Source: http://www.sumobrain.com/patents/wipo/Easily-manoeuverable-security-window-blinds/WO2018134353A1.html
Timestamp: 2020-02-27 20:08:22
Document Index: 682601131

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 201', 'art 201', 'art 201', 'art 201', 'art 201', 'art 201', 'art 201', 'art 201', 'art 201', 'art 201', 'art 211', 'art 240', 'art 211', 'art 240', 'art 240', 'art 201', 'art 201', 'art 201', 'art 201', 'art 201', 'art 201', 'art 201', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 2', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'arts 12', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 12']

EASILY MANOEUVERABLE SECURITY WINDOW BLINDS - IVARSSON, Sune
EASILY MANOEUVERABLE SECURITY WINDOW BLINDS
WIPO Patent Application WO/2018/134353
A window blind comprising a plurality of movable blind members, one or more lift cords arranged to enable lifting and lowering of said window blind members, wherein a movable end of said one or more lift cords is attached to a blind member stop device, a second end is attached to a fixed member and an intermediate part of said one or more pull cords is in contact with a positioning member, a movable adjustment member comprising a positioning body carrying said positioning member, a guide rail arranged to guide said movable adjustment member, wherein a positioning device is arranged to enable positioning of said movable adjustment member at a desired position at said guide rail, and, wherein further there is arranged an angle adjustment mechanism arranged to enable adjustment of an angle of said window blind members by means of tilting cords.
IVARSSON, Sune (Vitlanda 102, TÖSSE, 662 98, SE)
LIPECKI, Alicja (Sklodowskiej 36, JÓZEFÓW, PL-05-420, PL)
ZBEK, Marek (Zytnia 9, ZDUNSKA WOLA, PL-98-220, PL)
EP2018/051307
E06B9/30; E06B9/306; E06B9/326
US5465775A 1995-11-14
US5743319A 1998-04-28
US20140048217A1 2014-02-20
SE190144C1
A window blind comprising,
a plurality of movable blind members (30),
one or more pull cords (10) arranged to enable lifting and lowering of said window blind members (30),
wherein a movable end of said one or more pull cords (10) is attached to a blind member stop device (132), a second end is attached to a fixed member (26) and an intermediate part of said one or more pull cords (10) is in contact with a positioning member (5),
a movable adjustment member (2) comprising a positioning body (201) carrying said positioning member (5),
a guide rail (4) arranged to guide said movable adjustment member (2), wherein a positioning device (22) is arranged to enable positioning of said movable adjustment member (2) at a desired position at said guide rail (4), and, wherein further there is arranged an angle adjustment mechanism (14, 24) arranged to enable adjustment of an angle of tilting of said window blind members (30), by means of tilting cords (140, 141)
c h ar a c t eri z e d in th at said movable adjustment member (2) is arranged with an angle adjustment device (21) connected to said angle adjustment mechanism (14, 24).
A window blind according to claim 1, c h ar a ct eri z e d i n th at said angle adjustment mechanism (14, 24) includes a rotatable elongated shaft (24) extending in parallel with, preferably within, the length extension of said guide rail (4) and that said angle adjustment device (21) is slideably, directly, or indirectly connected to said rotatable elongated shaft (24).
A window blind according to claim 1 or 2, c h ar a c t eri z e d in th at said angle adjustment device (21) is rotatably mounted at said positioning body (201), wherein preferably a bevel gear device (211, 240) is rotatably mounted within said positioning body (201) to transfer rotation from said angle adjustment device (21) to said rotatable shaft (24).
4. A window blind according to any one of the claims 1- 3, c h ar a c t eri z e d i n th at said positioning device (22) is moveably arranged at said positioning body (201), wherein preferably said positioning device (22) includes an interacting portion (222) arranged to interact with a fixed part (41) to enable positioning of said positioning body (201).
5. A window blind according to claim 4, char act eriz ed in that said
interacting part (41) is formed by a part of said guide rail (4), preferably a friction providing surface.
