Hinge device for a venetian blind

Abstract: Hinge device, which may be used especially between the slats of a Venetian blind, consisting of two hinge parts (1,4) which cooperate with each other via a tube (2) and a cylinder (3) which can be rotated therein. Such a set of slats can be rolled-up in such a manner, that subsequent slats (6,7) come to be located approximately perpendicular to one another. A strip (12) extends from the hinge part (1) to which the tube (2) is fixed in the direction of the hinge axis, which is approximately perpendicular to the slat (6) which is fixed to that hinge part (1). The strip (12) results in the fact that the set of slats offers a better resistance to sagging thereof, caused by a perpendicular force on the unrolled set.

Description: The invention relates to a hinge device, which is to be used in the longitudinal direction between two slats of a Venetian blind, which consists of two elongated hinge parts which cooperate with one another, the first of which contains means on one of its long sides to connect it to - and across the entire length of - a long side of a first slat and contains on its other long side, and across the entire length thereof, a tubular part, which can be revolved around the outside surface of a cylinder-shaped part which is situated on a long side of the second elongated hinge part, the other long part of which contains means to connect it to - and across the entire length of - a long side of a second slat. Such hinge devices and Venetian blinds in which those hinge devices are applied are known. The means with which the hinge parts are attached to the slats are generally gutters which are present on one side of the hinge part. A slat is fixed therein with its long side, via grooves and notches which cooperate with one another. The tubular part of the first hinge part has, across a part of its jacket, an opening which extends in a longitudinal direction. This opening only takes up a part of the jacket of the tube which is such a size, that the cylinder of the second hinge part which is situated in the tube cannot extend outside via the opening. That opening is furthermore made in such a manner, that, when the tube is turned around the cylinder, both sides of the opening which extend in a longitudinal direction of the tube each stop against a part of the second hinge part. The one stop-situation occurs when the slats are situated approximately in their own extension, therefore when Venetian blind is unrolled; the other when the slats are situated approximately perpendicular to one another, therefore when it is in a rolled-up condition. In the event of a correctly chosen width of subsequent slats such Venetian blinds can be rolled-up in such a manner, that subsequent slats are situated approximately perpendicular to one another and a compact entirety is formed. The slats of such Venetian blinds generally consist of polycarbonates, which have a high resistance to knocks; the hinge parts consist preferably of aluminium, from which long profiles can easily be pressed. Other metals may also be used, which are then extruded. Application of the hinges described in, for example, Venetian blinds, has a disadvantage. This is: when slats and hinges with a considerable length are used, i.e. with a length of several meters, a sagging occurs in the event of a pressure on the surface of the unrolled slats, which in many situations, such as in the case of a Venetian blind in front of a window situated close behind it, is inpermissible. This sagging may be reduced by means of reinforcement strips which in unrolled position of the blind extend in their longitudinal direction parallel to the slats and are positioned in planes perpendicular to the plane of the unrolled blind. Such reinforcement strips are described in for instance DE-A-2904868. When unrolling the blind, such strips come into the desired position by means of special hinge constructions. The invention provides a hinge device of the type, described herein before, provided with reinforcement strips of a simpler and less valuable construction. The hinge device according to the invention is characterized in that the first longitudinal hinge part is equipped in the longitudinal direction with a strip which stands approximately perpendicular to the surface of the slat to which the first hinge part is attached, the construction of the hinge device being such, either that the strip is rigidly connected to the first hinge part or that the first hinge part and the strip are one moulded part, and whereby the parts are implemented in such a manner, that when the slats are rolled-up via the hinge device, the hinge contains a stop as a result of which, when the blind is rolled-up, two subsequent slats form an approximate right angle. The right-angle strip prevents sagging to a considerable degree - and this is especially the case when the strip extends across the entire length of the hinge part. No additional hinge-structures are necessary. In a rolled-up condition the strip extends approximately parallel to the second slat, i.e. the slat situated next to it. It may if necessary easily nevertheless form a - small - angle in relation to that second slat, in which case it is possible for the strip to come to lie,with its long side which is turned away from the hinge, against the (inside of the) second slat. That can be damaged as a result thereof. The occurrence of such damage can be avoided by choosing the place where the strip is attached to the hinge part and the width of the strip in such a manner, that in a rolled-up condition the said edge of the strip cannot touch the surface of the second slat. A preferable dimensioning of the device is one whereby the place where the strip is attached to the hinge part is chosen in such a manner, that in a rolled-up condition the strip lies against the means with which the second hinge part is attached to the second slat and is approximately parallel to that slat. If a hinge device executed in this manner is applied in a Venetian blind, then in a rolled-up condition the roll may well increase in size as a result of the presence of the strips, in comparison with a roll in which no strips are located, but that increase is only minimal. A strip according to the invention may be a separate part, which is attached to a hinge part, but the hinge part and the strip consist preferably of one moulded piece. As indicated above already, a hinge device according to the invention is applied especially in Venetian blinds. The importance of a hinge device according to the invention is explained on the basis of the application thereof in a Venetian blind: A Venetian blind according to the invention had hinges with a first hinge part which had a tubular part with an outside diameter of 22 mm. The length of the slats amounted to 4 m and the width of the widest slat amounted to approximately 18 cm. A pressure of 1 kg, in the middle of that slat and thereby on the hinge, led to a sagging of the blind of 4 cm. A same Venetian blind, but now with hinges with a strip on them with a thickness of 3 mm and a width of 4 cm, led to a sagging of only 2 cm. Only in the case of the use of slats - for the rest equivalent - but now with a length of 6 to 7 m, did a sagging of 4 cm occur. This example shows how the measure according to the invention makes much longer Venetian blinds, therefore, for example, Venetian blinds for very long windows, possible. The invention will be explained further with the aid of the drawing, which shows an example of an implementation of a hinge construction according to the invention, and in which Fig. 1 and 2 show cross-sections of hinge devices according to the invention, both in a stop-situation. In Fig. 1, 1 is the first hinge part which is revolvable with its tubular part 2 around the cylindrical part 3 of second hinge part 4. The first hinge part 1 contains means 5 to attach it to a first slat 6. This means 5 is a gutter-shaped part, which grips around the slat 6. The second hinge part 4 also has a gutter- shaped part 7 which contains the edge of a second slat 8. The jacket of the tubular part 2 of hinge part 1 is open in a longitudinal direction, as a result of which two tapered-off end edges 9 and 10 are situated on the jacket in the longitudinal direction of the tubular part 2. These edges 9 and 10 serve as edge stops for the turning movement of the hinge: the most extreme positions which are drawn in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are determined by the situations in which the said edges 9 and 10 come-up against the second hinge part 4. The linear distance 11 between the edge stops is smaller than the diameter 17 of the cylindrical part 3, so that the latter cannot fall sideways out of the tubular part 2. If the construction which is drawn in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 continues via a third, a fourth, etc. slat, a Venetian blind arises. And if the width of the slats thereof is adjusted, such a Venetian blind can be rolled-up in such a manner, that subsequent slats always form approximate right-angles. The latter is drawn for two slats 6 and 8 in Fig. 1; in Fig. 2 the width of the slats 6 and 8 runs in the direction in which they extend. Strip 12 is attached to hinge part 1. In Fig. 1 the strip 12 is welded to the part 1; in Fig. 2 the strip forms a single entirety with the part 1, as part of a pressed part. In both cases the strip 12 is connected to the hinge part 1 in such a manner, that any gaps 13 are filled, which increases the stiffness of the hinge device. In fig. 1 the strip 12 lies, in a rolled-up condition, against the outside 18 of the gutter-shaped part 7. It thus takes up the least space and also performs a function as an - extra - stop for the hinge. In any event care must be taken that in a rolled-up condition the edge 14 of the strip 12 does not come to lie against the inner surface 15 of the slat 8: that would lead to damage of the slat 8 and possibly to a deformation of the strip 12. 16 shows the direction of a pressure on the hinge device which, according to the invention, is resisted better as a result of application of the strip 12.

