Abstract:
A pleated blind having a plurality of flexible tubular fabric slats connected together in side by side relationship. The slats may be adhered together by any suitable means. The slats may be flattened and then allowed to expand under the influence of gravity.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a pleated blind.  
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a pleated blind comprising a plurality of flexible tubular fabric slats in which adjacent slats are connected together contiguously in side by side relationship. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0003]    The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0004]    [0004]FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of part of a fabric tube slat used to manufacture a pleated blind in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view similar to FIG. 2 showing two of the fabric tube slats adhered together; and  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 3 is an end view of a pleated blind in accordance with the present invention made from the fabric blind slats of FIGS. 1 and 2 in expanded condition. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]    In FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown part of a flexible fabric tube slat  10  formed of a woven fabric material. Further, the fabric tube slat  10  may be fabricated from yarn on a narrow weaving loom. The fabric material is preferably polyester fabric produced from polyester yarn. The fabric tube slat  10  as seen in FIG. 1 has an endless periphery and does not contain any longitudinal joints.  
         [0008]    As can be seen in FIG. 2, in accordance with the present invention, adjacent fabric tube slats  10  are adhered together in contiguous side by side relationship such as by means of adhesive tapes  12 .  
         [0009]    Further, fabric tubes from the weaving loom are preferably coated with a non-stick coating such as an acrylic coating. The non-stick coating has the advantage of preventing the fabric tube slats  10  from sticking to one another inadvertently and also assists in prevention of fraying of ends of the fabric tube slats  10  if the fabric tube slats  10  are cut during fabrication. Also, it is envisaged that the fabric tube slats  10  would be formed with holes such as by punching or drilling to accommodate cords from which a blind is suspended in use. The non-stick coating helps prevent fraying of these holes.  
         [0010]    Preferably, the fabric tube is initially produced in elongated form from the weaving loom and then cut to length as required to form the fabric tube slats  10 .  
         [0011]    The fabric tube may be finished using a narrow coating or finishing line which may involve various steps such as dipping of the fabric tube in a bath of coating material and then drying and callandering. The finished elongated fabric tube is typically then formed into a roll in which the fabric tube is in flattened form.  
         [0012]    Subsequently, the fabric tube  10  is provided with adhesive means which may be in the form of double sided adhesive tape  12  shown in FIG. 2. The double sided adhesive tape  12  may be applied externally to a fabric tube at two opposed locations with one side of the tape  12  protected to avoid inadvertent sticking of the tape  12 . The double sided tape  12  will be of a width smaller than the flattened fabric tube. For example, a flattened fabric tube which is about 50 mm wide may require an adhesive tape which is from 3 to 10 mm wide such as about 5 mm wide.  
         [0013]    Double sided adhesive tapes  12  may be applied in a suitable apparatus to the centre of the flattened fabric tube from the roll both top and bottom in opposed locations. Subsequently, the fabric tube and the tapes may be guided through a station where they are passed through, for example, pressure rollers so that a strong bond is formed between the tapes  12  and the fabric tube  10 .  
         [0014]    To form a pleated blind  14  as shown in FIG. 3, the fabric tube with tapes  12  is cut into desired lengths to form the flexible fabric tube slats  10 . A protective covering is removed from each tape  12 . Then a tape  12  of a similar type is pressed into engagement with the first mentioned blind slat  10  so that two blind slats  10  may be adhered together by means of the adhesive tapes  12 . This process is repeated until the desired blind size is achieved. The pleated blind  14  can be finished off by means known in the art.  
         [0015]    It is envisaged that the pleated blind  14  will be sold in a roll with the fabric tube slats  10  in flattened form. The user will then form the blind  14  into the finished product to suit a particular application. In use the plated blind  14  is suspended and allowed to expand as shown in FIG. 3 so as to enable it to cover a window or door opening as the like.  
         [0016]    The adhesive tapes described hereinbefore can be replaced by alternative adhering means such as ultrasonic welding, heat fusion, ultraviolet stitcking, adhesives, heat sensitive tapes or any other suitable means for sticking two slats  10  together.  
         [0017]    Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed within the scope of the present invention.