Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6412538
-
Patent Number
6,412,538
-
Date Filed
Friday, April 14, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, July 2, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 160 266
- 160 2681
- 160 270
- 160 271
- 160 371
- 160 380
- 160 381
- 160 395
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A side guide for an architectural roller covering includes a base (18) and a cover (20). The base has a longitudinally-extending base web (22) with an outer flange (24) and an inner flange (34) extending laterally from a lateral surface of the base web. A free lateral end of the outer flange (24) has a first hinge formation (32) that is longitudinally directed towards the inner flange (34). The cover has a longitudinally-extending cover web (42) with a second hinge formation (48) and a bent arm (50) extending laterally from a lateral surface of the cover web (42) towards the base (18). The lateral surface of the base web (22) faces the lateral surface of the cover web (42), the second hinge formation (48) being located longitudinally between the base inner and outer flanges (34,24) and extending longitudinally towards the first hinge formation (32) and away from the bent arm (50). The bent arm is located longitudinally between the inner and outer flanges (34,24) and has an elbow (55) that extends towards the second hinge formation (48) and is between two laterally-extending portions (52,54) of the bent arm. The first and second hinge formations cooperate, and the cover pivots about them to move the bent arm (50) laterally towards the base web (22) until a free lateral end of the bent arm contacts the lateral surface of the base web and a laterally-extending surface of the inner flange (34) to resiliently lock the cover (20) on the base (18).
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application corresponds to and claims priority to European Application No. 99201122.1, filed Apr. 14, 1999. This European application is hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
a. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a side guide for enclosing the sides of an architectural roller covering, especially a roller covering for an architectural opening, such as a roller screen, shade, or blind for a window.
b. Description of the Related Art
Side guides for architectural roller coverings are known, for example, from the following patent publications: EP 0 841 461, DE 44 06 267, U.S. Pat. No. 4,357,978 and GB 2 235 005. Typically, such side guides include generally U-shaped, vertically-extending channels. The channels preferably surround the front and back of the sides of the roller coverings, adjacent their side edges, to prevent heat, dirt, and insects from getting past their side edges and/or to keep the coverings in a vertical plane while allowing them to move vertically unhindered when raising and lowering them. Such side guides have also typically been adapted to be removably fit onto mounting members on a wall, adjacent to a window which such roller coverings are intended to cover.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The installation and maintenance of such side guides has generally not been easy. In this regard, side guides have been sought which are easier to disassemble and reassemble when cleaning or installing their roller coverings.
This invention provides a side guide for an architectural roller covering, such as a roller screens shade, or blind for a window, having:
a base having a longitudinally-extending elongated base web with an outer flange and an inner flange extending laterally from a lateral surface of the base web; a free lateral end of the outer flange having a first hinge formation that is longitudinally directed towards the inner flange; and
a cover having a longitudinally-extending elongated cover web with a second hinge formation and a bent arm extending laterally from a lateral surface of the cover web towards the base; the lateral surface of the base web facing the lateral surface of the cover web; the second hinge formation being located longitudinally between the inner and outer flanges of the base and extending longitudinally towards the first hinge formation and away from the bent arm; and the bent arm also being located longitudinally between the inner and outer flanges of the base and having an elbow that extends towards the second hinge formation and is between two laterally-extending portions of the bent arm;
whereby the second hinge formation can cooperate with the first hinge formation and the cover can be pivoted about the cooperating first and second hinge formations to move the bent arm laterally towards the base web until a free lateral end of the bent arm contacts the lateral surface of the base web and a laterally-extending surface of the inner flange, facing the outer flange, to resiliently lock the cover on the base.
Advantageously, the base and cover extend vertically and preferably are coextensive. It is especially advantageous that a first portion of the bent arm, at a lateral end of the elbow remote from the cover web, extends i) longitudinally away from the second hinge formation, ii) laterally away from the cover web at an acute angle to the cover web, and iii) towards the laterally-extending surface of the inner flange. It is particularly advantageous that a second portion of the bent arm, connected to the cover web and the elbow, extends laterally away from the cover web and longitudinally towards the second hinge formation. It is also particularly advantageous that the first hinge formation be a hinge groove that is longitudinally open towards the inner flange and that the second hinge formation be a hook. It is further particularly advantageous that the free lateral end of the bent arm is lockingly accommodated adjacent the laterally-extending surface of the inner flange when the free lateral end contacts the lateral surface of the base web.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an architectural roller covering, such as a roller screen, shade, or blind for a window, is provided, which includes a side guide of this invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a roller blind, showing a pair of assembled side guides of the invention along opposite lateral sides of the blind;
FIG. 2
is a top plan view of one of the side guides of
FIG. 1
, before it is assembled;
FIG. 3
is a top plan view, similar to
FIG. 2
, of one of the side guides of
FIG. 1
after it has been partially assembled; and
FIG. 4
is a top plan view, similar to
FIG. 3
, of one of the side guides of
FIG. 1
after it has been fully assembled and surrounds one side of a flexible covering member of the blind, adjacent the side edge.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Further aspects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description below of a particular embodiment.