Claims: Hinge device, which is to be used in the longitudinal direction between two slats (6,8) of a Venetian blind, which consists of two longitudinal hinge parts (1,4) which cooperate with each other, the first (1) of which contains means (5) on one of its long sides to attach it to - and across the entire length of - a long side of a first slat (6) and contains on its other long side and across the entire length thereof a tubular part (2), which is revolvable around the outside surface of a cylinder shaped part (3) which is located on a long side of the second hinge part (4), the other long side of which contains means (7) to attach it to - and across the entire length of - a long side of a second slat (8), characterized in that the first longitudinal hinge part (1) in the longitudinal direction is equipped with a strip (12) which stands approximately perpendicular to the surface of the slat (6) to which the first hinge part (1) is attached, the construction of the hinge device being such, either that the strip (12) is rigidly connected to the first hinge part (1) or that the first hinge part (1) and the strip (12) are one moulded part, and whereby the hinge parts (1,4) are executed in such a manner, that when the slats (6,8) are rolled-up via the hinge device, the hinge contains a stop as a result of which, when it is rolled-up, two subsequent slats form an approximate right-angle. Hinge device according to claim 1, characterized in that the strip (12) extends across the entire length of the first hinge part (1). Hinge device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the place where the strip (12) is attached to the first hinge part (1) and the width of the strip (12) are chosen in such a manner that, in a rolled-up condition, the - long - edge of the strip (12) which is turned away from the hinge part does not touch the surface of the second slat 8. Hinge device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the place where the strip (12) is attached to the first hinge part (1) is chosen in such a manner that, in a rolled-up condition, the strip (12) lies against the means by which the second hinge part (4) is attached to the second slat (8) and is approximately parallel to that slat (8). Venetian blind, consisting of slats (6,8) which hinge in their longitudinal direction with regard to one another, characterized in that it contains a hinge device according to one of the preceding claims.

Inventors: FLOOR ADRIANUS JOHANNES, FLOOR EDWIN, FLOOR, ADRIANUS JOHANNES, FLOOR, EDWIN
Applicants: FLOOR VOUWHEK BV, FLOOR VOUWHEK B.V.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: E06B9
IPC codes: E06B9