The invention also relates to a method for the mounting of a roller blind.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In office environments for example, there is often a problem with light reflexes on computer screens. At the same time, it is however desirable to be able to let in light from the outside into the room. The desire to shield the light and yet to be able to look out as much as possible, may be a problem. It has for example been suggested in DE 199 60 032 to use a system for a roller blind, in which a screen is arranged between two rotatable rolls and is divided into sections having different transparencies. Another roller blind device is for example shown in DE 35 36 189. In that reference, there is shown a roller blind device having a screen that is divided into several functional fields, as for example sun screen fields, fields for fly-protection etc. DE 35 36,189 mentioned above also shows how an upper and a lower axle are rotatably journalled in bearings in a frame. A screen for a roller blind that is divided into different functional fields can be unwound from and wound onto the upper and lower axle, respectively. The device shown in the reference hence presumes a lower axle that is securely mounted in a lower position. In certain contexts, it is however desirable as far as possible to keep the lower part of a window free from additional equipment, partly for aesthetic reasons but also for practical reasons. It may, as an example, be mentioned that additional equipment in the lower part of a window makes it easier for dust to adhere and makes the cleaning personnel's work harder in public premises and office environments e. g. The present invention aims at providing a device comprising a screen that is divided into different functional fields and that can be wound onto/unwound from two different roller blind rods. One embodiment of the invention aims especially at providing a system for a roller blind that allows the shielding of light but still makes it possible to look out as much as possible. Furthermore, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a roller blind device that allows continuous adjustment of the amount of light that is let in, so that the amount of light/the shielding of the sunlight can be adapted for the

requirements. Yet another objective of the invention is to provide a roller blind device having several functional fields and two roller blind rods, wherein the need to mount additional equipment in the lower part of a window still is reduced.

ACCOUNT OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a roller blind device for windows/a window. The roller blind device according to the invention comprises a first and a second roller blind rod for unwinding and winding of a roller blind screen, a first screen having a first property being arranged with the first roller blind rod and a second screen having a second property being arranged with the second roller blind rod. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the roller blind device comprises a first screen or a first screen section/part that exhibits a certain light transparency and a second screen that has a light transparency that differs from the transparency of the first screen. Suitably, the first screen may have a relatively high light transparency while the second screen has a relatively low light transparency or is completely impervious to light. The first and the second screen are interconnected such that one of the screens can be wound onto its rod while the other is unwound from its rod. In the roller blind device according to the invention, the second roller blind rod is disposed, from an upper start position where the screen of the second roller blind rod is wound to a roll on the second roller blind rod, at the unwinding of screen from the first roller blind rod, to move down together with the thus unwound screen, essentially without feeding out any canvas (screen) from the roll of the second roller blind rod. Furthermore, the second roller blind rod is disposed, as the first screen has been completely unwound from the upper roller blind rod (i. e. the first roller blind rod) and the second roller blind rod has reached a lowermost position, to allow canvas to be unwound from the roll of the second roller blind rod at the same time as canvas (screen) is starting again to be wound onto the first roller blind rod.

Thereby, a surface that initially has been covered by the first screen will be increasingly covered by the second screen as this is fed out from the roll of the second roller blind rod. It is understood accordingly that the roller blind device according to the invention is provided with means for preventing the unwinding of screen from the second roller blind rod at the unwinding of screen from the first roller blind rod, while still allowing screen to be unwound from the second roller blind rod as it has reached a lowermost position.

According to certain advantageous embodiments of the invention, the roller blind device according to the invention is provided with means for preventing movement in a vertical

direction of the second roller blind rod when the first screen has been completely unwound from the first roller blind rod, so that the second screen is unwound from the second roller blind rod while this is essentially stationary in the vertical direction.

