WO2006050728A2

WO2006050728A2 - A screening arrangement for a window

Info

Publication number: WO2006050728A2
Application number: PCT/DK2005/000713
Authority: WO
Inventors: Per Solsø HINDHEDE
Original assignee: Vkr Holding A/S
Priority date: 2004-11-15
Filing date: 2005-11-08
Publication date: 2006-05-18
Also published as: CN101057057A; EP1812677A2; WO2006050728A3; CN101057057B; EP1812677B1; PL1812677T3

Abstract

Screening arrangement for a window, said screening arrangement comprising a first screening element and a second screening element arranged end to end, the first screening element being arranged between a first bar element and a second bar element. To provide a versatile screening arrangement, which is easy to install and provides high degree of user friendliness regarding positing of the screen, the second screening element is a blind, arranged between the second bar element and a third bar element, the screening arrangement further comprising a cord system having a set of guide cords of which one is extending from a position at a wing corner along the second or third bar element to a diametrically opposite wing corner, and a set of holding cords of which one is extending from a position at a wing corner, along the nearest of the second or third bar element, threaded through a first set of apertures of the blind, and along the other of the second or third bar element to a diametrically opposite wing corner and return to the starting point through a second set of apertures of the blind.

Description

A screening arrangement for a window

The present invention relates to a screening arrangement for a wing, such as a window, in particular a roof window, said screening ar- rangement comprising a first screening element and a second screening element arranged end to end, the first screening element being ar¬ ranged between a first bar element and a second bar element.

WO-A1-96/23949 to the applicant discloses a screening ar¬ rangement comprising two separate screening elements arranged at the top and bottom of a window, respectively. The screening elements may be advanced to cover the window from the top and bottom, respec¬ tively. Further the screening elements may be connected so that move¬ ment of one screening element automatically causes movement of the other screening element, i.e. advancement of one screening element causes withdrawal of the other screening element, so that the window is always covered by a screening element. A disadvantage of this prior art screening arrangement is that it is somewhat restricted in freedom of position. It may also be a disadvantage that one screening element is positioned at the bottom of the window, as at this position the screening element may be prone to fouling and it may be accessible to children in¬ volving a risk of deterioration. Furthermore installation thereof is rela¬ tively complicated.

EP-Bl-O 195 483 discloses a foldable blind screening arrange¬ ment comprising two separate blinds, which may be positioned inde- pendently of each other. Installation of this screening arrangement is relatively complicated, and further the screening arrangement will not provide a satisfactory parallel guidance of the blinds, i.e. beams to which the blinds are attached may be set askew if the beams are ma¬ nipulated at an end thereof for moving the beam up or down. An object of the invention is to provide a versatile screening ar¬ rangement, which is easy to install and provides high degree of user friendliness regarding positioning of the screen.

To achieve this object the screening arrangement as outlined above is characterised in that that the second screening element is a blind, such as a pleated blind or a Venetian blind, arranged between the second bar element and a third bar element, the screening arrangement further comprising a cord system having a set of guide cords of which one, in the mounted state of the screening arrangement, is extending from a position at a wing corner along the second or third bar element to a diametrically opposite wing corner, and another guide cord corre¬ spondingly extending in mirror-image fashion from another wing corner along the same second or third bar element to a diametrically opposite wing corner, and a set of holding cords of which one is extending from a position at a wing corner, along the nearest of the second or third bar element, threaded through a first set of apertures of the blind, and along the other of the second or third bar element to a diametrically op¬ posite wing corner and return to the starting point through a second set of apertures of the blind, whereas the other holding cord correspond- ingly runs in mirror-image fashion from another wing corner. Hereby is achieved that the screening arrangement is relatively easy to install in that the number of separate cords is limited. Furthermore the screening elements may be manipulated by a user exerting pressure at an end of one of the bar elements for movement thereof without a risk of setting the bar element askew.

According to an embodiment, which is particularly suited for relatively wide screening elements, e.g. having a span of more than 1.75 m, the set of holding cords have an extra run in that the holding cord at returning to the starting point is reversed and threaded through a third set of apertures of the blind to be fixed at the diametrically op¬ posite wing corner. Hereby is achieved that the blind is kept parallel to the window plane, even with roof windows, over the whole span of the screening element with a very limited degree of bulging or sacking. Fur¬ ther it is found that this triple arrangement of the cord effects a very ef- ficient and stable parallel guidance of the screening element.