FIG. 1
shows a roller blind, generally
1
, for a window (not shown). The blind
1
has a conventional longitudinally-extending elongated head rail
3
that contains a conventional longitudinally-extending elongated roller (not shown) connected to the top of a conventional flexible covering member
5
. The bottom of the covering member
5
is attached to a conventional longitudinally-extending bottom rail
7
. The covering member
5
is adapted to be extended and subsequently retracted by being wound about the roller in the head rail
3
. In this regard, the head rail
3
can include conventional mechanisms for extending and automatically retracting the covering member.
The roller blind
1
also has a pair of vertically-extending, left and right, side guides, generally
10
and
12
. respectively, of this invention on opposite longitudinal sides. As described below with reference to
FIGS. 2-4
, the left and right side guides
10
,
12
are adapted to be mounted on a wall (not shown), adjacent to the window, and to be subsequently removed, for example, for cleaning behind the roller blind
1
. The side guides
10
,
12
surround the left and right sides
14
and
16
, respectively, of the covering member
5
, adjacent its side edges. Thereby, the side guides
10
,
12
close off the side edges of the covering member
5
to the passage of heat, dirt, and insects while not hindering the covering member
5
from moving vertically when being raised and lowered. The left and right side guides
10
,
12
are preferably the same and are mounted in
FIG. 1
as mirror images on a wall and on longitudinally opposite sides of the covering member
5
. The side guides
10
,
12
are also preferably made of plastic.
FIG. 2
shows the left side guide
10
of the blind
1
of
FIG. 1
before it has been assembled to receive the left side
14
of the covering member
5
. The left side guide
10
has a vertically-extending base, generally
18
, and a vertically-extending cover, generally
20
, in front of the base
18
.
The base
18
of the left side guide
10
, as shown in
FIG. 2
, has a longitudinally- and vertically-extending, elongated base web
22
. Preferably extending laterally through the base web
22
of the left side guide
10
are vertically spaced apertures (not shown) which can be used for affixing the base
18
to a longitudinally-extending wall adjacent to a window in a conventional manner (e.g., with nails or screws).
Attached to the left end of the front surface of the base web
22
of the left side guide
10
is a vertically-extending outer flange
24
, extending also frontally towards the cover
20
. The outer flange
24
preferably has a conventional under-cut longitudinally-extending mounting groove
26
at its rear end, adjacent the base web
22
. The groove
26
is formed by a pair of longitudinally-extending, rear and front ribs
28
,
30
that are integral with the outer flange
24
. The groove
26
is open to the left, away from the right side guide
12
and can be used for affixing the outer flange
24
and the base
18
to a laterally-extending wall, adjacent to a window (for example, by inserting the vertically-aligned heads of nails or screws, projecting to the right from the wall, into the groove
26
). The groove
26
can also be used to hold other elements, such as brackets or sealing strips, inserted into it.
The front end of the outer flange
24
of the left side guide
10
also has a first hinge formation in the form of a hinge groove
32
. The hinge groove
32
is open towards the right side guide
12
.
Also attached to the front surface of the base web
22
of the left side guide
10
is a vertically-extending first inner flange
34
, that also extends frontally towards the cover
20
and is spaced to the right of the outer flange
24
. The first inner flange
34
preferably forms the left side of a conventional under-cut first frontally-open mounting groove
36
on the front of the base web
22
. The groove
36
can hold a conventional, frontally-extending brush or sealing strip (not shown) that is inserted in the groove
36
and can contact the rear of the left side
14
of the covering member
5
to close it off to the passage of heat, dirt, and insects.
Also preferably attached to the front surface of the base web
22
of the left side guide
10
is a vertically-extending second inner flange
38
, that also extends frontally towards the cover
20
and is spaced to the right of the first frontally-open mounting groove
36
. The second inner flange
38
preferably forms one longitudinal side of a conventional under-cut second frontally-open mounting groove
40
, spaced to the right of the first frontally-open mounting groove
36
. The second laterally-open mounting groove
40
can also be used for holding a conventional, frontally-extending brush or other sealing member (not shown) which is inserted in the groove
40
and can contact the rear of the left side
14
of the covering member
5
to further close it off to the passage of heat, dirt, and insects.