According to advantageous embodiments of the invention, the device for the roller blind may additionally be provided with appliances for hooking on to the second roller blind rod or to an end of the screen of the second roller blind rod, when the second roller blind rod has reached its lowermost position, so that screen thereafter may be unwound from the roll of the second roller blind rod. Accordingly, the roller blind device may for example be provided with appliances for engaging at least one socket arranged in connection with the second roller blind rod, as the second roller blind rod has reached its lowermost position, and thereby to lock the second roller blind rod for upwards movement so that an upward movement of the first screen thereby will start to unwind the second screen from the second roller blind rod.

Suitably, the first roller blind rod is then stationary, but pivotable/rotatable journalled in bearings at an upper end of a window in a wall, and has a certain diameter so that, when the first screen is completely unwound from the first roller blind rod by rotation of the first roller blind rod in one direction, a continued rotation of the first roller blind rod in the same rotational direction will bring the first screen to be wound once again on the first roller blind rod. Thereby, both the first and the second roller blind rod will be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the first screen, by a distance that corresponds to the diameter of the first roller blind rod. Then, the first screen and the second roller blind rod are moved from a first distance from the window to a second distance from the window. Furthermore, the roller blind device suitably comprises gripping appliances, such as hooks, that are arranged at the wall or some other stationary structure and are positioned such that when the first screen is at its first distance from the window, the second screen may pass the gripping appliance or appliances freely, and that when the first screen is at its second distance from the window, the gripping appliance or appliances will engage with sockets arranged on the second roller blind rod and thereby lock the second roller blind rod against upwards movement. By an upwards movement of the first screen, the second screen will thereby start to be unwound from the second roller blind rod.

The second distance is suitably chosen to be smaller than the first distance, embodiments however being conceivable in which the second distance is larger than the first distance.

Suitably, more than one socket is arranged in connection with the second roller blind rod and preferably there is arranged one socket in connection with each end of the second roller blind rod, for engaging a gripping appliance, such as a hook, arranged at each end of the window.

The first screen and the second screen may constitute one section/one part respectively, of a larger continuous screen and a stop may be arranged in connection with a transition section between the first screen and the second screen, in order to in cooperation with at least one blocking element for the screen arranged in connection with the second roller blind rod, prevent the first screen from being wound onto the second roller blind rod.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the second screen may be wider than the first screen and guides may then be arranged in connection with the rims of a window at which the roller blind device is mounted. Then, these guides are arranged at a distance from each other, which distance is greater than the width of the first screen, but when unwinding the second screen the guides will receive the edges of the second screen so that these may be guided in close connection to the rims of the window.

The roller blind device may additionally comprise a third screen that is arranged on the second roller blind rod. Then, the third screen is arranged to screen off the window in an area below the second roller blind rod when the second screen has been completely unwound from the second roller blind rod.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the second screen may be interconnected with the first screen by the roller blind rod of the second screen being journalled in bearings in a carrier that is connected with a lower edge of the first screen.

Then, the roller blind device is provided with appliances for engaging with or in connection with a lower edge of the second screen, when the first screen has been completely unwound and the second roller blind rod has reached its lowermost position, and to lock the second screen against upwards movement, at its lower edge, so that the winding of the first screen on the first roller blind rod brings the second roller blind rod to be moved upwards at the same time as the second screen is unwound from the second roller blind rod. Suitably, in this embodiment, the first roller blind rod is pivotable/rotatable journalled in bearings at an upper end of a window in a wall, and has a certain diameter so that, when the first screen is completely unwound from the first roller blind rod by rotation of the first roller blind rod in one direction, a continued