6. A window blind according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said guide rail (4) has a tube-shaped cross-sectional form with an elongated open slit (44), wherein an inner part (201 ') of said positioning body (201) is guided within said guide rail (4) and an outer part (201 ' ') of said positioning body (201) protrudes out of said slit (44), wherein preferably at least one, preferably both, of said angle adjustment device (21) and/or said positioning device (22) are mounted at said outer part (201 ' ') of said positioning body (201).
7. A window blind according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said fixed member (26) is positioned at said guide rail (4), wherein preferably said fixed member (26) is in the form of an attachment device.
8. A window blind according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said movable adjustment member (2) is arranged with an easily gripable handle (200), wherein preferably said handle (200) is designed to enable gripping thereof at the same time as said angle adjustment device (21) may be manually actuated by the same hand.
9. A window blind according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said positioning member (5) is in the form of a low friction device, preferably a wheel member.
10. A window blind according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said movable adjustment member (2) is arranged with balancing weights (28).
11. A window blind according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said one or more pull cords (10) further comprise a longitudinally compressible security covering (11), extending along the pull cord/s (10), wherein preferably said security covering (11) of the pull cords (10) is in the form of a non- woven cover comprising a plurality of intertwined threads (1 la-f), and more that said plurality of threads (1 la-f) is in a range of 3-30, preferably in a range of 5-20, more preferred in a range of 6-10.
12. A window blind according to claim 11, c h ar a ct eri z e d in that an
attachment arrangement of the security covering (11) includes at least on male socket (132B, 122B) and one female socket (132A, 122A) arranged to clamp a lower and/or an upper end of said security covering (11).
13. A window blind according to claim 11, c h ar a ct eri z e d i n that said window blind further comprises a plurality of removable fixating clips (12) arranged to fixate said security covering (11) of the pull cords (10) to window blind members (30).
14. A window blind according to claim 12, c h ar a ct eri z e d i n that said fixating clip (12) is in a form of a compressed s-shape having a length (L) that is substantially larger than a compressed extension (s), and which comprises three parts including a bottom part (12a), a middle part (12b), and a top part (12c), linked two and two through end turns (12ab) and (12bc), respectively, wherein said bottom part (12a) is arranged to grip said security covering (11), and preferably is longer than L/2 but shorter than L, wherein preferably said middle part (12b) further comprises a protrusion (120), preferably centered, and having an opening (D) larger than a diameter (d) of the pull cord (10), and more preferred that said middle part (12b) is longer than any of the outer parts (12a, 12c), wherein the length (L) of said middle part (12b) is essentially equal to the distance (1) between the tilting cords (140, 141).
15. A window blind according to any one of the claims 13-14, c h ar a c t e ri z e d in that said fixating clips (12) are situated randomly at the crossing points between the pulling cords (10) and the blind members (30), preferably at half or less of said crossing points, more preferred at every third blind member (30), even more preferred at every 5th blind member (30), most preferably at a distance not exceeding 35 cm.
The present invention relates to a window blind comprising a plurality of movable blind members, one or more pull cords arranged to enable lifting and lowering of said window blind members, and adjustable members enabling adjustment of position and/or of tilting angle of said window blind members. The invention also relates to providing solutions which may increase safety, i.e. minimize the risk for accidental entanglement and suffocation caused by the pull cords of the window blind.
SE 190144 describes an arrangement for hoistable, horisontal blinds, as Persian blinds, Venetian blinds or alike, where the pull cord or cords are connected to an actuator situated within a channel provided with a track. The actuator within the channel acts as a movable piston in a pipe. The pull cords are connected within the channel in a differential pulley system for easier handling. A weakness of the arrangement described above is the tight fit between the actuator and the channel, which risks to become loose with time, affecting the reliability of the positioning of the blinds. Moreover, the tilting system controlling the tilting angle of the slats of the window blinds is situated on the opposite side of the blinds, in respect to the channel comprising the actuator, thereby requiring a two-hand handling of the blinds.