The cover
20
of the left side guide
10
, as shown in
FIG. 2
, has a longitudinally- and vertically-extending, elongated cover web
42
. Attached to the rear surface of the cover web
42
is a vertically-extending second hinge formation in the form of a hook member, generally
44
. The hook member
44
is located between the outer flange
24
and the first inner flange
34
of the base
18
and extends rearwardly towards the outer flange
24
. In this regard, the hook member
44
has a rearwardly-extending stem
46
, attached to the cover web
42
, a short distance to the right of its left end, and a hook
48
that is on the rear end of the stem
46
. The hook
48
extends away from the right side guide
12
, towards the hinge groove
32
on the outer flange
24
on the front of the base
18
.
Also attached to the rear surface of the cover web
42
of the left side guide
10
is a vertically-extending bent arm, generally
50
. The bent arm
50
is also located between the outer flange
24
and the first inner flange
34
of the base
18
and extends rearwardly towards the first inner flange
34
. In this regard, the bent arm
50
includes a front portion
52
that is spaced to the right of the stem
46
of the hook member
44
and extends rearwardly and to the left from its attachment to the rear surface of the cover web
42
, towards the hook
48
. The bent arm
50
also includes a rear portion
54
, that is connected by an elbow
55
to the front portion
52
and that extends rearwardly and to the right from the elbow
55
, away from the hook
48
. The elbow
55
extends towards the hook member
44
and forms an acute angle to the right as shown in
FIGS. 2-4
. As a result, the rear portion
54
of the bent arm
50
has its free rear end remote from the cover web
42
and extends i) to the right, away from the hook
48
; ii) rearwardly at an acute angle to the right relative to the rear surface of the cover web
42
; and iii) towards a frontally-extending left surface of the inner flange
34
, facing the outer flange
24
when viewed from the top of the left side guide
10
as in
FIGS. 2-4
. Preferably, the front and rear portions
52
,
54
of the bent arm
50
are substantially straight.
The elbow
55
between the front and rear portions
52
,
54
of the bent arm
50
is adapted to accommodate a significant longitudinal length of the left side
14
of the covering member
5
within the left side guide
10
as shown in FIG.
4
. The elbow
55
is also adapted to promote the resilient flexing of the rear portion
54
frontally, relative to the front portion
52
. However, it is believed that specific acute angles for the elbow
55
are not critical to the side guides
10
,
12
of this invention or their operation.
Also preferably attached to the rear surface of the cover web
42
of the left side guide
10
are a pair of vertically-extending third inner flanges
56
, that also extend rearwardly toward the base
18
and are spaced to the right of the bent arm
50
. The rear ends of the third inner flanges
56
serve, together with the front end of the second inner flange
38
, to retain and guide the left side
14
of the covering member
5
, so that it extends longitudinally and vertically within the left side guide
10
as shown in FIG.
4
.
The cover
20
can be attached to the base
18
to form the vertically-extending left side guide
10
for the left side
14
of the covering member
5
of the roller blind
1
, between its head rail
3
and bottom rail
7
as described below with reference to
FIGS. 2-4
.
The vertically-extending base
18
of the left side guide
10
can be mounted initially on a wall, to the left of, and adjacent to, a window in a conventional manner, using nails or screws engaging the vertically aligned apertures (not shown) in the base web
22
or the longitudinally-extending mounting groove
26
. As shown in
FIG. 4
, the base
18
will extend longitudinally behind the left side edge
14
A of the covering member
5
of the blind
1
, mounted in front of the window. The outer flange
24
of the base
18
will be located to the left oft he left side edge
14
A oft he covering member
5
and to the left of its inner flange
34
. If desired, frontally-extending elongated brushes or sealing members (not shown) can be inserted in the frontally-open mounting grooves
36
,
40
.
The vertically-extending cover
20
can then be positioned in front of, and at an acute angle to, the base
18
. The hook member
44
of the cover
20
extends rearwardly, with its hook
48
to the right of and in front of the hinge groove
32
on the front end of the outer flange
24
of the base
18
.
The cover web
42
and the hook member
44
of the cover
20
can then be moved rearwardly and to the left, so that the hook
48
engages the hinge groove
32
of the base
18
as shown in FIG.
3
.
