Window Blind
There is described a portable and foldable window blind comprising an sheet (1) of light-attenuating material having a resilient flexible frame (2) attached around its edge, the blind having fixing means (5) for attaching to a window, and the fixing means being attached to the sheet material of the blind by an elongate element (4). The elongate element (4) is preferably a flexible tension element such as a cord or strap, and may be elastic. The effective length of the elongate element (4) between the sheet (1) and the fixing device (5) may be adjusted by a clamping device (7) positioned on the side of the sheet material (1) remote from the fixing device (5) and selectively engagable at a variety of points along the length of the elongate element (4). There is also described an extension piece (26,27,28) for mounting the blind to a bay window.
This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending International Application No. PCT/GB2009/002943 (filed on Dec. 22, 2009 by the same inventor and designating the United States of America), which claims priority to British Application Serial No. 0900121.5 (filed on Jan. 6, 2009 by the same inventor) and to British Application Serial No. 0917172.9 (filed on Sep. 30, 2009 by the same inventor), all three of which are incorporated herein by reference in their respective entireties.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to window blinds, and particularly concerns a blind or blackout for substantially preventing light from entering a room through a window to which the blind is mounted.
Many people, particularly babies and children, sleep better in a dark environment, particularly if they are accustomed so to do. Some parents fit blackout curtains in children's rooms, so that the children will not be woken by the dawn, particularly during the summer months. However, when on holiday or temporarily staying away from home, the curtains or blinds at the destination may not provide such a darkened environment for children to sleep. Curtains which admit light may cause children to wake at a much earlier hour than customary, which can be both inconvenient for the parents, and detrimental to the children's alertness and humour during the ensuing day.
There therefore exists a need to provide a device which can be deployed to substantially prevent the passage of light through a window, in order to darken a room and thus promote longer periods of sleep. Preferably the device is readily portable, to enable parents to carry the device with them when travelling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to the invention there is provided a window blind comprising a flexible sheet of substantially light-proof material having a resilient flexible frame adapted to impose a tensile stress in the sheet, the blind further comprising a number of fixing arrangements each comprising a fixing device adapted to be attached to a window, the fixing device or devices each being attached to the sheet material by means of an elongate element, preferably a flexible tension element, and wherein the effective length of the elongate element between the sheet material and the fixing device is adjustable.
The fixing devices are preferably attached to the sheet material at locations spaced from the edge of the sheet, so that when the fixing devices are attached to a window pane the sheet material may extend laterally beyond the window and engage the surface of the wall surrounding the window.
The flexible sheet material may be a rubberised fabric material, a dense non-woven fabric, or a closely-woven fabric material. The sheet material does not have to prevent all light from passing through the sheet into the room, and may permit the passage of a part of the incident light. However, in at least one embodiment the blind is made from fully opaque material and acts as a blackout by preventing the passage of light through the sheet. The blind may comprise a single thickness of the sheet material, or multiple thicknesses in order to achieve the required degree of opacity. References to “sheet material” in the following should be construed as including either a single thickness or multiple thicknesses of material.
The elongate element or elements may be flexible and/or elastic.
Preferably the flexible sheet is rectangular in form, with rounded corners. However, other shapes such as circular, trapezoidal or triangular may be used. Where polygonal shapes are used, the corners may be radiussed.
The fixing arrangement may include a suction cup device for fixing to a window pane, or may comprise a hook or a loop adapted to engage a handle of a casement window. In one embodiment, the fixing device may comprise an enlargement at the end of a tension element, the enlargement adapted to be placed outside the window and the tension element adapted to pass between a casement or sash and a fixed part of the window frame when the window is closed.
In a further embodiment, the fixing device may be attached to a window or a window frame by means of an adhesive pad.
The window blind may be provided with one fixing device attached at a central position on the flexible sheet. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of fixing devices may be provided at locations spaced around the perimeter of the flexible sheet or spaced inwardly from the edge of the sheet.