In US 5743319 an improved window blind is described wherein the pull cord has an inner element and an outer element. While the inner element performs the lifting, and lowering of the slats of the window blind, the longitudinally compressible outer element encompassing the inner element is arranged to impede the pull cord to form hazardous loop(s). SUMMARY OF INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a window blind which is easy to handle.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a window blind which can be handled with one-hand.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a window blind with increased safety. The window blind of the present invention comprises a plurality of movable blind members, and one or more pull cords arranged to enable lifting and lowering of said window blind members. A movable first end of said one or more pull cords is attached to a blind member stop device, a second end is attached to a fixed member and an intermediate part of said one or more pull cords is in contact with a positioning member. The window blind further comprises a movable adjustment member comprising a positioning body carrying said positioning member, and a guide rail arranged to guide said movable adjustment member. A positioning device is arranged to enable positioning of said movable adjustment member at a desired position at said guide rail. Further, the window blind comprises an angle adjustment mechanism arranged to enable adjustment of an angle of tilting of said window blind members by means of tilting cords. The window blind of the present invention is characterized in that the said movable adjustment member is arranged with an angle adjustment device connected to said angle adjustment mechanism. Thanks to this, and in contrast to the invention of SE 190144, the handling of the window blind of the present invention can be done with only one hand, both when it comes to controlling the position of the window blind and the tilting angle of the blind members.
In one embodiment of the present invention, said angle adjustment mechanism includes a rotatable elongated shaft extending in parallel with, preferably within, the length extension of said guide rail and that said adjustment device is slideably, directly, or indirectly connected to said rotatable elongated shaft. In this way, the window blind is simple to handle, as both the lifting and lowering system as well as the tilting system are situated at the same side of the window blind. The handling becomes even more simple, if said angle adjustment device is rotatably mounted at said positioning body. In this way both systems named above are mounted within the same body and can be handled with one hand.
In another embodiment of the invention, a bevel gear device is rotatably mounted within said positioning body to transfer rotation from said angle adjustment device to said rotatable shaft. This enables the combination of the positioning device and of the angle adjustment device within the adjustment member and ensures a simple, one-hand handling of the window blind. The simplified handling can even be reached if the positioning device is moveably arranged at said positioning body.
In still another embodiment of the invention, the positioning device includes an interacting portion arranged to interact with a fixed part to enable positioning of said positioning body. This will ensure a reliable positioning of the positioning body at any desired point on the guide rail, and implicitly the positioning of the window blind at any desired position between the minimum length and the maximum length at which the window blind covers the window.
The said interacting part can be a part of said guide rail, preferably a friction providing surface. In this way, a simplified construction is reached, as less components are required.
In still another embodiment of the invention, said guide rail has a tube-shaped cross- sectional form with an elongated open slit, wherein an inner part of said positioning body is guided within said guide rail and an outer part of said positioning body protrudes out of said slit. In this way, a safe construction is achieved, where the pull cords and most of the movable parts are hidden behind the guide rail, while the handling of the window blind is allowed to proceed by means of the outer part of the positioning body. In still another embodiment of the invention, at least one, preferably both, of the angle adjustment device and/or the positioning device is/are mounted at said outer part of the positioning body. This ensures a simple handling of different devices even with one hand. In still another embodiment of the invention, said fixed member is positioned at the guide rail, wherein preferably said fixed member is in the form of an attachment device. This enables a simple and reliable solution for an optional positioning of the window blind. In still another embodiment of the invention, said movable adjustment member is arranged with an easily gripable handle, wherein preferably said handle is designed to enable gripping thereof at the same time as said angle adjustment device may be manually actuated by the same hand. This enhances the simplicity in handling the window blind, ensuring the possibility of one -hand handling.