According to an embodiment, the first screening element is a roller blind, although other types of screening elements could be used, such as a pleated blind. A roller blind is normally spring biased in the di¬ rection of roll-in of the blind. The spring force has the advantage that it will at least partially counterbalance the effect of gravity on the screen¬ ing arrangement.

To ensure proper tensioning of the guide cord an embodiment further comprises cord tensioning means, such as a spring, at an end of each guide cord. Hereby the friction and hence holding capability of the guide cord can be kept fair constant for several years. Furthermore at¬ tachment of the guide cord during installation is facilitated because of the resiliency.

To ensure proper tensioning of the holding cord an embodiment further comprises cord tensioning means, such as a spring, at an end of each holding cord. Hereby the friction and hence holding capability of the holding cord can be kept fairly constant for several years. Further¬ more attachment of the holding cord during installation is facilitated be¬ cause of the resiliency. As an alternative or supplement, an embodiment further com¬ prises a cord tensioning means, such as a spring, in the second and/or third bar element for tensioning the holding cord. Hereby the friction and hence holding capability of the holding cord can be kept fairly con¬ stant for several years. Furthermore attachment of the holding cord during installation is facilitated because of the resiliency.

According to an embodiment the cord tensioning means is ar¬ ranged for tensioning the cord threaded through openings of the blind most distant from side edges thereof. This arrangement of the tension¬ ing means is found to provide a high degree of parallel guidance of the screening arrangement.

To cover the sides of the screening arrangement and further to provide secure movement of the screening elements, the second and third bar element may be adapted for engagement with a set of side rails. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a screening arrangement for a wing, such as a window, in particular a roof window, said screening arrangement comprising a blind extending between a first bar element and a second bar element, and a cord system.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple screen- ing arrangement, which is easy to install and provides high degree of user friendliness regarding positioning of the screen.

To achieve this object the screening arrangement is character¬ ised in that the cord system comprises a set of holding cords of which one, in the mounted state, is extending from a position at a wing cor¬ ner, partly along the first bar, threaded through a first set of apertures of the blind, and partly along the second bar to a diametrically opposite wing corner, where the direction of the cord is reversed to return through a second set of apertures of the blind to a position at the start - ing point, where the direction of the cord is again reversed and the cord is threaded through a third set of apertures of the blind to be fixed at the diametrically opposite wing corner, whereas the other holding cord correspondingly runs in mirror-image fashion from another wing corner. Hereby a reliable parallel guidance of the bar element of the screening arrangement is achieved without a set of separate guide cords. Dispens¬ ing with the guide cords simplifies the construction of the screening ar¬ rangement and installation thereof. Furthermore this screening ar¬ rangement is particularly suited for relatively wide screening elements, e.g. having a span of more than 1.75 m, as the blind is kept parallel to the window plane, even with roof windows, over the whole span of the screening element with a very limited degree of bulging or sacking. Fur¬ ther it is found that this triple arrangement of the cord effects a very ef¬ ficient and stable parallel guidance of the screening element.

According to an embodiment the screening arrangement further comprises cord tensioning means, such as a spring. Hereby the friction and hence holding capability of the holding cord can be kept fairly con¬ stant for several years. Furthermore attachment of the holding cord during installation is facilitated because of the resiliency of the holding cord. In the following the invention will be described in more detail by way of example and with reference to the schematic drawing, in which

Fig. 1 is a front view of a screening arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a front view of an alternative screening arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention,

Fig. 3 illustrates a screening arrangement according to the sec¬ ond aspect of the invention,

Fig. 4 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the sec- ond aspect of the invention,

Fig. 5 is a front view of a part of a pleated blind,

Fig. 6 is a photo of an upper cord holder,

Fig. 7 illustrates a lower cord holder,

Fig. 8 is a photo of the lower cord holder of Fig. 7 mounted in a bracket, and

Fig. 9 is a photo of a part of a screening arrangement.

For the sake of clarity only half a cord system is illustrated in Fig. 1-4, so the reader should visualize a corresponding cord system from the other corner as a mirror image with regard to the vertical cen- tre axis in Fig. 1-4. Hence in Fig. 1 a cord system identical to the one il¬ lustrated is extending from the upper right corner of the figure to the lower left corner of the figure.

