Patent Description:
A roller blind system according to the preamble is known from the <CIT> (not pre published) of the same applicant. The known roller blind system has a tension adjusting mechanism that after mounting allows for optimal adjustment of the tension of the tension spring by the user to his or her specific needs. <CIT> of the same applicant describes a chain operated roller blind system with the inventive bracket connectors that are easy to couple to the inventive mounting brackets in any situation.

The invention has for its object to provide a spring operated roller blind system that allows for easy releasable coupling of a spring operated roller blind to mounting brackets and for continuous optimal adjustment of the roller blind.

In the roller blind system according to the invention the roller blind comprises an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the end position of the flexible sheet member, wherein the adjusting mechanism comprises a spindle and a connecting member that is connected to the roller shaft for rotation around the spindle, wherein the adjusting mechanism further comprises a first bearing for the roller shaft that defines a first end position for the connecting member, wherein at least one of the bracket connector comprises a pin for detachable mounting in a cooperating recess on the adjusting mechanism, wherein the pin and the recess have an unround cross section.

Such a roller blind system is defined in the preamble of claim <NUM> and is known from <CIT>.

The roller blind system according to the invention distinguishes over the prior art in that the adjusting mechanism further comprises an adjusting wheel connected to the spindle for adjusting the position of the connecting member on the spindle by rotating the spindle relative to the connecting member. Advantageously the adjusting mechanism allows for step less adjustment of the end position of the flexible sheet member by rotating the adjusting wheel. During the adjustment the roller blind can remain coupled in the mounting brackets.

According to the invention the adjusting mechanism is integrated in the roller blind not in the separate mounting brackets. Consequently, the roller blind system is suitable for mounting in the window frame. The roller blind system according to the invention allows for easy releasable mounting of a spring operated roller blind in mounting brackets without requiring a mounting profile extending between the mounting brackets. Advantageously the pin allows for some tolerance in the position of the mounting brackets. After mounting the roller blind the adjusting mechanism allows for optimal adjustment of the end position of the flexible sheet member by the user to his or her specific needs. Consequently, the present invention provides a spring operated roller blind system that is suitable for the DIY market.

According to a first preferred embodiment the pin and the recess have a polygonal, preferably a hexagonal, cross-section. Advantageously the first embodiment allows for a stepwise adjustment of the end position of the flexible sheet member. The adjustment can take place after decoupling the adjustment mechanism of the roller blind from the bracket connector. The step size of the adjustment depends on the shape of the polygonal and is sixty degrees in the first preferred embodiment.

According to a further preferred embodiment the adjusting mechanism further comprises a second bearing for the roller shaft that is attached to the spindle and defines a second end position for the connecting member. In this further preferred embodiment the pathway for the connecting member is defined between the first and the second end position.

In a practical compact embodiment the adjusting mechanism further comprises a bush onto which the adjusting wheel is arranged co-axially, wherein an outer end of the bush is provided with the recess for mounting the pin. The coaxial arrangement of the various parts makes the adjusting mechanism very compact thus avoiding the occurrence of any light gap between the flexible sheet member or roller curtain and the window frame.

In an elegant compact embodiment the adjusting mechanism further comprises at least one adjusting spring arranged co-axially on the bush.

According to a further elegant compact embodiment the adjusting mechanism further comprises first engaging means for pushing the adjusting spring in a relaxed configuration and second engaging means for pushing the adjusting spring in a tightened configuration, wherein the first engaging means are arranged on the adjusting wheel and the second engaging means are connected to the spindle.

Preferably the first engaging means comprise a first bush part and the second engaging means comprise a second bush part and the adjusting spring is enclosed by the bush, the first bush part and the second bush part.

These technical measures support achievement of the envisaged compactness.

According to a user friendly embodiment of the roller blind system according to the invention the adjusting wheel is arranged for manual operation.

According to a complete embodiment the roller blind system according to the invention further comprises the mounting brackets for mounting the roller blind system on a surface.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the figures, in which.

The same components are designated in the different figures with the same reference numerals.

<FIG> shows a schematic view of a first preferred embodiment of a roller blind system according to the invention. <FIG> and <FIG> show the roller blind system of <FIG> with exploded parts. <FIG> show more details of the first preferred embodiment.

The roller blind system <NUM> comprises a roller blind <NUM> provided with a roller shaft <NUM> through which roller shaft a central rod <NUM> extends and to which roller shaft a flexible sheet member or roller curtain <NUM> is attached in a conventional manner. The roller blind <NUM> is cordless and operable by handling a bottom bar <NUM> attached to the roller curtain <NUM>. Two bracket connectors <NUM> are attached at the outer ends of the roller blind <NUM>. The bracket connectors <NUM> are arranged for releasable attachment to mounting brackets <NUM> for mounting the roller blind system on a surface. Optionally end caps <NUM> are mounted over the mounting brackets <NUM> in the mounted state of the roller blind <NUM>.

