Patent Application
20250020023
The present invention relates to window blind frame which can be secured to an architectural opening, such as a window, and which can carry a deployable window blind apparatus.
Window blinds which are located within frames and then secured to a window are known. Such window blind arrangements are described, for example, in EP1727958 and WO2020/035613.
Typically, the frames of such window blinds are secured to the window frame via mechanical fixings, such as screws, via clips which are secured between the glazing panel and a rubber gasket of the window, or via a magnetic coupling.
However, it has been noted that when known window blind frame systems are secured to windows having a relatively large width dimension and a window blind is coupled to the frame, the top frame element of the frame may sag or droop.
The present invention sets out to address this problem.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a window blind frame for attachment to an architectural opening, such as a window, wherein the window blind frame comprises a top frame element, a bottom frame element, and a pair of opposed side frame elements, wherein the frame elements are secured together via respective corner brackets; wherein the top frame element is a two part component; the bottom frame is a two-part component; wherein the window blind frame further includes an upper T-shaped bracket, a lower T-shaped bracket, and a supporting member, wherein the upper T-shaped bracket connects the two top frame components and an upper end of the supporting member; and wherein the lower T-shaped bracket connects the two bottom frame elements and a lower end of the supporting member.
The invention thus provides a supporting member which supports or braces the top frame element and prevents or reduces any sagging or drooping associated with the top frame element.
The skilled person will appreciate that the window blind frame is a substantially rectangular frame which includes four corner brackets, wherein first and second upper corner brackets couple together the ends of the top frame element with the respective side frame elements; and wherein first and second lower corner brackets couple together the ends of the bottom frame element with the respective side elements.
The window blind frame may be secured to a substrate (e.g. a window frame) via any known means. For example, the window blind frame may include one or more mechanical fixings, one or more fixing clips (e.g. as described in EP1727958) or one part of a magnetic coupling (e.g. as described in WO2020/035613). Thus, the window blind frame of the present invention is separate from a window frame which secures therein one or more glazing panels.
In an embodiment of the invention, each of the top frame element components defines a respective channel and respective arm portions of the upper T-shaped bracket are received within the top frame element channels; and wherein each of the bottom frame element components defines a respective channel and respective arm portions of the lower T-shaped bracket are received within the bottom frame element channels.
The top frame element channels may extend along the entire length of the top frame element (i.e. both components together) or they may only extend along a part of the top frame element components, for example, the ends of the components that are disposed adjacent to each other. Similarly, the bottom frame element channels may extend along the entire length of the bottom frame element (i.e. both components together) or they may only extend along a part of the bottom frame element components, for example, the ends of the components that are disposed adjacent to each other.
The arms of the upper and lower T-shaped brackets suitably form a friction fit or snap fit within the respective channels of the top frame element and the bottom frame element. However, alternative methods of securing the T-shaped brackets to the top frame elements and bottom frame elements are within the scope of the invention. For example, the upper and lower T-shaped brackets may be secured to the respective top and bottom frame elements via one or more mechanical fixings, such as, for example, screws.
The supporting member may also define an elongate channel along its length or parts of its length and respective arms of the upper and lower T-shaped brackets may be received within the channel or respective ones of the channels.
Again, the arms of the upper and lower T-shaped brackets may form a friction fit or a snap fit within the or each elongate channel of the supporting member. Alternatively, the upper and lower T-shaped brackets may be secured to the or each channel defined by the supporting member via one or more mechanical fixings, such as, for example, screws.
In order to provide a more pleasing appearance for the window blind frame, the T-shaped brackets may be covered. Accordingly, in an embodiment of the invention, the frame further comprises an upper cover plate and a lower cover plate, wherein the upper cover plate covers the upper T-shaped bracket and the lower cover plate covers the lower T-shaped bracket.
For ease of assembly, the upper and lower cover plates may be coupled to the respective T-shaped bracket via a friction fit coupling or a snap fit coupling. However, as noted above, the covers may alternatively be secured to the respective T-shaped bracket via one or more mechanical fixings. In a further alternative embodiment, the T-shaped bracket and the associated cover plate may form a single, integral component. For example, the T-shaped bracket and the cover plate may be moulded as a single component.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a window blind apparatus comprising a window blind frame as defined anywhere herein in connection with the first aspect of the invention, a first deployable window blind, and a second deployable window blind; wherein the first and second deployable window blinds each comprises a blind substrate which is deployable from a headrail or a roller tube; the headrail or roller tube of the first deployable window blind is secured to a first portion of the window blind frame defined between a first one of the side frame elements and the supporting member; and the headrail or roller tube of the second deployable window blind is secured to a second portion of the window blind frame defined between a second one of the side frame elements and the supporting member.
The skilled person will appreciate that the supporting member effectively divides the window blind frame into two separate blind frame portions. A first deployable window blind may therefore be carried by the first portion of the window blind frame, and a second deployable window blind may be carried by the second portion of the window blind frame.
The side frame elements and the supporting member may each define cover portions which extend perpendicularly relative to a longitudinal axis of the side frame elements and the supporting member. These cover portions suitably cover respective side edge portions of the deployable window blinds. In this way, light strike between the side edge portions of the blind substrate and the sides of the window blind frame is prevented.
