Abstract: The blind has first pairs of planar members 21,22 hinged together at 23, and second pairs at 25,26 hinged together at 27, the members of one pair being connected to the members of the other pair by connectors 28,29 to form a zig-zag array and operating cords 42,43 pass through apertures 40,41 in the members, the cords passing freely through alternate members and physically engaging the other alternate members so that when longitudinal movement is between the cords 42,43 in one direction the first and second members are folded towards one another and the third and fourth members away from one another and when in the opposite direction the first and second members are folded away from one another and the third and fourth members folded towards one another to give two entirely distinct visual appearances. At least some of the members may be translucent to give an effect similar to that of a venetian blind.

Abstract: An operating mechanism for a blind or shielding device having angularly adjustable and retractable slats 12, said mechanism comprising a first driven element 27 for pivotally adjusting the angular orientation of the slats and a second driven element 30 for transversely moving the slats towards and away from the retracted position, a common actuating member 22 for driving said first and second driven elements, a coupling device 24 directly coupling said first driven element to said common actuating member, a final engagement and lost motion mechanism 28, 30 for releasibly engaging said common actuating member to said second driven element and allowing entraining of said second driven element after a predetermined number of revolutions of said actuating member neither of two different rotational senses, the final engagement associated with said lost motion mechanism in each rotational sense inducing a reactive force in an axial direction, said reactive force assisting in declutching of said coupling device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sub-ceiling with a supporting framework in the form of a grid of insecting bearing rails (1), which is able to be suspended at points of intersection of the bearing rails (1), formed by the nodal elements (2), and the open regions (34) of which are able to be secured in an air-tight and dust-tight manner on the peripheral edges by insert members which may take the form of coffers, lighting elements, air-supply devices or air-outlet devices. The insert members rest in a sealing manner on a sealing means on the bearing rails (1), whereby in order to simplify manufacture, construction and assembly and to fulfill the requirements of clean-room conditions, the bearing rails (1) are attachable in an air-tight and dust-tight manner to the nodal elements (2), with the bearing rails (1) having angular supporting flanges (3) on their end walls (15) and the respective nodal element (2) has bearing surfaces (18) cooperating with the supporting flanges (3) to support the bearing rails (1).

Abstract: The specification discloses a method of forming a self sustained cladding panel 10 for use in a cladding panel system for a building using a resilient metal or metal alloy sheet material. The panels have a central visible portion 12 and longitudinally extending side edges 14, 16. The central visible portion has, in its relaxed state, a shape which is significantly different from the intended final shape and the panel is subsequently formed so that its central visible portion is resiliently formed into the final shape, with a resilient deformation taking place within the elastic range of the sheet material. The panel is then retained in this final shape by interconnecting the longitudinally extending side edges 14, 16 either continuously or by spaced elements such as clips.

Abstract: A sandwich panel element comprises a core of fibrous material arranged between first and second parallel outer skins of generally planar sheet material. The core material consists of a plurality of elongate strips arranged in side-by-side and end-to-end abutting relationship. The strips are formed so that the fibers are in a direction generally transverse to the planes of the sheet material. The strips are individually shorter than the length or width of the panel element and the mutually abutting ends of the strips are staggered with respect to rows of adjacent strips. The ends also may be chamfered at an acute angle to the longitudinal direction of the strips to allow the ends to overlap.

Abstract: A method an apparatus for mechanically assembling a venetian blind in which at least two ladders 30 each having laterally spaced side members 42 and cross rungs 44 are spaced apart by a predetermined spacing and fed intermittently along a direction lengthwise of said side members 42, by a pair of side member guides 46 for each ladder. The guides of a pair being spaced by a predetermined spacing to hold at least a portion of said side members apart, spreading means being provided to hold apart two adjacent rungs 44 at the location of said portion of the side members to define the shape of the associated opening 45 in each ladder. Slat material guides 36, 38 are positioned relative to the side member guides 46 so that the slat material is fed at an angle other than 90.degree. to the plane including the longitudinal sides of the slat material as it is guided along the defined path by a slat material guide.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mechanically assembling a venetian blind in which at least two ladders 30 each having laterally spaced side members 42 and cross rungs 44 are spaced apart by a predetermined spacing and fed intemittently along a direction lengthwise of said side members 42, by a pair of side member guides 46 for each ladder. The guides of a pair being spaced by a predetermined spacing to hold at least a portion of said side members apart, spreading means being provided to hold apart two adjacent rungs 44 at the location of said portion of the side members to define the shape of the associated opening 45 in each ladder. Slat material guides 36, 38 are positioned relative to the side member guides 46 so that the slat material is fed at an angle other than 90.degree. to the plane including the longitudinal sides of the slat material as it is guided along the defined path by a slat material guide.