rotation of the first roller blind rod in the same rotational direction will bring the first screen to be wound once again on the first roller blind rod. Then, both the first screen and the second roller blind rod will be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the first screen, by a distance corresponding to the diameter of the first roller blind rod, so that the first screen is moved from a first distance from the window to a second distance from the window. Then, the roller blind device also comprises one or more gripping appliances, such as hooks, that are arranged at the wall or some other stationary structure and are positioned such that when the first screen is at its first distance from the window, the second roller blind rod and its screen may pass the gripping appliance or appliances freely, and that when the first screen is at its second distance from the window, the gripping appliance or appliances will engage with or in connection to the lower edge of the second screen, preventing it from moving upwards, so that an upwards movement of the first screen thereby will start to unwind the second screen from the second roller blind rod. A suitable way of achieving this may be to arrange a transversal bar or lath in connection with the lower edge of the second screen, the gripping appliances arranged with the wall or some other stationary structure being disposed to engage with the ends of the bar, so that the lower edge of the second screen thereby can be prevented from moving upwards. Suitably, the transversal bar of the second screen is then positioned at a certain distance from the lower edge of the second screen, so that a lowermost section of the second screen is thereby arranged to screen off the window in an area below the transversal bar of the second screen when the second screen is unwound from the second roller blind rod.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the outer ends of the second roller blind rod are provided with a roll of a string that, in an upper start position when both the first and the second screen are wound on their respective roller blind rods, is wound onto the end of the second roller blind rod, in a direction opposed to the rotational direction of the second screen. Thereby, the string prevents the second screen from being unwound when the roll of the second roller blind rod hangs in the first screen or moves downwards in connection with the unwinding of the first screen from the first roller blind rod. In this embodiment of the invention, each string that is wound about an outer end of the second roller blind rod is suitably also wound about an outer end of the first roller blind rod. The end of the string that is wound about an outer end of the first roller blind rod in an upper start position when both the first and the second screen are wound on their respective roller blind rods is (in the upper start position) wound onto the end of the first roller blind rod in a direction that is the same as the

winding direction for the first screen. Thereby, the string and the first screen may be unwound together from the first roller blind rod.

Preferably, the string that is wound about an outer end of the second roller blind rod is at least as long as the first and the second screen together.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows, as seen from the front and from the side, a first embodiment of the roller blind device according to the invention, in a start position before any screen has been unwound.

Figure 2 shows, as seen from the front and from the side, the same embodiment as in Figure 1, but here in a position when a first section of the first screen has been unwound from the first roller blind rod, but the second screen or screen section still not having begun to be unwound.

Figure 3 shows, as seen from the front and from the side, the same embodiment as in Figure 1 and 2, but in a position where sockets on the second roller blind rod are engaging hooks mounted on the wall and the second screen has started to unwind from the second roller blind rod and the first rod once again having begun to be wound onto the first roller blind rod.

Figure 4 shows, as seen from the side, a detail of the roller blind device that has been shown in Figures 1-3.

Figure 5 shows, as seen from the front, a second embodiment of the invention in an upper start position when only a part of the first screen has been unwound.

Figure 6 corresponds to Figure 5, but here the roller blind device is seen from the side.

Figure 7 shows a detail of Figure 6.

Figure 8 shows the same embodiment as in Figures 5 and 6, but at a later stage when the first screen has been completely unwound from the first roller blind rod.

Figure 9 shows the same thing as Figure 8, but seen from the side.

Figure 10 shows the same embodiment as in Figures 5-9, but here in an even later stage when the first screen again has started to be wound, onto the first roller blind rod.

Figure 11 shows the same thing as Figure 10, but seen from the side.

Figure 12 shows, as seen from the front, a variant of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 - 4 in an upper start position when only a minor part of the first screen has been unwound from the first roller blind rod.

Figure 13 shows the same thing as Figure 12, but seen from the side.

Figure 14 shows, in section, a detail of a roller blind rod.

Figure 15 shows the same embodiment as in Figures 12 and 13, but here at a later stage when yet another part of the first screen has been unwound from the first roller blind rod.

Figure 16 shows a side view corresponding to Figure 15.

Figure 17 shows, as seen from the front, the same embodiment as in Figure 12-13 and 15-16 but here in yet a later stage when the second roller blind rod has reached a lower end position and has been hooked onto gripping appliances, such as hooks, arranged at the wall.

Figure 18 shows a side view of the same position as is shown in Figure 17.

Figure 19 shows, as seen from the front, the same embodiment as in Figures 12-13 and 15-18 but here at a stage after the stage shown in Figure 17.

Figure 20 shows a side view of the same position as is shown in Figure 19.