In an embodiment of the invention, each of the first and second deployable window
blinds includes a blind substrate which is deployable from a respective roller tube and the roller tubes are secured to the respective portions of the frame via roller tube supports. For example, the roller tube supports may be coupled to the top frame element. Alternatively, the roller tube supports may be coupled to the side frame elements and the supporting member. In a further alternative embodiment, each of the upper corner brackets define a first one of the roller tube supports and a second one of the roller tube supports is coupled to the top frame element or to the supporting member.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, each of the first and second deployable window blinds includes a blind substrate which is deployable from a respective headrail and the headrails are secured to the respective portions of the frame via headrail supports. In such embodiments, each of the blind substrates may be formed from a single blind substrate element (e.g., in the form of a pleated blind or a Roman blind) or each of the blind substrates may be formed from a plurality of blind substrate elements (for example, a vertical blind or a Venetian blind). In such embodiments, each blind substrate element may define a longitudinal axis and is arranged to move laterally and to be rotated about its longitudinal axis. Thus, the longitudinal axis may be a vertical axis (e.g., in the case of a vertical blind) or a horizontal axis (e.g., in the case of a Venetian blind). In the context of the present invention, the term “laterally” means displacement of the blind substrate element in a direction which is perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. In other words, displacement along the headrail or towards/away from the headrail. Thus, each blind substrate may be arranged for displacement along the respective headrail or towards/away from the headrail.
Each of the first and second window blinds may be operated separately (i.e. independently) or they may be arranged for simultaneous operation. Thus, the first deployable window blind may include a first operating apparatus, and the second deployable window blind may include a second operating apparatus.
The skilled person will appreciate that a window blind frame may include two or more supporting members, wherein each supporting member is secured to the window blind frame via a respective pair of T-shaped brackets. Thus, the window blind frame may be divided into two framed portions where the window blind frame includes one supporting member, or it may be divided into three framed portions where the window blind frame includes two supporting members. It will be appreciated that the window blind frame may include “n” number of supporting members, wherein the window blind frame is divided into “n+1” framed portions.
Window blind apparatus are often sold in kit form for installation on site. Thus, according to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a window blind apparatus in kit form, wherein the kit includes window blind frame components including a two-part top frame element, a two-part bottom frame element, a pair of opposed side frame elements, four corner brackets, an upper T-shaped bracket, a lower T-shaped bracket and a supporting member; a first deployable window blind; and a second deployable window blind.
The optional features described herein with respect to the first and second aspects of the invention apply equally to the third aspect of the invention.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided coverable window assembly, wherein the window assembly includes a window frame; one or more glazing panels disposed within the window frame and secured thereto; and a window blind apparatus as defined anywhere herein in connection with the second aspect of the invention; wherein the window blind frame of the window blind apparatus is coupled to the window frame. Again, the optional features described herein with respect to the first and second aspects of the invention apply equally to the fourth aspect of the invention.
The skilled person will appreciate that the features described and defined in connection with the aspect of the invention and the embodiments thereof may be combined in any combination, regardless of whether the specific combination is expressly mentioned herein. Thus, all such combinations are considered to be made available to the skilled person.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
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.
a show a window blind frame 2 which comprises a two-part top frame element 4a, 4b; a two-part bottom frame element 6a, 6b, a first side frame element 8 and a second side frame element 10. The top frame element 4a is connected to the first side frame element 8 via a first corner bracket 12a; the top frame element 4b is connected to the second frame element 10 via a second corner bracket 12b; the bottom frame element 6a is connected to the first side frame element 8 via a third corner bracket 12c; and the bottom frame element 6b is connected to the second side frame element 10 via a fourth corner bracket 12d.
The frame elements 4a, 4b, 6a, 6b, 8, 10 each have a known profile, such as the profiles shown and described in WO2018/055416 and WO2020/099343. Similarly, the corner brackets 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d may be any L-shaped bracket that engages with the respective frame element profiles, for example, the corner brackets shown in WO2018/055416 or WO2020/099343.
An upper T-shaped bracket 14 connects together the two parts 4a, 4b of the top frame element. It also connects an upper end of a supporting member 16 to the top frame element 4a, 4b. Similarly, a lower T-shaped bracket 18 connects together the two parts 6a, 6b of the bottom frame element. It also connects a lower end of the supporting member 16 to the bottom frame element 6a, 6b.
As shown in
The arms 14a, 14b, 18a, 18b, 18c form a friction fit or a snap fit within the respective channel defined by the top frame element 4a, 4b, bottom frame element 6a, 6b and supporting member 16.
The top wall 16a of the supporting member 16 extends beyond the opposed side walls 16b, 16c to define cover portions either side of the side walls 16b, 16c. In use, the cover portions of the top wall 16a cover the respective side edge portions of blind substrates (not shown) carried by the frame 2 on either side of the supporting member 16. In this way, light strike between the blind substrates and the supporting member 16 is minimized or prevented.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2116362.1 | Nov 2021 | GB | national |
The present application is a national phase application of PCT Application No. PCT/GB2022/052861, filed Nov. 10, 2022, entitled “WINDOW BLIND FRAME”, which claims the benefit of Great Britain Patent Application No. 2116362.1, filed Nov. 12, 2021, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/GB2022/052861 | 11/10/2022 | WO |
