A FABRIC BLIND SLAT

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fabric blind slat (10). The fabric blind slat (10) includes an elongated strip (12) of fabric characterised in that the strip of fabric (12) has at least one longitudinally extending pocket (14) on a longitudinal edge (16, 18) into which a relatively rigid support member (20) is insertable. The present invention also relates to a fabric venetian blind assembly (30) and a method for the production of a fabric venetian blind assembly (30).

Description: TITLE A FABRIC BLIND SLAT BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a fabric blind slat. In particular, the present invention relates to a fabric blind slat for Venetian blinds. FIELD OF THE INVENTION Blinds for covering windows and other light transparent surfaces are available in a variety of different forms and materials depending on the particular visual appearance desired. The known items for controlling the amount oflight through a transparent surface include Venetian blinds, roller blinds and vertical blinds. Fabric blinds are popular blinds for use in buildings and are extensively used in vertical blinds for their aesthetic appeal. However, a problem exists for the use of fabric in horizontal blind slats since the fabric is not strong enough to he in a horizontal plane without sagging. Hence, at the present time slats are usually made of metal and/or wood. The present invention seeks to overcome the abovementioned problem. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a first aspect ofthe present invention there is provided a fabric blind slat including an elongated strip of fabric characterised in that the strip of fabric has at least one longitudinally extending pocket on a longitudinal edge into which a relatively rigid support member is insertable. In accordance with a second aspect ofthe present invention there is provided a fabric Venetian blind assembly characterised by : (a) a plurality of fabric blind slats including an elongated strip of fabric characterised in that the strip of fabric has at least one longitudinally extending pocket on a longitudinal edge into which a relatively rigid support member is insertable: (c) connecting ladder ropes or connecting tape; (d) Venetian blind head box; and (e) one or more draw cords. In accordance with a third aspect ofthe present invention there is provided a method for the assembly ofa fabric Venetian blind characterised by including the following steps: (a) forming a fabric blind slat including an elongated strip of fabric characterised in that the strip of fabric has at least one longitudinally extending pocket on a longitudinal edge; (b) inserting a relatively rigid support member into the said pocket; and (c) connecting the fabric blind slats by way of connecting ladder ropes or tape; BRIEF DESCRD7TION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which: Figure la is an upper perspective view ofa fabric blind slat in accordance with the present invention ; Figure lb is a partly cut away second upper perspective view of the fabric blind slat in accordance with the present invention; Figure lc is an end view ofthe fabric blind slat in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2a is a perspective view ofa first embodiment ofa fabric Venetian blind assembly in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2b is a perspective view ofa second embodiment ofa fabric Venetian blind assembly in accordance with the present invention; DESCRD7TION OF THE INVENTION There is shown in Figure la, an upper perspective view ofa fabric blind slat 10 . The fabric blind slat 10 may be made from any suitable fabric including but not limited to polyester yarn, acrylic yarn, nylon, cotton, wool, polypropylene and any other fabric suitable for use in fabric blinds. The fabric blind slat 10 includes an elongated central strip 12 of suitable fabric material. The slat 10 has a longitudinally extending pocket 14 at a first longitudinal edge 16 ofthe blind 10. Similarly, the slat 10 has a longitudinally extending pocket 14 at a second longitudinal edge 18 ofthe blind 10. The longitudinally extending pocket 14 is closed longitudinally at a first side 20 and a second side 22 as shown in Figure 1. There is shown in Figure lb , a partly cut away second upper perspective view of the fabric blind slat 10 having typically two longitudinally extending pockets 14. The pockets 14 have a longitudinally extending space 15 within the fabric blind slat 10. A support member 24 of relatively rigid material is inserted within the space 15 ofthe pockets 14. This relatively rigid member 24 is typically a rod made from fibreglass, a plastics material such as PVC or, nylon, metal, wood, or any other suitable material to increase the strength and to provide support ofthe slat 10. Typically, the relatively rigid member 24 is also resilient. There is also shown in Figure lc an end view ofthe fabric blind slat 10. This end view shows the cross section ofa preferred embodiment ofthe present invention. The central strip 12 , longitudinally extending pockets 14, longitudinally extending space 15 and support member 24 are shown in this figure. The slat 10 may also have one or more additional layers of suitable fabric material (not shown) in the central strip 12 and/or the longitudinally extending pockets 14. It is envisaged that a multi-layered fabric blind slat 10 would fall within the scope ofthe present invention. In Figures 2a and 2b, there is shown a perspective view ofa Venetian blind assembly 30 incorporating the fabric blind slat 10. The only difference between Figures 2a and 2b is that a connecting tape 38 is shown in Figure 2a as a means to join the slats 10 at their longitudinal sides 20 and 22 respectively, instead of connecting ladder ropes 40 as shown in Figure 2b. The connecting ladder ropes 40 include cross members 39 upon which a fabric blind slat is 5 supported. In Figures 2a and 2b, there is shown a Venetian blind assembly 30. The assembly 30 includes a head box 32, two pairs of draw cords 34 and 36, connecting tape 38 (as shown in Figure 2a) or first connecting ladder ropes 40 (as shown in Figure 2b) which join the fabric blind slats 10 at their longitudinal sides 20 and 22 respectively, and a guard rail 52. 