Then, the cover web
42
of the cover
20
can be pivoted rearwardly about the hinged connection of its hook
48
to the hinge groove
32
of the base
18
to move the bent arm
50
rearwardly towards the base web
22
. The bent arm
50
of the cover
20
is moved rearwardly until the free rear end of its rear portion
54
contacts the front surface of the base web
22
. The cover web
42
of the cover
20
will then extend longitudinally, with the free rear end of its rear arm portion
54
also contacting, and being resiliently urged against, the left side of the first inner flange
34
of the base
18
, so as to keep the left side guide
10
securely closed as shown in FIG.
4
. In this regard, the rear arm portion
54
preferably extends sufficiently far to the right, away from the hook
48
, so that the left side of the first inner flange
34
is in continuous contact with the free rear end of the rear arm portion
54
and urges it to the left, thereby resiliently flexing the bent arm
50
to the left and resiliently flexing its rear portion
54
frontally relative to its front portion
52
as the cover
20
is pivoted rearwardly. Such resilient flexing continues until the rearwardly moving, free rear end of the rear arm portion
54
contacts the front surface of the base web
22
and preferably is lockingly accommodated to the left of, and adjacent to, the left side of the inner flange
34
, so as to resiliently lock the cover
20
on the base
18
.
The right side guide
12
, which is a mirror image of the left side guide
10
, can then be assembled in the same way.
Lastly, the sides
14
,
16
of the covering member
5
can be inserted between the base
18
and the cover
20
of the left and right side guides
10
,
12
. As shown in
FIG. 4
, the left side edge
14
A of the covering member will be to the right of, and adjacent to, the elbow
55
connecting the front and rear portions
52
,
54
of the bent arm
50
of the left side guide
10
and within the acute angle of the elbow. The corresponding right side edge (not shown) of the covering member
5
within the right side guide
12
will be the mirror image of what is shown in FIG.
4
.
This invention is, of course, not limited to the above-described embodiment which can be modified without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its advantages. In this regard, the terms in the foregoing description and the following claims, such as “right”, “left”, “front”, “rear”, “upward”, “downward”, “longitudinal”, “lateral”, “height”, “vertical”, “bottom”, and “top”, have been used only as relative terms to describe the relationships of the various elements of the side guide of the invention for a retractable architectural covering. For example, the cover
20
could be provided with a plurality of vertically aligned apertures or a conventional under-cut longitudinally-extending mounting groove for mounting the cover on a wall, adjacent a window to be covered by the roller blind
1
, and the base
18
could be hingedly connected to, and in front of, the cover to form the side guides
10
,
12
. Likewise, the hinge groove
32
could be provided on the stem
46
of the cover
20
and the hook member
44
could be provided on the outer flange
24
of the base
18
, provided its hook
48
extends towards the hinge groove.
Claims
- 1. A side guide for an architectural roller covering, said side guide comprising:a base having a longitudinally-extending base web with an outer flange and an inner flange extending laterally from a lateral surface of the base web said inner flange being spaced from said outer flange along an uninterrupted segment of said lateral surface; a free lateral end of the outer flange having a first hinge formation that is longitudinally directed towards the inner flange; and a cover having a longitudinally-extending cover web with a second hinge formation and a resilient bent arm extending laterally from a lateral surface of the cover web towards the base; the lateral surface of the base web facing the lateral surface of the cover web; the second hinge formation extending longitudinally towards and being in contact with the first hinge formation; and the bent arm being located longitudinally between the inner and outer flanges and having an elbow that extends towards the second hinge formation and is between two laterally-extending portions of the bent arm, one of the two laterally-extending portions of the bent arm having a free end, the bent arm being in a continuously yielding engagement through the free end with both the lateral surface of the base web and a laterally-extending surface of the inner flange, facing the outer flange; wherein a biasing force is supplied by resilient deformation of the bent arm relative to the cover to hold (i) the first hinge formation in contact with the second hinge formation and (ii) the free end in simultaneous contact with the lateral surface of the base web and the laterally extending surface of the inner flange.
- 2. The guide of claim 1 wherein the base member and the cover member extend vertically.
- 3. The side guide of claim 1 wherein the base member and the cover member are coextensive.
- 4. The side guide of claim 1 wherein a first portion of the bent arm, at a lateral end of the elbow remote from the cover web, extends i) longitudinally away from the second hinge formation, ii) laterally away from the cover web at an acute angle to the cover web, and iii) towards the laterally-extending surface of the inner flange.
- 5. The side guide of claim 1 wherein a second portion of the bent arm, connected to the cover web and the elbow, extends laterally away from the cover web and longitudinally towards the second hinge formation.
- 6. The side guide of claim 5 wherein the first and second portions of the bent arm are substantially straight.