A screening arrangement 1 according to the first aspect of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 1. The screening arrangement 1 comprises a first screening element 2 arranged between a first bar element 4 and a movable second bar element 5. The first bar element 4 would nor¬ mally be fastened at the top of a window at installation, although an embodiment having a movable first bar element could also be envis¬ aged, which however would require an additional cord system. The screening arrangement 1 further comprises a second screening element 2 arranged between the second bar element 5 and a movable third bar element 6. A guide cord 7 is arranged to be fixed in a first upper cord holder 8 and extend through the second bar element 5 to a first lower cord holder 9 to ensure a parallel guidance of the second bar element 5 in cooperation with a corresponding guide cord (not illustrated) from a second upper cord holder 10 through the second bar element 5 to a second lower cord holder 11. To ensure proper tension of the guide cord, each guide cord may be provided with tensioning means, such as a spring 12 as schematically illustrated. As an alternative or supple- merit, tensioning means for the guide cord may be provide at the sec¬ ond bar element.

Further a holding cord 13 is provided to extend from the first lower cord holder 9 through the third bar element 6 and threaded through a first set of apertures of the blind, and along the third bar to the first upper cord holder 8 and return to the first lower cord holder 9 through a second set of apertures of the blind, whereas another holding cord (not shown) correspondingly runs in mirror-image fashion in rela¬ tion to the central vertical axis of Fig. 1 from the second lower cord holder 11 to a second upper cord holder 10. In the illustrated embodi¬ ment, the holding cord 13 is fixed in the first lower cord holder 9, whereas the holding cord 13 is arranged to be slidable in relation to the first upper cord holder 8. Of course the holding cord 13 could alterna¬ tively be routed from the first upper cord holder to be fixed therein, and slidable in respect to the first lower cord holder 9.

To provide proper tension of the holding cord 13, a spring 14 is arranged in the third bar element 6. By the illustrated position of the spring 14, an excellent parallel guidance of the third bar element 6 is achieved, although a spring alternatively or supplementary could be ar- ranged at one of the cord holders 8,9.

Second bar element 5 is shared by first and second screening element, however an alternative embodiment having a composite sec¬ ond bar element made up of separate bar elements for the first and second screening elements is also conceivable. In this alternative em- bodiment, the separate bar elements should be connectable, such as by a snap coupling. This alternative embodiment could provide a combina¬ tional screening arrangement, in which the first and second screening elements could be provided separately and independently. However, the installation would be slightly less easy, and the cost of manufacture would be slightly higher due to the extra elements.

In Fig. 2 is seen a screening arrangement 1 similar to the screening arrangement of Fig. 1, however the holding cord 13 have an extra run, which is of particular interest with relatively wide screening arrangements. The holding cord 13 is arranged as outlined with refer- ence to Fig. 1, but is returned from the first lower cord holder 9 and threaded through a third set of apertures of the blind to be fixed at the first upper cord holder 8, so the two ends of the holding cord 13, when installed, is arranged at diametrically opposite corners. Fig. 3 illustrates a screening arrangement according to another aspect of the present invention. The screening arrangement 100 com¬ prises a blind 101 extending between a first bar element 102 and a sec¬ ond bar element 103. The first bar element 102 would normally be fix¬ edly attached to a window or door element, whereas the second bar element 103 is moveable towards and away from the first bar element

102, thereby covering more or less of an opening of a window or door. The screening arrangement further comprises a holding cord 104 ex¬ tending from a first lower cord holder 105 along the second bar element

103, through the blind 101 to the first bar element 102, back through the blind to the second bar element 103 and the first lower cord holder

105. From the first lower cord holder 105, the holding cord 104 is again reversed to return along the second bar element 103, through the blind 101 to the first bar element 102 where the holding cord 104 is fixed. The holding cord 104 may be tensioned as shown by a spring 107 ar- ranged in the first bar element 102. For the sake of clarity only one holding cord 104 is shown, and the skilled person will realise that a cor¬ responding holding cord will be routed from the second lower cord holder 106 in mirror-image fashion with regard to a vertical centre axis of the screening arrangement. The routing of the holding cord 104 pro- vides an adequate parallel guidance capability for the second bar ele¬ ment 103, so a separate guide cord can be discarded, whereby the screening arrangement is simplified, reducing the cost of manufacture, and simplifying installation of the screening arrangement. This embodi¬ ment is well suited for relatively wide screening elements, such as screening elements having a width of more than 1.75 m.