Suitable devices for mounting a shaft of a screen such as a window covering, on a surface, such as a wall, window frame or a ceiling, having releasably attachable mounting brackets and bracket connectors or shaft holders are known in the relevant field. Particularly suitable is a device of the same applicant that is described in the abovementioned <CIT>.

The known mounting brackets and bracket connectors are shown in the figures and will now be briefly described. Shaft holder or bracket connector <NUM> is provided with a connecting piece or pin for connection to the shaft of the roller blind <NUM>. Mounting bracket <NUM> is provided with one locking tooth <NUM>-<NUM> and bracket connector <NUM> is provided with a corresponding slot which is configured to receive locking tooth <NUM>-<NUM>. Because an end plate <NUM>-<NUM> is arranged at a distance from bracket connector <NUM> using two spacers on bracket connector <NUM>, the space between the two spacers here forms the slot. Bracket connector <NUM> is provided with a controllable hook arranged on a tongue <NUM>-<NUM> on end plate <NUM>-<NUM>. The hook is however not visible in the perspective of this figure. Locking tooth <NUM>-<NUM> is provided with a hole <NUM>-<NUM>. When locking tooth <NUM>-<NUM> is placed in the slot, the hook will drop into hole <NUM>-<NUM> and bracket connector <NUM> will be locked to mounting bracket <NUM>. Bracket connector <NUM> can be unlocked from mounting bracket <NUM> again by operating the tongue <NUM>-<NUM>.

Mounting bracket <NUM> is also provided with guide teeth <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> which engage on both sides of the spacers. Guide teeth <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> guide bracket connector <NUM> in mounting bracket <NUM>. Locking tooth <NUM>-<NUM> and guide teeth <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> together form a fork.

A tension spring is fixedly connected to the central rod <NUM> and the roller shaft <NUM>. The tension spring <NUM> is schematically shown in the figures. An example of a suitable tension spring and a tension adjusting mechanism for adjusting the tension of the tension spring is described in the <CIT> (not pre published) of the same applicant.

According to the invention the roller blind comprises an adjusting mechanism <NUM> for adjusting the upper end position of the flexible sheet member <NUM>. The adjusting mechanism <NUM> comprises a spindle <NUM> and a connecting member <NUM> that is fixedly connected to the roller shaft <NUM> for simultaneous rotation around the spindle <NUM>. Preferably the connecting member <NUM> is a nut having coupling means around its circumference to connect to the inner surface of the roller shaft <NUM>. Preferably the inner surface of the roller shaft <NUM> is provided with a coupling profile to connect to said coupling means, for instance cams.

The adjusting mechanism <NUM> further comprises a first bearing <NUM> for the roller shaft <NUM> that is attached at one end of the spindle <NUM> and faces the bracket connector <NUM>. The first bearing (or end plug) <NUM> defines a first end position for the connecting member <NUM>. The first bearing <NUM> is arranged on a bush <NUM> connected to the spindle <NUM> at one end and being provided with a recess <NUM> on the other end. The bracket connector <NUM> comprises a pin or shaft <NUM> to be mounted in said recess <NUM> on the adjusting mechanism. Both the pin <NUM> and the recess <NUM> have a polygonal cross section, preferably a hexagonal cross section. The first embodiment of the adjusting mechanism <NUM> allows for step wise adjustment of the upper end position of the flexible sheet member <NUM>. Adjustment takes places by decoupling the bracket connector <NUM> from the adjusting mechanism <NUM> of the roller blind <NUM>, rotating the roller blind and coupling it to the bracket connector <NUM>. The step size depends on the shape of the polygonal and is <NUM> degrees in the first embodiment.

<FIG> and <FIG> show details of a second preferred embodiment of the roller blind system according to the invention. The same reference numerals are denoted with the same reference numerals.

In a second embodiment the adjusting mechanism <NUM> comprises an adjusting wheel <NUM> indirectly connected to the spindle <NUM> for adjusting the position of the connecting member <NUM> on the spindle <NUM> by rotating the spindle <NUM> relative to the connecting member <NUM>. Preferably the adjusting mechanism <NUM> further comprises a second bearing <NUM> for the profiled roller shaft <NUM> that is attached to the spindle <NUM> and defines a second end position for the connecting member.

The adjusting mechanism <NUM> allows for step less adjustment of the upper end position of the flexible sheet member <NUM> by rotating the wheel <NUM>. During adjustment the adjusting mechanism <NUM> of the roller blind <NUM> can remain coupled to the bracket connector <NUM>.