The frame may comprise a resilient flexible hoop extending round the edge of the sheet. The resilient hoop may be formed of spring metal, or of resilient plastics material optionally reinforced with fibre. The hoop may be circular or rectangular in cross-section. The hoop may be received within a circumferentially-extending hem formed at the edge of the sheet. Alternatively, the frame may comprise two or more elongate members extending between corners of a polygonal blind and adapted to impart tension to the blind sheet material. The elongate members may extend diagonally or diametrally of the blind sheet.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring now to the drawings,
The blind B is of generally rectangular shape, with rounded corners. Extending round of the perimeter of the sheet 1 is a resilient flexible hoop 2 which extends within a hem sewn at the edge of the sheet 1.
The centre of the sheet 1 is formed with an opening 3, through which a flexible cord 4 extends. The opening 3 closely surrounds the cord 4 so as to minimise light leakage, but the cord 4 may be freely drawn through the opening 3 for adjustment of the effective length of the cord, as will be described below.
As can be seen in
An alternative fixing arrangement is illustrated in
The flexible nature of the sheet 1 and the resilient hoop 2 enable the blind B to be folded for storage and transport to approximately one quarter of its full area. The blind is folded by grasping two opposite edges, and a rotating them in opposite directions so as to form the hoop 2 into a
A principal application for the blind of the present invention is for use in darkening a room, such as a hotel room, when taking children on holiday. The blind is transported to the holiday destination in its folded condition within the user's luggage, and the dimensions of the blind (when folded) may be determined by typical dimensions of a suitcase or other travelling bag.
On arrival at the destination, the blind is unfolded into the deployed condition seen in
If the blind is insufficiently large to cover the entire extent of the window, a second blind may then be fitted in the manner described above, to cover the remaining area. Two or more blinds may be fitted side-by-side, or one above the other, as required to cover the window area. The weight of each blind is supported by its cord, which extends downwardly and inwardly (relative to the room) from the suction cup attached to the window pane. Alternatively, an extension panel (not shown) may be attached either permanently or releasably to one edge of the blind, the extension panel preferably being of opaque flexible sheet material and hanging down from the blind in use to obscure an area below the blind.
The clamp 7 is shown in cross-section in
In any of the above embodiments, the opening 3 may be bounded by a wear-resisting eyelet of plastics or metal. In a particularly low-cost embodiment, the clamp 7 may be omitted and the cord 4 simply knotted at the eyelet 3. In a further even more economic or embodiment, the cord 4 may be replaced by a tension element of flexible material fixed at one end to the sheet 1 and at the other end to the suction cup 5. Adjustment of the distance between the suction cup 5 and the sheet 1 may be provided by making the tension element from an elastic material.
In a further embodiment (not shown) the clamp 7 may be omitted, and the cord 4 may be provided at the stopper end with a fastener attachable to the sheet material of the blind at a number of locations spaced by differing distances from the opening 3. By adjusting the spacing of the stopper end of the cord from the opening 3, the length of cord between the opening and the suction cup 5 may be adjusted. The stopper end of the cord may be attached to the sheet material of the blind by any suitable means, such as by a burr-type hook-and-loop fastener, or by a tab having a buttonhole engaging one of a number of buttons sewn on to the sheet material.
In a yet further embodiment, the tension element or cord 4 may be replaced by a rod extending from the fixing device to the sheet material of the blind. The rod may be telescopically adjustable in length.
Adjustment of the length of the tension element joining the fixing device to the sheet material may alternatively be provided by fixing one end of the tension element to the sheet material, and providing an adjustable cleat at the fixing device. In such an embodiment, the fixing device (such as suction cup 5) will be fixed to the window, and a free end of the tension element hanging down from the cleat of the fixing device would then be pulled to draw the sheet material of the blind towards the fixing device and thus set the blind into position.
Legislation in some countries may limit the total length of the cord 4, such that the fixing device 5 cannot be spaced far enough from the blind 1 to reach the window pane 13 if the window has deep reveals. In such circumstances, an extension piece 26 may be used. The extension piece comprises an elongate rod-like body 26 with a fixing device such as a suction cup 27 at one end, and a fixture such as a hook 28, loop, karabiner or other structure at its other end. The fixture 28 is constructed so that as the cord 4 is tensioned, the suction cup 5 at the end of cord 4 is drawn up to the fixture 28, but does not pass it. In the embodiment illustrated, the fixture 28 is a hook which can be releaseably hooked round the cord 4.