Another embodiment using the principle according to the sec¬ ond aspect of the invention can be seen in Fig. 4 in which a screening arrangement 110 comprises a first screening element 111 and a second screening element 112 arranged end to end. The first screening element 111 is arranged between a first bar element 113, which is fixed, and a second bar element 114, whereas the second screening element 112 is arranged between the second bar element 114 and a third bar element 115. The second and third bar elements are movable up and down to extend the screening elements between said bar elements. The screen¬ ing arrangement 110 further comprises a holding cord 116 having one end thereof fixed in a first upper cord holder 117. The holding cord 116 extends through the second bar element 114, through the first screen¬ ing element 112 near a side edge of the screening element opposite to the first upper cord holder 117 and proceeds to the first lower cord holder 118, where the cord is reversed. From the first lower cord holder 118 the holding cord 116 is lead part way through the second bar ele¬ ment 115, through the second screening element 112 to the second bar element 114 and further on to the first upper cord holder 117. At the first upper cord holder 117, the holding cord is again reversed around a pulley or pin allowing sliding movement of the holding cord, however preferably with some degree of friction to restrict such movement of the cord, but of course in a way so the cord is still able to move. The hold¬ ing cord 116 is further lead part way through the second bar element 114, through the second screening element 112 to the third bar element 121 to continue to the first lower cord holder 118 for fixation. It will ap¬ preciated by the skilled person that a corresponding holding cord (not shown) will be routed from the second lower cord holder 120 in mirror- image fashion with regard to a vertical centre axis of the screening ar- rangement. The routing of the holding cord 116 provides an adequate parallel guidance capability for the second bar element 114 and the third bar element 115, so a separate guide cord can be discarded, whereby the screening arrangement is simplified, reducing the cost of manufacture, and simplifying installation of the screening arrangement. The front view of a part of a pleated blind 300 in Fig. 5 illus¬ trates the way the holding cord 301 is threaded through a first set of apertures 302 of the blind 300 and through a second set of apertures 303 as explained above.

An example of an upper cord holder can be seen in Fig. 6. The upper cord holder 350 comprises a cord end element 352 shaped to fit in a mounting, such as a groove, in a top box 351 of the screening ar¬ rangement. In the embodiment shown, two holding cords 353 are fas¬ tened to the cord end element 352. The cord end element 353 may be provided with a handle as shown to facilitate manipulation of the cord end element 352. The cord end element 352 comprises a groove 357 adapted for engagement with a projection 356. The mating groove and projection may be shaped to facilitate easy engagement while on the other hand counteract disengagement. An example of a suitable lower cord holder can be seen in Fig.

7. The lower cord holder is shaped to fit in a corresponding mounting adapted for attachment to member such as a window sash or frame. The illustrated embodiment of the lower cord holder 400 is roughly L- shaped having a long leg 401 and a short leg 402. The lower cord holder 400 will be mounted in a mounting bracket (see Fig. 8) so the long leg 401 will be accommodated therein. In the short leg 402 a U-shaped first groove 403 is arranged for the holding cord for reversal thereof, in that the first groove 403 is arranged as a channel down along one side of the short leg, across the bottom thereof and up along the other side of the short leg 401. The first groove 403 may have a partly circular cross- section with a slot to facilitate entry of the cord. Alternatively the first groove 403 could have a closed circular cross-section without a slot, which would avoid the risk that the cord leaves the first groove, but on the other hand fitting of the cord in the groove would be difficult. The holder 400 further comprises a second groove 404 arranged in the short leg 402. The second groove 404 is adapted for accommodating the end of a cord, e.g. the guide cord or the holding cord, so that the cord ex¬ tends from the free end of the short leg 402. The end of the cord should be provided with a knot or a bead to facilitate retention of the cord end. An opening 405 of the groove could, as illustrated, be arranged at the end of the long leg 401 for introduction of the knot or bead of the cord. Hereby the cord could be securely retained in the groove with no risk that the cord leaves the groove.

