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Title:
IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO WINDOW BLINDS OR SCREENS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2010/052460
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A screen system for a window, especially of a conservatory roof, comprises a screen (10) and means for attaching the screen to a window frame (24), wherein the screen is of self-supporting material and the window frame is provided with opposed channels (70,80,110,112) for receiving opposite sides of the screen (10).

Inventors:
THOMSON ANDREW (GB)
Application Number:
PCT/GB2009/002610
Publication Date:
May 14, 2010
Filing Date:
November 05, 2009
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
ULTRAFRAME UK LTD (GB)
THOMSON ANDREW (GB)
International Classes:
E06B9/11; E04F10/06
Domestic Patent References:
WO2003058019A12003-07-17
WO2009001114A22008-12-31
Foreign References:
DE3721921C11989-02-16
FR2861410A12005-04-29
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
CAWLEY, Aimee (Sussex House83-85 Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3LG, GB)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS:

1. A screen system for a window, especially of a conservatory roof, comprising a screen, and means for attaching the screen to a window frame, wherein the screen is of self-supporting material and the window frame is provided with opposed channels for receiving opposite sides of the screen.

2. A screen system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the screen material is rigid.

3. A screen system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the screen material is resiliently deformable in the sense of being bendable.

4. A screen system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the channels has a separable part to permit fitting of the screen.

5. A screen system as claimed in claim 4, wherein a channel is formed by a stem from the underside of a window frame member and a transverse element to provide a channel on at least one side of the stem.

6. A screen system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the transverse element is a cross bar to provide a channel on each side of the stem.

7. A screen system as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the transverse element is separable from the stem.

8. A screen system as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the stem is provided integrally with the window frame member.

9. A screen system as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the stem is attached to the window frame member by fixing means.

10. A screen system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fixing means is a screw.

11. A screen system as claimed in 5, 6 or 7, wherein the stem is attached to the window frame by means of engaging formations.

12. A screen system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the underside of the window frame member has a channel into which a cooperating formation of the stem is a snap-fit.

13. A screen system as claimed in claim 1 , 2 or 3, wherein at least one of a pair of opposed channels includes spring means, whereby a rigid screen can be pushed into the at least one channel a sufficient distance for its opposite side to be fitted into the opposite channel.

14. A screen system as claimed in claim 13 comprising a component having oppositely directed channels including said spring means is provided for attachment to a window frame member.

15. A screen system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the channels are back to back or overlie each other.

16. A screen system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15 comprising at least two screens, whereby additional light may be admitted by sliding one or other of the screens to overlap each other.

17. A screen system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the screen material is of wood or plastics material

18. A screen system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the screen material comprises wooden slats woven together.

19. A conservatory roof window screen system comprising a screen, and means for attaching the screen to a window frame, the screen being of a rigid self- supporting material and the window frame being provided with opposed channels for receiving opposite side of the screen, wherein said channels are formed by a stem depending from the underside of a window frame member and a transverse element to provide a channel on at least one side of the stem.

Description:
,

1

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO WINDOW BLINDS OR SCREENS

This invention concerns improvements in and relating to window screens or blinds, especially but not exclusively, to window screens or blinds suitable for installation in conservatories.

Window blinds are commonly installed in conservatory roofs to provide a heat and light barrier. Such blinds are usually of pleated fabric that slide along cords fixed usually between top and bottom frame members of the roof. Fitting of window blinds to a conservatory roof can be difficult, firstly because of having to retrofit attachment means for ends of the cords, and secondly because many conservatory roofs have triangular panel sections where upper attachment of the cords has to be to side frame members.

Window blinds are, of course, also fitted to conventional windows. Different types of blinds are available, such as roller blinds and "Venetian blinds". A common problem with window and conservatory roof blinds is that gaps may be present between the edges of the blinds and the window frames between which they are mounted allowing light to penetrate, which can be irritating to persons close to the windows who may be dazzled by the light. Furthermore, penetration of light may cause damage, such as discolouration, over a period of weeks, months or years to soft furnishings.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved window blind or screen system suitable for use with windows and conservatory roofs.

According to the invention there is provided a screen system for a window, especially of a conservatory roof, comprising a screen, and means for attaching the screen to a window frame, wherein the screen is of self-supporting material and the window frame is provided with opposed channels for receiving opposite sides of the screen. By "self-supporting material" it is meant that the material is rigid or at least may be resiliently deformable in the sense of being bendable. The screen material may be a fabric, a plastics material or a wooden material, such as a slatted material, e.g. wooden slats. Pinoleum (wooden slats woven together to form a screen) is a possibility for the screen material.

For a rigid screen it is proposed that at least one of the channels have a separable part to permit fitting of the screen. Typically a channel will be formed by a stem from the underside of a glazing bar or other window frame member and a transverse element, which is preferably a cross bar, to provide a channel on at least one side of the stem. Preferably the transverse element is the separable part that is separable from the stem, so that the screen can be fitted and the transverse element replaced to retain the screen.

The stem may be provided integrally with the window frame member, may be attached to the window frame member by fixing means, such as screws, or may be attached to the window frame by means of engaging formations. For example, the underside of the window frame member may have a channel into which a cooperating formation of the stem is a snap-fit.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention at least one of a pair of opposed channels includes resiliently biased means, for example spring means, whereby a rigid screen can be pushed into the at least one channel against the resilient biased means by a sufficient distance for its opposite side to be fitted into the opposite channel.

Preferably a component having oppositely directed channels including said resiliently biased means, for example spring means, is provided for attachment to a window frame member such as the underside of a glazing bar. The channels may be back to back in one plane or may overlie each other in an orthogonal plane.