In still another embodiment of the invention, the positioning member is in the form of a low friction device, preferably a wheel member. In this way, the handling of the movable adjustment member is simple and effortless even with one hand. This can be further achieved, if said movable adjustment member is arranged with balancing weights. In still another embodiment of the invention, the pull cords further comprise a longitudinally compressible safety covering, arranged to surround and encircle said cords, in order to cover the loops that said cords may form when the window blind members are lifted. In this way, the risk of accidents involving loose loops is diminished. The risk is further eliminated in the case when the window blind further comprises a plurality of removable fixating clips arranged to fixate said safety covering of the pull cords to the window blind members.
Below embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings:
Fig. 2 illustrates schematically a zoomed detail of the embodiment according to figure
1 , including the guide rail and the components therein.
Fig. 3 illustrates schematically the adjustment member of the embodiment illustrated in figure 1.
Fig. 4 illustrates a cross section of the adjustment member of figure 3.
Fig. 5 illustrates the positioning body of the embodiment illustrated in figure 1.
Fig. 6 illustrates a security covering of a pull cord and a fixating clip according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 7 illustrates an upper socket fixating the security covering of a pull cord according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 8 illustrates a lower socket fixating the security covering of a pull cord according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Figure 1 schematically illustrates a window 1 arranged with a window blind according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As it is well known in the art, window blind members 30 may be lifted and lowered by one or more pull cords 10. Window blind members 30 are coplanarly arranged at a distance from each other, and are tiltable so to allow light to pass through, or to prevent this, depending on the angle they are tilted at.
At the window area, the one or more pull cords 10 are preferably perpendicularly (i.e. vertically) mounted in relation to the window blind members 30, being situated within apertures (not shown) of the blind members and, when several pull cords are present, they are preferably parallel to each other. They extend in this manner along the entire height of the window up to a top side of the window. At the top, there is arranged a frame member 31, preferably including a low friction device (e.g. see 122C, in figure 7) which controls the path of the pull cords 10 to converge thereafter to run substantially horizontal, and to enter via a corner piece 3 (at the one corner of the window) into a guide rail 4 (see even figure 2), preferably vertically mounted to extend substantially along the entire height of the window. (The guide rail may as well be mounted in any other extension, i.e. horizontally at the bottom of the window - requiring a further corner transmission/pulley - e.g. to better fulfil needs of someone in a wheel chair.)
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a movable end of the one or more pull cords 10 is attached to a blind member stop device 132c, while a second end is attached to a fixed point/member 26 (see figure 2), preferably an attachment device, positioned at (e.g. inside) the guide rail 4.
An intermediate part of the one or more pull cords 10 is guided via a movable adjustment member 2, which in a preferred embodiment includes an easily gripable handle 200, an angle adjustment device 21 and a positioning device 22. Further there is a positioning member 5, preferably a pulley, mounted at the movable adjustment member 2. As shown in figure 2, the intermediate parts of the pull cords 10 run from the movable ends 132c down within the guide rail 4 around the positioning member 5 and thereafter upwards within the guide rail 4 to the attachment point/device 26. The attachment point/device 26 is located at a position, situated above the lower half of the guide rail 4, relative to the far end 400 of the guide rail 4. The movable adjustment member 2 is guided within the guide rail 4, preferably by contact with the guide rail 4 by means of low friction devices, preferably wheel members 203, 204 (see figures 3 and 4) and by use of weights 28 to balance the handling thereof, making movement thereof very easy. By moving the movable adjustment member 2, and thereby the even the positioning member 5 along the guide rail 4, the movable ends 132c of the pull cords 10 are pulled towards or away the frame member 31 of the window blind, which leads to lifting or lowering of the window blind, respectively. Thanks to the design of the window blind of the present invention, the length of the movement of the adjustment member 2 will result in twice the length of the movement of the movable ends 132c. Hence, a movement of the adjustment member 2 downwards along half the height of the window (normally corresponding to about half the length of the guide rail 4) will result in the movable ends 132c traveling from the bottom of the window 1 to the top, i.e. to be positioned adjacent the frame member 31. A significant advantage with this solution is that the guide rail 4 may cover the intermediate part of the pull cord/s 10, which eliminates the risk of creating accessible dangerous loops.