The lower cord holder 400 of Fig. 7 can be seen in the mounted state in Fig. 8. As can be seen the holder 400 is almost completely ac¬ commodated in a bracket 500. The holding cords 501, 502 and the guide cord 503 are arranged in an open channel in the bracket 500 and connected to the holder 400 in the way described above. Fig. 9 is a close-up photo from the window side of a screening arrangement. The screening arrangement comprises a second bar 600 between a black-out curtain 601 and a pleated blind 602, which is col¬ lapsed. The fabric of the blind may be attached to the second bar with an adhesive and supplementary or alternatively by a clip or clamp 603 as shown. As can be seen the holding cords 604, 605 and guide cords 606 extend along the bar 600 at different levels to avoid entanglement of the cords.

The embodiments described above and illustrated in the draw¬ ings can be combined in various ways as will be realised by the skilled person. For example it is possible to freely combine the illustrated ar¬ rangements of the springs for tensioning the cords, e.g. in the screening arrangement of Fig. 1 to arrange the spring 14 in the second bar 5 in stead of in third bar element 6, i.e. in the upper bar element as illus¬ trated in Fig. 3 by the spring 107. It is also possible to arrange a spring in both bar elements. Furthermore it is imaginable to extend the holding cord 104 of Fig. 3 out of the first bar element 102 to a separate upper cord holder.

Further the skilled person will understand that it is possible to combine any of the screening arrangements with side rails for improved light-proofing and increased guidance of the screening arrangement.

It will be understood by the skilled person that the screening arrangement could be used with a window, either openable or fixed, or a door, such as a door with an area of glass.

The expression "wing corner" as used above is intended to cover any position at or near a frame or frame corner of e.g. a window.

The cord arrangement of the screening arrangement is intended for providing parallel guidance of the bar elements of the screening ar¬ rangement, i.e. that each bar element is guided to perform a translatory motion without any angular movement. This is achieved by the fact that any cord is arranged to extend from a position at one corner to a dia¬ metrically opposite corner. Hereby it is possible to operate the screening arrangement by pushing the bar element at any position along the length thereof without risking to set the bar element askew.

Claims

P A T E N T C L A I M S

1. A screening arrangement for a wing, such as a window, in particular a roof window, said screening arrangement comprising a first screening element and a second screening element arranged end to end, the first screening element being arranged between a first bar element and a second bar element, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the second screening element is a blind, such as a pleated blind or a Ve¬ netian blind, arranged between the second bar element and a third bar element, the screening arrangement further comprising a cord system having a set of guide cords of which one, in the mounted state of the screening arrangement, is extending from a position at a wing corner along the second or third bar element to a diametrically opposite wing corner, and another guide cord correspondingly extending in mirror- image fashion from another wing corner along the same second or third bar element to a diametrically opposite wing corner, and a set of holding cords of which one is extending from a position at a wing corner, along the nearest of the second or third bar element, threaded through a first set of apertures of the blind, and along the other of the second or third bar element to a diametrically opposite wing corner and return to the starting point through a second set of apertures of the blind, whereas the other holding cord correspondingly runs in mirror-image fashion from another wing corner.

2. A screening arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the set of holding cords have an extra run in that the holding cord at return- ing to the starting point is reversed and threaded through a third set of apertures of the blind to be fixed at the diametrically opposite wing cor¬ ner.

3. A screening arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first screening element is a roller blind.

4. A screening arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising cord tensioning means, such as a spring, at an end of each guide cord.

5. A screening arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising cord tensioning means, such as a spring, at an end of each holding cord.

6. A screening arrangement according to any of the claims 1-4, further comprising a cord tensioning means, such as a spring, in the second and/or third bar element for tensioning the holding cord.

7. A screening arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the cord tensioning means is arranged for tensioning the cord threaded through openings of the blind most distant from side edges thereof.

8. A screening arrangement according to any of the claims above, said second and third bar element being adapted for engage- ment with a set of side rails.

9. A screening arrangement for a wing, such as a window, in particular a roof window, said screening arrangement comprising a blind extending between a first bar element and a second bar element, and a cord system, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the cord system comprises a set of holding cords of which one, in the mounted state, is extending from a position at a wing corner, partly along the first bar, threaded through a first set of apertures of the blind, and partly along the second bar to a diametrically opposite wing corner, where the direction of the cord is reversed to return through a second set of apertures of the blind to a position at the starting point, where the direction of the cord is again reversed and the cord is threaded through a third set of apertures of the blind to be fixed at the diametrically opposite wing corner, whereas the other holding cord correspondingly runs in mirror-image fashion from another wing corner.

10. A screening arrangement according to claim 9, further comprising a holding cord tensioning means.