Roller Blind Apparats

Abstract

A roller blind apparatus comprising a control apparatus; an idle end; and a roller tube located between the control apparatus and the idle end, wherein the control apparatus is coupled to a first corner bracket; the idle end includes one of an idle end spindle and an aperture and a second corner bracket includes the other the idle end spindle and an aperture, wherein the idle end spindle is rotatably mounted within the aperture such that the idle end is rotatably coupled to the second corner bracket; a first frame forming element is located between the first and second brackets; and wherein the frame forming element covers the roller tube.

Claims

1. A roller blind apparatus comprising a control apparatus; an idle end; and a roller tube located between the control apparatus and the idle end, wherein the control apparatus is coupled to a first corner bracket; the idle end includes one of an idle end spindle and an aperture and a second corner bracket includes the other the idle end spindle and an aperture, wherein the idle end spindle is rotatably mounted within the aperture such that the idle end is rotatably coupled to the second corner bracket; a first frame forming element is located between the first and second brackets; and wherein the frame forming element covers the roller tube.

2. A roller blind apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the roller tube defines a longitudinal axis of the apparatus; the first corner bracket includes a first engagement element arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis; the second corner bracket includes a first engagement element arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis; and the first frame forming element is secured between the first and second corner brackets by engagement with the respective first engagement elements.

3. A roller blind apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first engagement element of the first corner bracket includes an arm which extends towards the second corner bracket; and the first engagement element of the second corner bracket includes an arm which extends towards the first corner bracket.

4. A roller blind apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first corner bracket includes a second engagement element arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; the second corner bracket includes a second engagement element arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; a second frame forming element is coupled to the second engagement element of the first corner bracket and extends downwardly from the first corner bracket; and a third frame forming element is coupled to the second engagement element of the second corner bracket and extends downwardly from the second corner bracket.

5. A roller blind apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second engagement element of the first corner bracket includes an arm which extends downwardly from the first corner bracket; and the second engagement element of the second corner bracket includes an arm which extends downwardly from the second corner bracket.

6. A roller blind apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control apparatus includes a chain sprocket; the first corner bracket includes a support spindle and the chain sprocket is rotatably coupled to the support spindle.

7. A roller blind apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control apparatus further includes a clutch carried by the support spindle, a drive bush operatively coupled to the chain sprocket and an operating chain engaged with the chain sprocket.

8. A roller blind according to claim 5, wherein the control apparatus includes an electric motor, the first corner bracket includes one or more electric motor coupling elements and the electric motor is secured to the first corner bracket via the or each coupling element.

9. A roller blind apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus further includes a control end cover which covers the first corner bracket.

10. A roller blind apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control apparatus includes a chain sprocket and an operating chain; and the control end cover includes an aperture through which the operating chain passes.

11. A roller blind apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second corner bracket includes a spindle and the idle end defines an aperture.

12. A roller blind apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus further includes an idle end cover which covers the second corner bracket.

13. A roller blind apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the first corner bracket includes a second engagement element arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; the second corner bracket includes a second engagement element arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; a second frame forming element is coupled to the second engagement element of the first corner bracket and extends downwardly from the first corner bracket; a third frame forming element is coupled to the second engagement element of the second corner bracket and extends downwardly from the second corner bracket; the distal end of the second frame forming element carries a third corner bracket; the distal end of the third frame forming element carried a fourth corner bracket; and a fourth frame forming element is secured between the third and fourth corner brackets.

14. A roller blind including a roller blind apparatus according to claim 1 and a blind substrate carried by the roller tube.

Description

[0030] An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a roller blind apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention with the upper frame forming element removed for clarity;

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a partially exploded view of the roller blind apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with the upper frame forming element in place; and

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a roller blind according to the second aspect of the invention with the roller blind in a partially retracted configuration.

[0034] For the avoidance of doubt, the skilled person will appreciate that in this specification, the terms “up”, “down”, “front”, “rear”, “upper”, “lower”, “width”, etc. refer to the orientation of the components as found in the example when installed for normal use as shown in the Figures.

[0035] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a roller blind apparatus 2. The apparatus comprises a first corner bracket 4 including a main body portion 6. Projecting from the main body portion 6 is a spindle 8 which defines a cylindrical bearing portion 10, a cylindrical friction surface 12 and a retaining portion 14 at the distal end thereof. The spindle 8 projects substantially horizontally in use.

[0036] The first corner bracket 4 further includes a first engagement element in the form of a first arm 16 which projects from the main body portion 6 in a direction parallel to the spindle 8 (i.e. substantially horizontal in use), and a second engagement element in the form of a second arm 18 which projects downwardly (i.e. substantially vertically in use) from the main body portion 6 such that the second arm 18 projects perpendicularly to the first arm 16.

[0037] A chain sprocket 20 is rotationally located about cylindrical bearing portion 10. The chain sprocket includes a truncated cylindrical portion 22 and a flange 24 at one end thereof. The peripheral edge portion 26 of the flange 24 defines a series of teeth 28 with pockets defined between adjacent teeth 28 such that the flange 24 functions as a toothed wheel. The truncated cylindrical portion defines a pair of parallel contact edges 30, 32.

[0038] A wrap spring 34 is located around the cylindrical friction surface 12. The wrap spring 34 includes a cylindrical body portion 36 which is located within the cavity defined by the truncated cylindrical portion 22 of the chain sprocket 20. The wrap spring 34 further includes a pair of radially outwardly projecting tangs 38, 40. The tangs 38, 40 extend beyond the truncated cylindrical portion 22 of the chain sprocket 20 and each tang 38, 40 engages a respective one of the contact edges 30, 32 of the truncated cylindrical portion 22.