According to the second embodiment of the invention the adjusting mechanism <NUM> comprises at least one adjusting spring <NUM>, first engaging means <NUM> arranged on the adjusting wheel <NUM> and acting on the adjusting spring <NUM> and second engaging means <NUM> for engaging the adjusting spring <NUM> that are arranged at one outer end of the spindle <NUM>. Preferably a number of adjusting springs <NUM> are arranged in series and the first engaging means <NUM> are arranged for pushing the series of adjusting springs in a relaxed configuration and the second engaging means <NUM> are arranged for pushing the series of adjusting springs in a tightened configuration. In the second embodiment shown the number of adjusting springs <NUM> is three. Naturally this number can be varied depending on the force needed in the adjusting mechanism <NUM>.

Each adjusting spring <NUM> has a substantially prismatic shape, i.e. substantially the same cross section over its entire length. The adjusting spring <NUM> terminates in tangs 45a. The wheel <NUM> has a central opening 41a. In accordance with the invention the adjusting wheel <NUM> and the adjusting springs <NUM> are arranged coaxially on an intermediate bush <NUM> having a recess for receiving the polygonal pin <NUM> of the bracket connector <NUM>. The wheel <NUM> is designed for manual operation and is preferable provided with a crenated edge <NUM>.

According to the second embodiment of the present invention the first engaging means comprise a first bush part <NUM> extending around the central opening 41a in the wheel <NUM>. The first bush part <NUM> is shaped as a cylinder with cut away parts and has a diameter larger than the diameter of the adjusting spring <NUM> that can be partly received in the first bush part <NUM>. The first bush part <NUM> is provided with outer edges 43a for engaging the tangs 45a of the adjusting spring <NUM>.

The second engaging means comprise a second bush part <NUM>. The second bush part <NUM> is provided with a connector element 48a for connection to a connector element 36a arranged on the spindle <NUM>. The second bush part <NUM> is further arranged for connection to the wheel <NUM>. The second bush part <NUM> is shaped as a cylinder. The diameter of the second bush part <NUM> is larger than the diameter of the first bush part <NUM>. The second bush part <NUM> has inner ribs engaging on the tangs 45a of the adjusting springs from an opposite side as do the edges 43a of the first bush part <NUM>.

In the assembled state the adjusting springs <NUM> are enclosed in the space between the bush <NUM> and the first bush part <NUM> and the second bush part <NUM>. The space for the adjusting springs <NUM> is large enough to allow to house the adjusting springs <NUM> in two configurations: a relaxed configuration and a tightened or strangled configuration.

The first bush part <NUM> engages the adjusting springs <NUM> from the outside pushing the adjusting springs <NUM> in a first relaxed or loose configuration. In the relaxed or loose configuration of the adjusting springs <NUM>, the adjusting springs <NUM> touch the surface of bush <NUM> only loosely (if at all), and therefore the wheel <NUM> can be manually operated to rotate the spindle <NUM> in a clockwise respectively counter clockwise direction to change the upper end position of the flexible member <NUM>.

The second bush part <NUM> engages the adjusting springs <NUM> from the inside pushing the adjusting springs <NUM> in the second tightened or strangled configuration. In the tightened or strangled configuration the adjusting springs frictionally engage the outer surface of the bush <NUM>. In this configuration the bracket connector <NUM> and the spindle <NUM> are interlocked. Consequently the flexible member <NUM> will remain its position as adjusted by the adjusting mechanism <NUM>.

The invention follows from the inventive thought to integrate an adjusting mechanism for an end position of a roller curtain of a roller blind in the roller blind and to design the adjusting mechanism for detachable coupling to an unround pin of a bracket connector that may be mounted in advance in a mounting bracket.

Claim 1:
Roller blind system (<NUM>), comprising a roller blind (<NUM>) provided with a roller shaft (<NUM>) through which roller shaft a central rod (<NUM>) extends and to which roller shaft a flexible sheet member (<NUM>), such as a roller blind fabric or a screen, is attached, wherein the roller blind system is further provided with two bracket connectors (<NUM>) for attachment at the outer ends of the roller shaft, wherein the bracket connectors are arranged for releasable coupling to mounting brackets (<NUM>) for mounting the roller blind system on a surface, wherein the roller blind is spring operated and comprises a tension spring (<NUM>) fixedly connected to the central rod and to the roller shaft, wherein the roller blind comprises an adjusting mechanism (<NUM>) for adjusting an end position of the flexible sheet member, wherein the adjusting mechanism comprises a spindle (<NUM>) and a connecting member (<NUM>) that is connected to the roller shaft for rotation around the spindle, wherein the adjusting mechanism further comprises a first bearing (<NUM>) for the roller shaft that defines a first end position for the connecting member, wherein at least one of the bracket connectors comprises a pin (<NUM>) for detachable mounting in a cooperating recess (<NUM>) on the adjusting mechanism, wherein the pin and the recess have an unround cross section, characterized in that the adjusting mechanism (<NUM>) further comprises an adjusting wheel (<NUM>) connected to the spindle (<NUM>) for adjusting the position of the connecting member (<NUM>) on the spindle by rotating the spindle relative to the connecting member.