10 The fabric blind slats 10 include a first aperture 42 towards a front end 44. The fabric blind slats 10 also include a second aperture 46 towards a rear end 48. A pair of connecting ropes 50 extend from the headbox 32 through the apertures 42 and 46 and end in the guard rail 52 which is at a lower end ofthe Venetian blind assembly 30. The fabric blind slat 10 is made by weaving yarns of suitable fabric to form an elongated strip 15 12 of fabric material with integrally formed longitudinal pockets 14. The longitudinally extending pockets 14 may also be formed by forming a hem on an elongated strip of fabric on either side, or both longitudinal edges 16 and 18. A weaving apparatus such as an automatic narrow loom machine can be utilised to make the fabric blind slat ofthe present invention. 0 EXAMPLE A high speed automatic narrow loom weaving machine that has the following specifications is utilised to make the fabric blind slat ofthe present invention. Maximum number of fabrics: 4 Reed width: maximum of 65mm 5 Maximum speed: lόOOrpm Pick density: 3.5 to 38 wefts per cm Repeat: 1/48 Number of shafts : maximum of 16 Motor: 2 HP brake motor with inching speed The high speed automatic narrow loom machine is a 4 piece loom that has a very high output needle loom for a variety of fabrics. 5 A fabric yam is provided on suitable rolls and fed into the automatic narrow loom machine. An operator sets the pattem on the machine such that the yam is weaved into an integral roll of narrow fabric material such that a pair of longitudinally extending pockets are formed on the outer edges ofthe material. The rearrangement of specific frames on the machine to give a suitable warp and weft insertion provides the means by which the yam is suitably weaved into 10 integrally formed pockets.The roll of naπow fabric material comprising the longitudinally extending pockets is collected on a roll in long lengths up to 1000m. Suitable fabric yams include polyester or acrylic yarn, nylon, cotton, wool, polypropylene and any other fabric suitable for use in fabric blinds. The rolls of narrow fabric material comprising the longitudinally extending pockets are then fed 15 into a suitable colouring and finishing machine by which colours and an acrylic coating are provided to the narrow fabric material. The rolls of narrow fabric material are firstly dipped into a vat which has rollers to wring out excessive colour in the fabric. The fabric material is then transported by a conveyor belt through a pre-drying process which heat sets the colour and hardens the acrylic coating by placing in an oven at a temperature of 20 150 to 200 degrees Celsius. The rolls of narrow fabric material , once dryed , are collected on a roll. The roll of coloured and treated fabric material is then cut into suitable lengths for different sized slats. The appropriate holes are also punched into the slat for ladder tapes and/or cord for a Venetian blind. 25 Once, the material is cut into suitable lengths, a relatively rigid material rod is inserted into the longitudinally extending pockets. Conventional Venetian blind headboxes, ladder tapes and /or cords are provided such that the fabric Venetian blind is formed. Alternatively, an automatic knitting machine may be utililised to make the blind slat ofthe present invention and which may also knit additional shaping to each longitudinal edge. A fabric yam is provided on suitable rolls and fed into the automatic knitting machine. An operator sets the pattem on the machine such that the yam is knitted into an integral roll of narrow fabric material such that a pair of longitudinally extending pockets are formed on the outer edges ofthe material. The rearrangement of specific frames on the machine to give a suitable warp and weft insertion provides the means by which the yam is suitably knitted into integrally formed pockets.The roll of narrow fabric material comprising the longitudinally extending pockets is collected on a roll in long lengths up to 1000m. The automatic knitting machine achieves the formation ofthe longitudinally extending pocket by the insertion ofa flexible spacer element. The spacer element is substituted in the automatic knitting machine for an automatic needle which is removed. The automatic knitting machine by way of rearrangement of specific frames to provide a suitable warp and weft insertion pattem sews an integrally formed pocket around the spacer element. The spacer element may be any suitable elongated length ofa fabric cord. Suitable fabric yams include polyester or acrylic yam, nylon, cotton, wool, polypropylene and any other fabric suitable for use in fabric blinds. An advantage ofthe automatic knitting machine is that additional shapes such as scolloped edges may be knitted on the longitudinal edges 16 and 18 ofthe fabric blind slat 10. The rolls of narrow fabric material