According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, within the frame member 31 , there is mounted a rotatable horizontal shaft 14, arranged to interact with tilting cords 140 and 141 controlling the tilting of the window blind members 30 (as well known in the art). The horizontal shaft 14 is coupled to a second rotatable shaft 24 via a transmission 15, 25, preferably a bevel gear 15 and 25. The transmission 15, 25 is arranged in the corner piece 3 to transfer the rotatory movement from the second rotatable shaft 24, situated in the guide rail 4, via the horizontal shaft 14 to the tilting cords 140 and 141. The two shafts 14 and 24 together provide an angle adjustment mechanism. The angle adjustment device 21 at the movable adjustment member 2, is connected to said second shaft 24, preferably through a bevel drive 211, 240 (see figures 3 and 4), to adjust the rotational position of the second shaft 24. Accordingly, the adjustment applied at the adjustment device 21 is transferred via shaft 24 to shaft 14 and further via the tilting cords 140, 141 to the window blind members 30, resulting in a controlled regulation of the tilting angle.
According to the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in figures 3 and 4, the guide rail 4 has a tube-shaped cross-sectional form with an elongated open slit 44. An inner part 201 ' of a positioning body 201, included in the movable adjustment member 2, is guided within the guide rail 4, while an outer part 201 " of the positioning body 201 protrudes out of said slit 44. The inner part 201 ' of the positioning body 201 is slideably mounted in relation to the guide rail 4, preferably by means of wheels 203, 204 for effortless handling. Further, the inner part 201 ' of the positioning body 201 is slideably arranged in relation to the shaft 24 within the guide rail 4, e.g. using a bevel gear 211, 240, by having the inner of bevel 240 in rotational grip (e.g. hexagonal cross- section) though loosely mounted on the shaft 24. Accordingly, the movable adjustment member 2 is guided by the guide rail 4 to be easily moveable along the second shaft 24, though always in grip via the bevel 240, which may transfer the angle adjustment from the adjustment device 21 to said second shaft 24.
The positioning member 5 may be incorporated in the positioning body 201 in the form of a pulley 52 rotatably arranged on a shaft 51 fixed to the inner part 201 ' of the positioning body 201. Preferably, the pulley 52 is arranged with a specially formed periphery 53 (e.g. concave) to securely maintain the cord/s 10 therein. Alternatively, the positioning member 5 may be in the form of a low friction guide surface, directly or indirectly connected to inner part 201 ' of the positioning body 201. Accordingly, when the movable adjustment member 2 is slidden towards the far end 400 of the guide rail 4, the positioning member 5 follows, and the pulley 52 pulls the pull cords 10 generating a lifting of the window blind members 30. Consequently, when the movable adjustment member 2 is slid away from the far end 400 of the guide rail 4, the positioning member 5 follows, delivering the pull cords 10, which accordingly, causes the window blind members 30 to lower. Thanks to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the pull cords 10 and the positioning member 5 provide a 1 :2 differential pulley system for easier handling.