[0039] In use, the cylindrical body portion is located around the friction surface 12 of the spindle 8.

[0040] A drive bush 42 is carried by the truncated cylindrical portion 22 of the chain sprocket 20. The arrangement between the drive bush 42, the chain sprocket and the wrap spring clutch 34 is well known in the art and as such will not be described in detail herein.

[0041] The drive bush 42 includes a number of radially outwardly projecting splines 44.

[0042] A distal end face 45 of the drive bush 42 defines an aperture 45a which is sized and configured to snap fit over the retaining portion 14 of the spindle 8 such that the retaining portion 14 prevents the unintended disengagement of the drive bush 42 from the spindle 8 and consequently maintains the chain sprocket 20 on the spindle 8.

[0043] A roller tube 46 engages at one end thereof with the splines 44 of the drive bush 42 such that the roller tube is rotationally locked relative to the drive bush 42.

[0044] An operating chain 48 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) is engaged with the chain sprocket teeth 28 such that balls 50 of the operating chain 48 are located within respective pockets defined between adjacent teeth 28.

[0045] Rotation of the operating chain 48 causes the chain sprocket 20 to rotate about the spindle 8. One of the contact edges 30, 32 of the chain sprocket 20 engages the corresponding tang 38, 40 of the wrap spring 34 which slightly increases the diameter of the cylindrical body portion 36 of the wrap spring 34 and thereby reduces the friction between the wrap spring clutch 34 and the friction surface 12 of the spindle 8. With a reduced frictional contact, the wrap spring 34 and the chain sprocket 20 are able to rotate about the spindle 8.

[0046] Rotation of the chain sprocket 20 causes a corresponding rotation of the drive bush 42 via the interengagement between the two components, which in turn causes a corresponding rotation of the roller tube 46.

[0047] At the opposite end of the roller tube 46 is an idle end bush 52 and a second corner bracket 54. The second corner bracket 54 is similar to the first corner bracket 4, except that instead of a stepped spindle 8, the second corner bracket 54 includes a simple cylindrical spindle 56.

[0048] Similar to the first corner bracket 4, the second corner bracket includes a pair of perpendicularly arranged engagement arms 54a, 54b.

[0049] The idle end spindle 56 provides a bearing for the idle end bush 52 which includes a corresponding cylindrical bore 58. The outer surface of the idle end bush 52 includes a similar arrangement of radially extending splines 60 as the drive bush 42.

[0050] A control end cover 62 and a corresponding idle end cover 64 cover respectively the first corner bracket 4 and the second corner bracket 54 in use.

[0051] FIG. 2 shows an arrangement with an upper frame forming element 66 connected to the second corner bracket 54 (not shown), which is covered by the idle end cover 64. Channels (not shown) in the upper frame forming element 66 engage with the first arms 16, 54a of the first and second corner brackets 4, 54 to secure the upper frame forming element 66 to the corner brackets 4, 54.

[0052] FIG. 2 further shows a first side frame forming element 68 and a second side frame forming element 70. The first and second side frame forming elements 68, 70 have the same profile, but are different to the upper frame forming element 66 as the first and second side frame forming elements 68, 70 do not need to cover the roller tube 46. Each of the first and second side frame forming elements 68, 70 include similar engagement channels as the upper frame forming element 66 and these channels receive therein the second arms 16, 54b of the first and second corner brackets 4, 54 in order to secure the first and second side frame forming elements 68, 70 to the respective corner bracket 4, 54.

[0053] The first and second arms 14, 16, 54a, 54b are secured in their respective channels via screws. However, it will be appreciated that alternative fixings, such as a snap-fit arrangement or a friction fit arrangement may be used to secure the frame forming elements 66, 68, 70 to their respective corner brackets.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a roller blind which shows in more detail the arrangement of the operating chain 48 and the control end cover 62. As shown in FIG. 3, the control end cover 62 defines therethrough an aperture 72 through which the operating chain 48 passes such that a portion of the operating chain 48 lies outside of the frame forming elements.

[0055] FIG. 3 also shows a lower frame forming element 74, which has the same profile as the first and second side frame forming elements 68, 70. The lower frame forming element 74 is connected to the first and second side frame forming elements 68, 70 via respective bottom corner brackets (not shown). Each of the bottom corner brackets includes a pair of perpendicularly arranged engagement arms, similar to the engagement arms of the corner brackets 4, 54 shown in FIG. 1, wherein each of the engagement arms is secured within a respective channel defined by the side frame forming elements 68, 70 and the lower frame forming element 74. The bottom corner brackets are covered by bottom corner bracket covers 76, 78.

[0056] A roller blind sheet 80 is wound around the roller tube 46 and depends downwards from the upper frame forming element 66. A roller blind bottom bar 82 is secured to a bottom edge portion of the roller blind sheet 80 in order to provide additional weight to the bottom portion of the roller blind sheet 80.

[0057] Side edge portions of the roller blind sheet 80 and the roller blind bottom bar 82 are covered by the inwardly facing side edge portions of the first and second side frame forming elements 68, 70 such that the side edge portions of the roller blind sheet 80 and the roller blind bottom bar 82 move vertically within channels defined between the side frame forming elements 68, 70 and a window frame, or a glazing panel of a window frame, to which the frame is secured.

[0058] The roller blind arrangement shown in FIG. 3 may be secured to a window frame via clips, such as those described in EP1727958. Additionally or alternatively, the roller blind arrangement may be secured to a window frame via a magnetic coupling arrangement as described in GB patent application No. 1813471.8.