- 7. The side guide of claim 1 wherein the first hinge formation is a hinge groove that is longitudinally open towards the inner flange and the second hinge formation is a hook.
- 8. The side guide of claim 1 wherein the free lateral end of the bent arm is lockingly accommodated adjacent the laterally-extending surface of the inner flange when the free lateral end contacts the lateral surface of the base web.
- 9. The side guide of claim 1, further comprising a slot formed between the lateral surfaces of the base web and cover web, the slot adapted to receive a side edge of a covering member of the roller covering, the slot permitting vertical movement of the side edge therein.
- 10. An architectural roller covering, said roller covering comprising:a side guide, said side guide comprising: a base having a longitudinally-extending base web with an outer flange and an inner flange extending laterally from a lateral surface of the base web said inner flange being spaced from said outer flange along an uninterrupted segment of said lateral surface; a free lateral end of the outer flange having a first hinge formation that is longitudinally directed towards the inner flange; and a cover having a longitudinally-extending cover web with a second hinge formation and a resilient bent arm extending laterally from a lateral surface of the cover web towards the base; the lateral surface of the base web facing the lateral surface of the cover web; the second hinge formation extending longitudinally towards and being in contact with the first hinge formation; and the bent arm being located longitudinally between the inner and outer flanges and having an elbow that extends towards the second hinge formation and is between two laterally-extending portions of the bent arm, one of the two laterally-extending portions of the bent arm having a free end, the bent arm being in a continuously yielding engagement through the free end with both the lateral surface of the base web and a laterally-extending surface of the inner flange, facing the outer flange; wherein a biasing force is supplied by resilient deformation of the bent arm relative to the cover to hold (i) the first hinge formation in contact with the second hinge formation and (ii) the free end in simultaneous contact with the lateral surface of the base web and the laterally extending surface of the inner flange.
- 11. The architectural roller covering of claim 10 wherein the base member and the cover member extend vertically.
- 12. The architectural roller covering of claim 10 wherein the base member and the cover member are coextensive.
- 13. The architectural roller covering of claim 10 wherein a first portion of the bent arm, at a lateral end of the elbow remote from the cover web, extends: i) longitudinally away from the second hinge formation, ii) laterally away from the cover web at an acute angle to the cover web, and iii) towards the laterally-extending surface of the inner flange.
- 14. The architectural roller covering of claim 10 wherein a second portion of the bent arm, connected to the cover web and the elbow, extends laterally away from the cover web and longitudinally towards the second hinge formation.
- 15. The architectural roller covering of claim 14 wherein the first and second portions of the bent arm are substantially straight.
- 16. The architectural roller covering of claim 10 wherein the first hinge formation is a hinge groove that is longitudinally open towards the inner flange and the second hinge formation is a hook.
- 17. The architectural roller covering of claim 10 wherein the free lateral end of the bent arm is lockingly accommodated adjacent the laterally-extending surface of the inner flange when the free lateral end contacts the lateral surface of the base web.
- 18. The roller covering of claim 10, further comprising a covering member with at least one side edge, and wherein the side guide further comprises a slot formed between the lateral surfaces of the base web and cover web, the slot having the at least one side edge received therein and permitting vertical movement of covering member.
- 19. A side guide for an architectural roller covering, the side guide comprising:a base having a longitudinally extending base web, the base web having front surface with an outer flange and an inner flange extending laterally from the front surface, the outer flange having a first hinge formation, the first hinge formation comprising either a groove or a hook, the hook being adapted to receive the hook, the inner flange including a laterally extending surface, the laterally extending surface facing towards the outer flange; and a cover having a longitudinally extending cover web, the cover web having a rear surface with a second hinge formation and a bent arm member extending laterally therefrom towards the front surface, the second hinge formation comprising the other of the hook or groove, the first and second hinge formations being in operative connection with each other, the bent arm comprising a first arm portion, an elbow portion, a second arm portion and a free end portion, the first arm portion being connected to the rear surface at one end and the elbow portion at another end, the second arm portion also being connected to the elbow portion at one end and terminating at the free end portion, the bent arm being resiliently deformed with the free end portion biased against and in simultaneous connection with both the front surface and the laterally extending surface.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
99201122 |
Apr 1999 |
EP |
|
US Referenced Citations (10)
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
Number |
Date |
Country |
9301944 |
Jun 1994 |
DE |
4406267 |
Nov 1997 |
DE |
19823853 |
Nov 1998 |
DE |
841461 |
May 1998 |
EP |
2235005 |
Nov 1993 |
GB |