comprising the longitudinally extending pockets are then fed into a suitable colouring and finishing machine by which colours and an acrylic coating are provided to the narrow fabric material. The rolls of narrow fabric material are firstly dipped into a vat which has rollers to wring out excessive colour in the fabric. The fabric material is then transported by a conveyor belt through a pre-drying process which heat sets the colour and hardens the acrylic coating by placing in an oven at a temperature of 150 to 200 degrees Celsius. The rolls of narrow fabric material , once dryed , are collected on a roll. The roll of coloured and treated fabric material is then cut into suitable lengths for different sized slats. The appropriate holes are also punched into the slat for ladder tapes and/or cord for a Venetian blind. Once the narrow fabric material is cut into the desired lengths ofthe slat 10 , one end ofthe spacer element is threaded and secured into one end ofthe relatively rigid support member 24. The spacer element is pulled from the other end thereby inserting the support member 24 into the longitudinally extending pockets 14. This process is repeated for each longitudinal pocket containing the spacer element. The example ofthe present invention only serves to describe prefeπed embodiments ofthe invention and other methods of forming the longitudinally extending pockets by way of sewing a hem or knitting the longitudinally extending pockets are within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention. As discussed herinabove, it is envisaged that fabric blind slats including longitudinal pockets could be modified into different shapes such that scolloped edges could be knitted along the longitudinal edge to provide further aesthetic appeal to the fabric blind. Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addresee are deemed to be within the scope ofthe present invention.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A fabric blind slat including an elongated strip of fabric characterised in that the strip of fabric has at least one longitudinally extending pocket on a longitudinal edge into which a relatively rigid support member is insertable. 2. A fabric blind slat in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the strip of fabric has a pair of longitudinally extending pockets on each longitudinal edge. 3. A fabric blind slat in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the strip of fabric is flexible. 4. A fabric blind slat in accordance with claim 3, characterised in that the strip of fabric is made from polyester , nylon , cotton, wool, polypropylene, acrylic material or a mixture thereof. 5. A fabric blind slat in accordance with any one ofthe preceding claims, characterised in that the or each relatively rigid support member is made from fibreglass, metal, wood, polyvinyl chloride, nylon or other plastics material. 6. A fabric blind slat in accordance with any one ofthe preceding claims, characterised in that the or each relatively rigid support member is resilient. 7. A fabric blind slat in accordance with any one ofthe preceding claims characterised in that the slat is used in a Venetian blind assembly. 8. A fabric Venetian blind assembly characterised by: (a) a plurality of fabric blind slats including an elongated strip of fabric characterised in that the strip of fabric has at least one longitudinally extending pocket on a longitudinal edge into 5 which a relatively rigid support member is insertable; (b) connecting ladder ropes or connecting tape; (c) a Venetian blind head box; and (d) one or more draw cords. 10 9. A fabric Venetian blind assembly in accordance with claim 8, characterised in that the strip of fabric has a pair of longitudinally extending pockets on each longitudinal edge. 10. A fabric Venetian blind assembly in accordance with claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the 15 strip of fabric is flexible. 11. A fabric Venetian blind assembly in accordance with any one of claims 8 to 10, characterised in that the strip of fabric is made from polyester , nylon , cotton, wool, polypropylene, acrylic material or a mixture thereof. 20 12. A fabric Venetian blind assembly in accordance with any one of claims 8 to 11, characterised in that the or each relatively rigid support member is made from fibreglass, metal, wood, polyvinyl chloride, nylon or other plastics material. 25 13. A fabric Venetian blind assembly in accordance with any one of claims 8 to 12, characterised in that the or each relatively rigid support member is resilient. 14. A method for the assembly ofa fabric Venetian blind characterised by including the following steps: (a) forming a fabric blind slat including an elongated strip of fabric characterised in that the strip of fabric has at least one longitudinally extending pocket on a longitudinal edge; (b) inserting a relatively rigid support member into the said pocket; and (c) connecting the fabric blind slats by way of connecting ladder ropes or tape; 15. A method for the production ofa fabric Venetian blind assembly in accordance with claim 14, characterised in that the fabric blind slat is formed in step (a) by way of an automatic weaving machine. 16. A method for the production ofa fabric Venetian blind assembly in accordance with claim 14, characterised in that the fabric blind slat is formed in step (a) by way of an automatic knitting machine.

Inventors: ZORBAS TASS, ZORBAS, TASS
Applicants: ZORBAS TASS, ZORBAS, TASS
Application year: 1996
Main classification: E06B9
IPC codes: E06B9