To deploy the blind in a deeply inset window, the suction cup 27 of the extension piece is attached to the window so that the rod 26 projects into the room. The blind is unfolded an the cord 4 is engaged with the hook 28 at a point near the suction cup 5 of the blind. The blind 1 is then positioned to cover the window, and the cord 4 drawn through the blind into the room until the suction cup 5 is pulled against the fixture 28 and the cord 4 is in tension sufficient to support the blind. The stopper 7 is then adjusted to maintain tension in the cord, as described previously.
In another embodiment (not illustrated), the extension piece may be permanently engaged with the cord 4, and may hang down between the blind and the window when not in use.
Claims
1. A window blind comprising: wherein the effective length of the elongate element between the fixing device and the sheet is selectively adjustable.
- a sheet of light-attenuating flexible material;
- a resilient flexible frame adapted to tension the sheet;
- at least one fixing device adapted to be attached to a window, the fixing device being attached to the sheet by an elongate element;
2. A window blind according to claim 1 wherein the elongate element is a flexible tension element.
3. A window blind according to claim 1, wherein the fixing device is attached to the sheet by means of a tension element extending through an opening in the sheet, and the effective length of the flexible tension element is adjusted by means of a clamping device positioned on the side of the sheet remote from the fixing device, and securable to the tension element at a plurality of positions along the length of the tension element.
4. A window blind according to claim 1, wherein the fixing device is attached to the sheet by means of a tension element extending through an opening in the sheet, and wherein the tension element is provided, at its end remote from the fixing device, with fastening means adapted to be secured to the sheet material at a location remote from the opening.
5. A window blind according to claim 4, wherein the fastening means comprises a hook-and-loop fastener.
6. A window blind according to claim 4, wherein the fastening means comprises a tab formed with a buttonhole and engagable with one or more buttons fixed to the sheet material.
7. A window blind according to claim 1, wherein the fixing device comprises a suction cup.
8. A window blind according to claim 1, wherein the fixing device comprises a hook or a loop engagable with a window handle.
9. A window blind according to claim 1, wherein the fixing device comprises an enlarged portion attached to the elongate element.
10. A window blind according to claim 1, wherein the elongate element is elastic.
11. A window blind according to claim 1, wherein the fixing device is attached to a central portion of the sheet.
12. A window blind according to claim 1, wherein the window blind comprises a plurality of fixing devices.
13. A window blind according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is substantially rectangular.
14. A window blind according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is circular, triangular or trapezoidal.
15. A window blind according to claim 1, wherein the resilient flexible frame extends round the edge of the sheet and is attached to the sheet by being contained within a circumferential hem.
16. A window blind according to claim 1, wherein the resilient flexible frame comprises resilient plastics material.
17. A window blind according to claim 1, wherein the resilient flexible frame comprises metallic material.
18. A window blind according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is formed from fully opaque material.
19. A window blind according to claim 1, further comprising an extension piece comprising an elongate body having at one end a fixing means for fixing to the window, and at its other end a fixture for engaging the elongate element of the window blind adjacent its fixing device.
20. A window blind according to claim 19, wherein the fixture is a loop, a hook, or a karabiner.
21-22. (canceled)
23. An extension piece for a window blind having at least one fixing device adapted to be attached to a sheet of light-attenuating flexible material by an elongate element and to a window, the extension piece comprising:
- an elongate body having at one end a fixing means for fixing to the window, and at its other end a fixture for engaging the elongate element of the window blind adjacent the fixing device of the window blind.
24. An extension piece according to claim 23, wherein the fixture is a loop, a hook, or a karabiner.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 2, 2011
Publication Date: Mar 15, 2012
Inventor: Anne Clay (London)
Application Number: 13/175,836
International Classification: A47H 1/18 (20060101);