Figure 21 shows, as seen from the front, a third embodiment of the inventive roller blind device in an upper start position when the first screen is about to be unwound from the first roller blind rod.

Figure 22 shows a side view of the same position as is shown in Figure 21. Here, it should be understood that Figure 22 shows a view as seen from the right side of the embodiment shown in Figure 21.

Figures 23a and 23b shows different sections of a view corresponding to Figure 22.

Figure 24 shows the same embodiment as in Figures 21-23, but at a later stage when a part of the first screen has been unwound from the first roller blind rod.

Figure 25a and 25b shows sections of the same position as in Figure 24, as seen from the right side of the position shown in Figure 24.

Figure 26 shows the same embodiment as in Figures 21-25, but at yet a later stage when the first screen has been completely unwound from the first roller blind rod.

Figure 27a and 25b shows sections of the same position as is shown in Figure 26, as seen from the right side of the position shown in Figure 26.

Figure 28 shows, as seen from the front, the same embodiment as in Figures 21-27, but here at an even later stage when the first screen again has started to be wound, onto the first blind roll.

Figure 29a and 29b shows sections of the position shown in Figure 28, as seen from the right side in Figure 28.

Figure 30 shows, as seen from the front, the same embodiment as in Figure 21-29, but here at a later stage when a great part of the second screen has been unwound from the second roller blind rod.

Figure 3 la and 3 lb shows sections of the position shown in Figure 30, as seen from the right side in Figure 30.

Figure 32 shows, as seen from the front, the same embodiment as in Figure 21-31, but at a stage when the first screen has been almost completely wound onto the first roller blind rod and the second screen has been almost completely unwound from the second roller blind rod.

Figures 33a and 33b show sections of the position shown in Figure 32.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to Figure 1-3 and Figure 12-20, a first embodiment of the inventive roller blind device is shown, mounted on a wall 1 in connection with a window. As is best seen in Figure 3, the roller blind device comprises, according to this embodiment, an interconnected screen 2 comprising two screens having different properties and being joined together with each other. In one embodiment of the invention, the interconnected screen has a first screen 3 that has a certain light transparency and a second screen 4 that has a light transparency that differs from the transparency of the first screen 3. In one embodiment of the invention, the first screen 3 has a relatively high light transparency while the second screen 4 has a relatively low light transparency, i. e. the second screen 4 has a light transparency that is low compared to the light transparency of the first screen 3. Thereby, the advantage is attained that light reflexes in computers/viewing screens can be eliminated, which reflexes originate in light passing trough the lower part of a window. If desired, it is naturally possible to do it the other way around and to let the first screen 3 have a relatively low light transparency. The first screen 3 is arranged to be wound onto or unwound from a first roller blind rod 5, which first roller blind rod 5 is stationary journalled in bearings in an upper position. In the figures, it is shown how the roller blind rod 5 is journalled in consoles 10 that in turn are fixed to the wall 1.

The first screen may accordingly be unwound from the first roller blind rod 5 and thus move downwards. The second screen 4 is arranged to be wound onto or to be unwound from a second roller blind rod 6, which second roller blind rod 6 is rotatably journalled.

Referring to Figure 4, it may be mentioned that the second roller blind rod 6 suitably can be journalled in a carrier that may comprise two consoles 11 that are being held together by two bars or axles 13,14 or some corresponding appliance. The second roller blind rod 6 is arranged to be moveable in relation to the first roller blind rod 5 so that, when the first screen 3 is unwound from the first roller blind rod 5 by rotation of the first roller blind rod 5 in a first direction of rotation, the second roller blind rod 6 moves downwards together with the first screen 3 that has been unwound from the first roller blind rod 5 and the second screen 4 that is wound onto the second roller blind rod 6.