Moreover, the movable adjustment member 2 comprises a positioning device 22, which when activated releasably fixates the movable adjustment member 2 at a desired position along the guide rail 4. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the positioning device 22 is in the form of a pivotable lever 22, pivotally attached at a center line to the outer part 201 " of the positioning body 201 , e.g. by means of a pivot pin 220 (fixed to the positioning body 201) and corresponding holes 221. The lever 22 is preferably held into place by the handle 200, and has a thickness/height that snuggly makes it fit between surface of the handle 200 and the outer surface 41 (i.e. the surfaces at the side of the slit 44) of the rail 4. Further, the lever 22 has a width that substantially corresponds to the width of the slit 44. Thanks to this arrangement, the lever 22 will cause none (or minimal) resistance when it is positioned in parallel with the slit 44. When pivoted (at either side), the back side of the lever will provide an interacting portion 222 that friction- wise interacts with the outer surface 41 of the guide rail 4, to enable positioning of said positioning body 201.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one, preferably both, of the angle adjustment device 21 and/or of the positioning device 22 is/are mounted at the outer part 201 " of the positioning body 201. This ensures the simplicity of handling the window blind, having all the maneuvering devices within the reach distance of one hand, preferably operable jointly by one hand.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the adjustment device 21 is in the form of an adjustment wheel that is positioned within an adapted recess 20 ID at the outer surface of outer part 201 " of the positioning body 201 , such that the handle 200 provides a cover/retaining device. The wheel 21 has a shaft connected thereto which fits in a bevel bore 201G in the positioning body 201. The bore 201G opens up in a larger, coaxial bore 201H from the other side of the positioning body 201, which larger bore 201 H is positioned within the inner part 201 ' , of the positioning body 201. Within the larger bore 201H, the bevel gear 211, 240 is positioned. One part 211 is attached to the adjustment wheel shaft 210 and the other part 240 is rotatably arranged in an annulus 20 li within the positioning body 201. The annulus 20 li is coaxially arranged with the extension of the second shaft 24, preferably in the form of a bore 202 passing through the positioning body 201 parallelly in relation to the extension of the guide rail 4.
Hence, a rotation of the adjustment device 21 will result in the rotation of the first bevel gear part 211, which will transfer the rotation to the second bevel gear part 240 that in its turn will transfer the rotation to the second shaft 24, as a consequence of the second bevel gear part 240 being in grip with the second shaft 24, e.g. hexagonally.
In figure 5 there is shown a preferred embodiment of the positioning body 201, in perspective view, presenting the positioning body 201 in a preferred form of an integrated part, having a number of bores and recesses to provide a handful of needs. Firstly, the positioning body 201 has an inner part 201 ' and an outer part 201 ", having the same length, but wherein the outer part 201 " has a smaller width, allowing it to protrude out of the slit 44 and at the same time providing retaining surfaces 201C for the inner part 201 '. There are some non-through passing, transversal bores 20 IF at the inner part 201 'for positioning of guide wheels 203, 204 of the positioning body 201. Further, the inner part 201 ' presents one longitudinal through going bores 202 for the second shaft 24 and further two non-through passing, longitudinal bores 201 A, B for guiding of the cord/s 10 to the positioning member 5. Moreover, the inner part 201 ' has recesses 20 IE for mounting of guide wheels 203, 204 of the positioning body 201. It a preferred embodiment, the positioning body 201 is made of a thermoplastic material enabling extra cost effective production, e.g. including form molding or extrusion at the same time as it enables providing a low friction material. As already indicated in figure 1 , in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pull cords 10 may comprise a security covering 11 , which is arranged to surround and enfold said pull cords 10, in order to cover the otherwise dangerous loops that the pull cords 10 can form (e.g., if pulling a pull cord between two window blind members 30 in a lowered state). The security covering 11 may provide a security arrangement that eliminates such hazardous loops. The security covering 11 is in a form of an outer layer that is longitudinally compressible. According to the invention, the security covering 11 is preferably in the form of a non-woven cover comprising a plurality, though preferably a limited number of intertwined threads. In a preferred embodiment, the number of threads is in a range of 3-30, more preferred 5-20, most preferred 6-10. The threads are preferably made of very fine and transparent polymer (e.g. polyamide), allowing them to be almost not distinguishable and thereby enhancing the visual comfort.
According to the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in figure 6, the window blind further comprises a plurality of removable, fixating members 12, preferably in the form of clips 12 arranged to fixate the security covering 11 of the pull cords 10 to some of the window blind members 30. The fixating clip 12 has a compressed s-shape, wherein a bottom part 12a is threaded through some of the threads 1 la-f of the security covering 11. A middle part 12b is the longest part having a length L corresponding to the distance / between the tilting cords 140 and 141, which may further correspond to the width w of the blind members 30 (as illustrated in figure 6). The middle part 12b further comprises a protrusion 120 with an opening D, preferably centrally positioned and in shape of an arc of a circle. In a preferred embodiment, the opening D exceeds the diameter d of the pull cord 10. The fixating clip 12 further comprises a top part 12c, having an arbitrary length, though not exceeding the length L of the middle part 2b. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom part 12a is longer than L/2 but does not exceed the length L of the middle part 12b. The outer parts 12a and 12c are preferably parallel to each other and essentially parallel to 12b. The fixating clip 12 further comprises two turns 12ab and 12bc, which connect the bottom part 12a to the middle part 12b and the middle part 12b to the top part 12c, respectively.