Preferably a window or conservatory roof glazed panel will have at least two screens installed on it, whereby additional light may be admitted by sliding one or other of the screens to overlap each other, thereby providing a gap through which light can pass.

The preferred window assembly according to the invention comprises window side frame members in the form of glazing bars that support glazing panels between them. The opposed channels may be mounted internally or externally of a window, which may be a conservatory roof panel. The provision of channels for edges of the window screens has the advantage of reducing light admission around edges of the screens because of overlap of at least two edges of the screen in the channels.

The screens of the invention may be used other than for windows and conservatory roofs, such as in situations where a readily demountable screen or barrier is needed, such as to provide cladding for a wall or replaceable advertising boards.

For a better understanding, the invention will now be further described, by way of non- limiting example only, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying schematic drawings (not to scale), in which:

Figure 1 shows a first screen system according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a second screen system according to the invention; and Figure 3 shows a third screen system according to the invention.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, two glazing panels 22 are mounted between glazing bars 24 (only one of which is shown). The glazing bars 24 are generally of T-section having a cross bar 26 and a stem 28. The glazing bar will usually be of aluminium with a uPVC cover 30 on the cross bar and a uPVC cap 32 on the stem.

The cover 30 has top edges 34 that overlie top edges of the cross bar and that carry sealing material 36, on which one side of the glazing panels sit. The cap 32 has sides 38 with sealing material 40 on their free edges. The cap is pressed onto the top of the stem of the glazing bar, so that the sealing material 40 seals against the other side of the glazing panels.

The cover 30 has a flat base 50. A channel forming member 56 is a T-section uPVC extrusion and has a stem 58 and a cross bar 60. The cross bar is flat and is fastened against the flat base 50 of the cover 30 by means of a screw 61 through the stem 58 into the glazing bar 24. The stem has at its end opposite the cross bar 60 outward lips 62 onto which snap fits a second cross bar 64. The second cross bar 64 has a gap in one face forming edges 65, over which the lips 62 of cross bar 60 engage. Fitting cross bar 64 to cross bar 60 creates two channels 70 between the underside of the cover 30 and the cross bar 64 on opposite sides of the stem 58. Said channels 70 can receive screens 10 on both sides of a glazing bar 24, and below glazing panels 22 as shown.

Screens 10 are fitted to the glazing bars 24 by removing the second cross bar 64, positioning the screens 10 adjacent to the underside of the cover 30 of glazing bars 24 and snap-fitting the second cross bar 64 back in place on the end of the stem 58 of the channel forming member 56. This procedure may be repeated with adjacent glazing bars 24 until the screens 10 are mounted via both of their edges.

Turning to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings, a screen system is shown that is similar to that shown in Figure 1 of the drawings except for the manner in which the channel forming member is attached to the glazing bar. Only this difference will be described in detail below. Like parts have been given the same reference numbers in Figures 1 and 2 for simplicity.

The cover 30 has a base 50 with a longitudinal slot 52 therein, with recessed sides 54 to receive channel forming member 56. The channel forming member 56 is a T-section uPVC extrusion and has a stem 58 and wings 72. The upper end of the stem 58 has resiliently deformable sides 74 terminating with lips 76, whereby the end of the stem 58 can locate in the slot 52 of the cover 30. The stem 58 has at its end opposite the wings 72 outwardly depending lips 62 onto which snap fits a cross bar 64. The cross bar 64 has a gap in one face forming edges 65, over which the lips 62 of member 56 engage. Fitting cross bar 64 to member 56 creates two channels 80 between the underside of the cover 30 and the cross bar 64 on opposite sides of the stem 58. Said channels 80 can receive screens 10 on either side of a glazing bar 24, and below glazing panels (not shown).

Screens 10 are fitted to the glazing bars 24 by removing the cross bar 64, positioning the screens 10 adjacent to the underside of the cover 30 of glazing bar 24 and snap- fitting the cross bar 64 back in place on the end of the stem 58 of the channel forming member 56. This procedure may be repeated with adjacent glazing bars 24 until the screens 10 are mounted via both of their edges.

In Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings, a glazing bar 100 has a stem 102 and cross bar 104 for supporting glazing panels 105 held down by capping 107 that is located at the top of the stem 102. The capping 107 is twin-walled for better thermal performance and has gasket material 109 along its ends to seal against the glazing panels. The cross bar 104 has a cover 111 with a longitudinal slot 113 therein. Said slot 113 is provided with lips 115 to receive a channel component 106 in a snap-fit manner. The channel component 106 has a pair of oppositely opening top and bottom channels 110, 112 overlying each other. Each channel has in its closed end a coiled spring 114 terminating with a plug 117. The bottom channel 112 has its sides 118,120 of the same length. The top channel 110 has its lower side in common with the upper side of the bottom channel 112 but has it upper side 116 of shorter length.

To locate the channel component 106 onto a glazing bar 100, the upper side 116 has hooked ribs 121 that snap into the slot 113 in cover 111. The channel component 106 may be attached to the underside of the cover 111 by any other suitable means, such as adhesive, double-sided adhesive tape and the like.

To fit screens into the channel components 106, a screen edge is pushed into one channel against the plug 117 and spring 114 therein sufficiently for the opposite edge of the screen to clear an appropriate channel of a channel component on an adjacent glazing bar. The screen is fed into said other channel and the force pressing the screen against the spring 114 is released, so that the spring 114 pushes the edge of the screen into said other channel. The size of the screen has to be appropriately chosen so that the clearance necessary to fit the screen can be achieved but still leave the screen sufficiently supported along both edges.

It will be appreciated that the screen system of the invention may also be used with non-rigid tensioned screens, such as described in our co-pending international patent application of even date, claiming priority from UK patent application number GB0820425.7.