The roller blind device also comprises gripping appliances, such as hooks 8, that are attached to the wall 1 or some other stationary structure, which hooks can be brought to engage with sockets 7 arranged in connection to the second roller blind rod 6, in order thereby to lock the second roller blind rod 6 against upwards movement, so that an upwards movement of the first screen or screen section 3 thereby will begin to unwind

the second screen 4 from the second roller blind rod 6. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1-Figure 3, the gripping appliances 8 are arranged to engage with sockets or coupling means 7 arranged in connection to the second roller blind rod's 6 ends. These sockets 7 can be pins or studs that are arranged on consoles 11 in which the ends of the roller blind rod are journalled. The sockets may also be axis journals on the roller blind rod 6 itself, or extending ends of the bars/axels 13,14 that connect the consoles 11 positioned at the ends of the roller blind rod 6. Then, the gripping appliances 8 may lock the second roller blind rod 6 against upwards movement, by cooperation with the sockets/coupling means 7,13, 14. The second roller blind rod is, as mentioned above, suitably freely suspended in a console 11 of its own. The roller blind screen may be unwound and wound, respectively, by aid of a string or a chain 9 for example, in a manner known per se. Of course, the roller blind rod may also be unwound and wound, respectively, by other means, motor drive for example being conceivable to use.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1-3, the inventive roller blind device operates in the following way. The first roller blind rod 5 has a certain diameter. In Fig. 1, the screen and the second roller blind rod 6 are in an initial position at a first distance from the wall. In this initial position, the first screen 3 may be unwound from the first roller blind rod 5 on the side of the roller blind rod 5 that faces away from the wall 1. When the first screen 3 is being unwound from the first roller blind rod 5 by rotation of the first roller blind rod 5 in a first direction of rotation, the second roller blind rod 6 will move downwards together with the unwound screen 3 until the entire first screen 3 has been unwound from the first roller blind rod 6. This position is shown in Figure 2. The distance from the screen 3 to the wall is now smaller. A continued rotation of the first roller blind rod 5 in the first direction of rotation will then bring the first screen 3 to be wound once again on the first roller blind rod 5, the screen at the same time being displaced in its entirety in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the screen 3 by a distance that corresponds to the diameter of the first roller blind rod 5 so that the screen 3 is moved from a first distance to a second distance from the wall 1, as is shown in Figure 3. As is shown in the left part of Figure 2, the screen 3 hangs straight down from the lower side of the roller blind rod 5. From the left part of Figure 3 it is clear how the rotation has continued and how the first screen 3 has started to be wound onto the side of the roller blind rod 5 that faces the wall. Then, the second distance will be smaller than the first distance. It is realised that if the screen 3 had been unwound from the first roller blind rod 5 on the side of the roller blind rod 5 that faces the wall, the second distance would instead have been greater than the first distance.

As is further clear from the enclosed figures 1-3, the system for a roller blind also comprises gripping appliances such as hooks 8 that are attached to the wall 1 or to some other stationary structure and are positioned such that the second roller blind rod 6 may pass the hooks freely when the screen is at its first distance from the wall, and when the screen is at its second distance from the wall, the hooks will engage with the sockets or coupling means 7 of the second roller blind rod 6 as the second roller blind rod 6 strives to move upwards, so that the second roller blind rod 6 is prevented from moving upwards and instead the screen or screen part 4 wound on the second roller blind rod 6 is unwound from the second roller blind rod 6 as is shown in Figure 3.

The second distance is preferably smaller than the first distance, embodiments however being conceivable in which the second distance is larger than the first distance.

It is realised that a continued rotation of the first roller blind rod 5 in the first direction of rotation now will bring the first screen 3 successively to be wound onto the first roller blind rod 5 at the same time as the second screen 4 will be increasingly unwound to cover an increasing part of the window. If the direction of rotation is now opposed, and the first roller blind rod is rotated in a second direction of rotation, the first screen 3 (or the first screen part 3) will again be unwound from the first roller blind rod, until the position shown in Figure 2 is reached again. A continued rotation in the second direction of rotation will then bring the first screen 3 to start winding on the side of the roller blind rod 5 that faces away from the wall, so that the screen is moved back to the first distance from the wall. The sockets 7 for the second roller blind rod 6 will then be free of the gripping appliances/hooks 8.

