of the narrower portion is such that the only the length of cord 27 at the formation portion 26 is sufficiently long so as to be located in the narrower portion as the length of cord between protrusions 20 elsewhere on the drive member is too short to allow the same to be located in the narrower portion 50. This therefore means that when the formation portion 26 is located in the narrower portion 50 of the passage the drive member 14 is effectively locked in position and the same cannot move to the default position and so the free end 6 of the blind is located at a predetermined position.

(21) The relative locations of the engaging member with respect to the drive mechanism can also be used to determine whether the movement of the formation portion into the narrower portion 50 of the engaging member occurs automatically or alternatively the user can be required to move the drive member laterally to the normal movement so that the formation portion is engaged with the narrower portion 50.

(22) FIGS. 4a-c illustrate the components of FIGS. 3a and b and 5a-c, with the formation portion 26 of the drive member 14 in an engaged position with the narrower portion 50 of the passage 38 of the engaging member 34. It will be seen that the portion of the chain is offset in the region of 5-15 degrees from the vertical as it passes through the wider portion 48 of the passage 38 of the engaging member such that when the formation portion 26 reaches the engaging portion the length of cord 27 of the formation portion moves into and engages with the narrower portion 50 of the engaging member 34. The formation portion 26 will remain in this position until the user moves the drive member 14 in the direction of arrow 52 to move the same into the wider portion 48 and the drive member 14 can then be moved in the directions 54, 56 as desired either by the user or under the influence of the drive mechanism.

(23) In the embodiments illustrated above and those described which follow, an escapement mechanism 170 can be provided within and in connection with the roller 172 of the drive mechanism, part of which is shown in cross section. The roller 172 is connected to be rotated by a drive wheel 174 of the escapement mechanism which is located along the axis 176 which is also the longitudinal axis of the roller 172 in which there is provided a shaft 178 which is connected to the conventional spring mechanisms (not shown) located along the interior of the roller and which provides the controlled movement of the blind and biases the blind to a default position which may, for example, be a fully extended position.

(24) The drive wheel is connected to a cog wheel 180 which is toothed and which interacts with an escapement lever 182 which clicks round on the wheel 180 as it rotates. The escapement lever 182 is connected to a flywheel 184 via a transfer lever 186 which has a drive shaft 190 on which is mounted a hair spring 188 which can act as a buffer means to take into account movement of the drive mechanism after the formation portion of the pull cord 14 has been located at a stop position. The movement of the pull cord and hence formation portion on the same to the stop location for the predetermined intermediate blind position is detected by the locking lever which is normally biased by the spring 194 and, when detected, the locking lever is moved as indicated by arrow 196 to a position to prevent the continued rotation of the drive wheel 174, and hence roller 172, and thereby stop the blind at the predetermined intermediate location.

(25) Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, there is provided an alternative embodiment whereby the intermediate stop position of the blind can be achieved using the drive formation 135 of the pull cord. In this case there is shown a drive mechanism sprocket 130 which has an array of sensor pins, 131 located along an annular path on the sprocket face and which extend outwardly towards the pull cord 137 which extends around the sprocket as shown. Each pin 131 is connected to a blade 136 and is depressed by a ball 141 of the chain, 137, as the chain passes around the sprocket. However when the drive formation 135, arrives at, and passes around the sprocket by pulling on the pull cord 137, it passes around the sprocket and does not depress one of the pins 131′. This “un-depressed” pin causes the blade 136′ attached to it to catch the otherwise static catching arm 134 which then rotates with the sprocket wheel and a spiral cam 133 which is attached and so causes a locking lever 138 of an escapement mechanism to be pressed. When the locking lever 138, is pressed the movement of the escapement mechanism is stopped and so the movement of the blind is stopped at the predetermined intermediate position as required.

(26) A return spring 132 is attached to the catching arm 134 and this performs two functions, one of which is to apply a decelerating force to the blind whilst it is brought to a stop, and secondly to return the arm to the ready position when movement of the blind is again required and achieved by pulling on the pull cord 137. A standard sequential mechanism 139 is located within the spiral cam 3 housing. This locks and releases sequentially, so every other time the mechanism catches, it will result in the blind coming to a stop. This allows the blind to be released from the locked position by pulling the chain down again, and releasing a second time.

(27) An advanced version would include a gas or fluid damper in addition to the return spring 132, to bring the blind to a stop.

(28) Turning now to FIG. 12 there is shown a photograph of the sprocket arrangement in one embodiment in which the pull cord 137 is shown where it passes around the sprocket 130.

(29) When the blind is running down, the sprocket 130 and blind housing 148 run together, in the direction shown ‘Down’. When the pull cord catches on the stopping block, the rotation of the sprocket 130 stops instantly but the blind tries to continue running down and the momentum of which is directly connected to the blind housing 148. This continues to rotate, but pushing against a spring 144 with first and second ends 142, 152 and the spring is coiled and located around the inside of the housing 148.

(30) One end of the spring 142 locates into the sprocket 130 at location 147, and the other end 152 into the housing 148 at 150

(31) The portion of free space 146 is the maximum distance the blind can continue to run before either coming to a stop against the spring force, or stopping against the sprocket shoulder at 147.