Abstract: An apparatus method for bending channel cross-section strip or panel material in which the material is passed between an infeed roller set 10, 16, 18, an intermediate roller set 12, 20, 22 and an outfeed roller set 14, 24, 26. At least one of the rollers of each roller set has two axially spaced annular projections which define an accommodation space for the flanges of the strip material. The axial spacing between these annular projections is reduced between the infeed and outfeed roller sets to enable the panel cross-section to be retained over a wide range of panel materials and curvature.

Abstract: A sandwich panel element comprises a core 10 of fibrous material arranged between first and second parallel outer skins of generally planar sheet material 30, 32. The core material consists of a plurality of elongate strips 12a, 12b, 12c etc. arranged in side-by-side and end-to-end abutting relationship. The strips are formed so that the fibers are in a direction generally transverse to the planes of the sheet material 30, 32. The strips 12a, 12b, 12c etc. are individually shorter than the length or width of the panel element and the mutually abutting ends 25 of the strip are chamfered at an acute angle to the longitudinal direction of the strips to allow the ends to overlap.

Abstract: A cutting member and machine for cutting elongate members is disclosed. The cutting member comprises a body having a cutting edge defining a cavity such that the cutting edge contacts a surface to be cut at at least two points. The cutting machine comprises the cutting member, a weight pivotally connected to the cutting member to define a arm-weight assembly, and a driven member defining a central opening, wherein the arm-weight assembly is pivotally attached to the driven member so as to drive the cutting member in a circular path around the central opening, the cutting edge of the cutting member being biased inwardly towards the central opening by the weight and the resultant centrifugal force.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the automatic manufacture of portions of a given length of strip material printed or embossed with a repetitive pattern in a longitudinal strip material, such as venetian blind slats, panels for walls and ceiling coverings and for shutters, awnings and sun louvres, in which the strip material is fed progressively to a cutting unit, first sections are cut, each of said given length, on the strip material, the second sections are cut from parts of the strip material immediately following at least some of the cut-off first sections, in a controlled manner, to allow varying of the length of each of said second sections individually, to provide a controlled positioning of the repetitive pattern along the length of the subsequently cut first sections, the second sections being rejected and the first sections being renewed for further handling.

Abstract: A louvre panelling system in which louvers 40 are mounted on brackets 14. A bead formed on one side edge of the louvre is hookd over a portion 26 of the bracket 12 and the louvre is then pivoted until the free edge 54 of a bead 50 on the other edge of the louvre engages in a recess 34 formed between front and rear projections 30 and 32 of a further bead holding portion 28 of the bracket 14.

Abstract: Polygonal panel for a wall or ceiling cladding of the type in which certain longitudinal edges of the panels rest on supporting devices or are wedged in by the latter. The panel has a metal front plate, a metal rear plate and a core joined thereto, e.g. by adhesive, composed preferably of lightweight, e.g. fibre, material having non-flammable or fire-retarding and/or sound absorbing properties. The front plate is formed with at least two longitudinal side flanges which are bent over or turned over towards the rear of the panel, at least partly to enclose the core at at least two longitudinal sides. The flanges are provided with adjoining free edge parts being over or turned over outwards at an angle.

Abstract: A multiple glazed window unit and venetian blind assembly in which a rectangular glass spacer frame has at least one of its upper and lower frame members connected to at least one of the side frame members by at least one electric motor unit, each motor unit including a housing and an electric motor, the housing being connected, to one of the horizontal frame members and one of the side frame members, so that the housing forms a corner of and a structural part of the frame. The electric motor is used to operate a venetian blind mounted between the panes of glass carried by the glass spacer frame.

Abstract: A tape spacer for securing the ladder tape of a venetian blind slat of a given width. It includes a body (10) having a length slightly greater than the width of the slat. A single hook (16) is provided on one end and two laterally spaced hooks (20 and 24) on the other end. The body is angled to position these loosely adjacent the edges and the handle (28) is then operated to spring the third hook (24) over the other edge of the slat.

Abstract: Venetian blind ladder means are provided in which first and second cross elements (4,5) of each cross connections of the ladder are located whereby the height of the projection of every pair of elements on a plane through the longitudinal side member axes ranges between zero and slightly larger than the depth of the blind slat material and the distance between the side members (3a,3b) of the ladder is only slightly greater than the slat width. During assembly, the ladder means are guided so that, at the location of interlacing, each consecutive interlacing opening is angled to extend in a plane perpendicular to the plane of slat feed or at an angle so that the projection of the mutual spacing between elements (4,5) in this perpendicular plant is sufficiently large to allow the advancing slat to be easily and rapidly fed therethrough.

Abstract: Stoving lacquers which are essentially useful in "coil coating" and provide a finish simulating that of a metallic lacquer comprise a stovable colored film-forming binder composition having colorless transparent particles dispersed therein.