The fixating clip 12 is in a mounted form arranged to encircle the tilting cords 140 and 141 at the turns 12ab and 12bc, respectively, thereby being positioned transversally in relation to a blind member 30. The bottom part 12a is then threaded through some of the threads 1 la-f of the security covering 11 and the protrusion 120 facilitates free passage of the cord 10. The fixating clips 12 may be mounted at each or, randomly, only at some of the crossing points between the pulling cords 10 and the blind members 30. From a security point of view, it may be recommended to have them mounted at least every 5 th blind member 30, and if extra security is desired up to every third blind member 30, or even at every. The part of the pull cord 10 that can be (accidentally) pulled out between the blind members 30 is then restricted by the security covering 11, since the two adjacent clips 12 (of the gripping point of the cord 10) will pull along the security covering 11 when gripping and pulling the cord 10, thereby preventing creation of anything else but a short loop defined by the length of the security covering 11 between the two neighboring clips 12. Hence, a loop short enough not to present any risk for accidental entanglement and suffocation, i.e. that will eliminate the possibility of a skull of a human being passing through, preferably having a length not exceeding 35 cm.
In figures 7 and 8 there is shown a preferred embodiment relating to attachment of the security covering 11 (illustrated only schematically in figure 1). A male socket 132B, 122B and a female socket 132A, 122A are used to clamp a lower and an upper end of the security covering 11, respectively. The sockets 122, 132 are arranged with an annular portion and a radially extending flange portion, enabling secure fixation of the threads 1 la-f between the socket parts when clamped together. At the center of the sockets 122, 132, in the annular part, there is a through passage that is large enough to allow the pull cord 10 to freely pass through.
The flange part of the lower socket 132 forms a stop against a pulling member 32. (e.g. in the form of a blind member or a separate member acting on the blind members arranged above) The pull cord 10 is in its turn arranged with washer 132c, at its end (e.g. by a knot) having a diameter that is larger than the passage in the socket 132. Hence, when the pull cord 10 is lifted the washer follows, and consequently even the socket 132 and the pulling member 32. The flange part of the upper socket 122 forms an upper fixation of the security covering 11 within the frame member 31 against the pulling member 32 (e.g. in the form of a blind member or a separate member acting on the blind members arranged above). The pull cord 10 runs freely through the passage therein and then in accordance with what is described above. In a preferred embodiment, the upper socket 122 has a curved surface 122C for providing low friction and allowing the pull cord 10 to smoothly pass through while changing direction from substantially vertical to substantially horizontal (as described in figure 1). The scope of the present invention is not restricted to the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings and described above, but it can be varied with the scope of the claims. As an example, vertical blinds are just as well maneuverable by the present invention as horizontal blinds.
Additionally, there are devices/mechanisms described above that may be used independent on each other, and which therefore may form the basis for protection on their own by means of one or more divisional application/s. For instance, the above described movable adjustment member 2 and the security cover 11 of the pull cords 10, may as well be used separately. Hence, as is evident for the skilled person the security cover 11 and its above described beneficial function, e.g. in connection with various kinds of attachment means, e.g. security clips 12, may be used also in connection with other kind of mechanisms for blinds. Further it is evident for the skilled person that many of the details described above may be exchanged by various devices providing a similar well-known function. For instance, instead of using fixating clips 12, a desired length of the security cover 11 may be interconnected to the blind members by use of conventional technique, e.g. sewing, gluing, etc. Moreover, the fixating clips 12 may be used together with various kinds of security covers, e.g. woven, molded, etc.
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