(32) This spring force can be adjusted during manufacture by selectively placing the end 152 of the spring in one of a series of spaced locating apertures 154 in the blind housing 148. The spring force must be sufficient to return the sprocket shoulder 147 and blind housing 148 tight together at 143 when the blind is at rest, in order that an accurate final resting place is always achieved in relation to the pull cord 137. This arrangement would avoid the need to use the buffer springs 36 shown in FIGS. 3a-4c.

(33) Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14 there is illustrated a further embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment a counter system is utilised. In which the at least one predetermined stop position is detected and implemented as a result of counting the number of turns, or degrees of turns of the drive mechanism sprocket 160.

(34) The sprocket 160 is connected to a planetary gearbox 161 to increase the speed of turn (and reduce the torque) required to achieve the rotational force under the influence of the pull cord 137. Two outputs from this gearbox are fed into two mechanical turn counters 162 which may be similar in style to an odometer and these are re-settable via a hole in the blind tube. The counters count the number of turns to a high degree of accuracy and on reaching the zero point which is equivalent to the predetermined intermediate position at which a stop is required, trigger a brake 163 via an escapement mechanism 164 described above.

(35) FIG. 14 disclose a similar system to that shown in FIG. 14 but in this embodiment the counting is done via a rotary encoder & electromagnetic brake 165 which would be able to maintain and govern the blind descent speed, removing the need for an escapement mechanism. A battery 166 provides power for the control circuit 167 and in one embodiment is charged by the brake 165 when the blind is ascending or descending.

(36) In the embodiment of either FIG. 13 or 14 alternative stop positions can be programmed on site thereby providing variation to suit different environmental conditions such as for example to provide a summer setting and a winter setting of the predetermined position(s) without the need for a mechanical change to the chain.

(37) In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 6a and b the difference in spacing at formation portion 26 allows the protrusions 20′,20″ of the drive member to be received within an engagement member 80 as shown in FIGS. 6a and b. The engagement member is provided at a fixed location on a surface such as a wall and at the required location such that when the formation portion 26 of the pull cord is engaged therewith, the free end 6 of the blind will be guaranteed to be at a predetermined height as the height of the engagement member is known, as is the location of the formation portion 26 of the drive member pull cord 14 with respect to the position of the free end 6 of the sheet material as that can be fixed at the time of forming the blind and remains the same during use of the blind.

(38) In order to engage the formation portion 26 and the engagement member 80, the portion 26 of the pull cord is brought into line with the track 82 formed in the engagement member. When in line, the track indent 84 is in line with the protrusion 20′ of the pull cord and the track indent 86 is in line with the next protrusion 20″. When in position, the protrusions 20′, 20″ can be pushed into the respective indents as indicated by arrows 88, 90. The indents may be formed so as to exert a grip on the protrusions so as to retain the protrusions in position until a release force is applied thereto.

(39) It will be appreciated that because there is no indent provided in the space between the indents 84, 86 on the engagement member then no other part of the pull cord can be engaged with the engagement member 80 by two protrusions as the spacing 24 between the protrusions 20 of the remainder of the pullcord is less than the spacing 92 between the indents 84,86.

(40) FIGS. 7a and b illustrate a further embodiment of the invention and in this case the drive member 14 again has a formation portion in the same manner as that described with reference to FIGS. 6a-b. In this case the engagement member 94 is provided, again to be fixed at a position on the wall or frame, but is provided with a trigger portion 96 which has lug 98 formed so as to engage in the gap of the portion 26 of the drive member 14 and hence retain the same in that position. The trigger is biased towards the retaining position by at least one spring 100 and is pivotably movable. There is also provide a reset button 102 which can be pressed in the direction of arrow 104 to act against biasing springs 106, 108 and hence release the contact between the indents 110 and protrusions 20 in the drive member 14 and return the trigger 96 to a position in which the drive member 14 can again be moved through the engagement member and the trigger latch cannot engage with the same until the formation portion 26 passes through again.

(41) FIGS. 8a-b illustrate a further embodiment of an engagement member 112 which is again for use for a drive member pull cord 14 with a formation portion 26 as previously described. In this case the engagement member includes a body 114 and in this case there are provided first and second biased catches 116,118 which are biased towards an engaging position with the formation portion 26 as shown. The biasing is achieved via springs 120,122. It will be appreciated that the catches 116,118 are dimensioned so that they will only engage with the gap of the formation portion 26 and not with the smaller gap between the other protrusions 20. A reset button 124 can be pressed inwardly as indicated by arrow 126 to release the catches and hence release the drive member 14 and allow the same to be moved through the engagement member freely.

(42) FIG. 9 illustrates the manner in which a number of blind apparatus 64-69 are provided side by side with respect to windows 70-75. Engagement members 34 are mounted at the roller mechanism in accordance with the embodiment of FIGS. 3a-5c at each window as indicated. As shown, the drive member pull cords 14 for the respective blind apparatus are each located such that the portion 26 thereon is located with the engagement member 30. This therefore means that the free end 6 of each blind is positioned at the same height and therefore provides a uniform free end of the blinds in combination along the uniform line 76 and with respect to the windows.