As is best shown in Figure 4, stops 15 extending from the screen 2 are arranged between the first screen 3 and the second screen 4. The stop or stops 15 arranged between the screens/screen parts 3,4, is/are intended to prevent the first screen 3 from starting to wind on the second roller blind rod 6. If the first screen 3 approaches the second roller blind rod 6, the stop/stops 15 will meet blocking elements 13,14 for the screen. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4 use is made of two blocking elements/riveting knobs 13, 14. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the blocking elements are composed of rolls or axles 13,14 that are arranged on the consol 11 of the second roller blind rod 6. The axles 13,14 also have the additional function of connecting the consoles 11 at the ends of the roller blind rod to each other.

As is clear from Fig. 14, the roller blind rod 6 is suitably provided with an inner spring 40 for the loading of a force on the screen, so that the spring load constantly will strive to wind the second screen 4. When the second screen 4 is starting to unwind from the second roller blind rod 6, the inner spring 40 of the second roller blind rod 6 will be tensioned. The inner spring is either directly or indirectly biased in the console 11 of the second roller blind rod 6. When the spring 40 is tensioned, this tends to rotate the console 11 of the second roller blind rod 6. If the console 11 starts to rotate, this will however be prevented by one of the axles 13,14 abutting the screen 2. The axles 13,14 may also constitute sockets or coupling means for the gripping appliances/hooks 8, so that the hooks 8 will engage the axles 13,14 instead of engaging especially arranged sockets or pins/studs 7 on the second roller blind rod 6. Then, the axles 13,14 should extend beyond axial ends of the roller blind rod 6. The spring of the second roller blind rod may be arranged for example such as is shown in DE OS 35 36 189 and is shown in Fig. 1 in said reference and explained in column 3, lines 32-38.

A method for mounting of the inventive roller blind device according to Figures 1-3 may then comprise the following steps: 1) Providing an interconnected screen with a first screen part/screen 3 that has a certain light transparency and a second screen part/screen 4 that has a light transparency that differs from the transparency of the first screen part 3, which first screen 3 is wound, in one of its ends, on a first roller blind rod 5 on which the first screen part 3 can be wound and unwound, respectively, the second screen part 4 in one of its ends being connected with the first screen or screen part 3 and in its other end being wound on a second roller blind rod 6 on which second roller blind rod 6 the second screen or screen part 4 can be wound and unwound, respectively, and which second roller blind rod 6 is rotatable journalled in a carrier, for example a carrier that comprises consoles 11 that are interconnected by bars 13,14, and provided with sockets or coupling means 7 arranged in connection with the ends of the second roller blind rod 6, 2) providing at least two gripping appliances/hooks, 3) mounting the first roller blind rod 5 in connection with an upper end of a window, the first roller blind rod 5 being stationary journalled so that the first screen part 3 can be unwound from the first roller blind rod 5,

4) attaching the gripping appliances/hooks 8 to a wall 1 or some other fixed structure, placing the gripping appliances 8 at a distance from each other and at the same height, at a level below the first roller blind rod 5, the distance between the hooks 8 corresponding to a distance between the sockets or coupling means 7 of the second roller blind rod 6, so that the sockets 7 of the second roller blind rod 6 can be brought to engage with the hooks 8 when an adequate amount of the first screen part 3 has been unwound from the first roller blind rod 5 so that the second roller blind rod 6 has reached down to the same level as the gripping appliances/hooks 8.

At the mounting of the roller blind, the hooks 8 are preferably mounted at a distance from the first roller blind rod 5 that corresponds to the length of the first screen or screen part 3. The hooks are positioned at such a distance from the wall 1 that the outer sockets or coupling means 7 of the second roller blind rod 6 may pass the hooks 8 freely when the first screen/screen part 3 not yet has been entirely unwound from the first roller blind rod 5 at rotation of the first roller blind rod 5 in a first direction of rotation and the screen is at a first distance from the wall 1, but when the first screen is starting to wind on the first roller blind rod 5 at a continued rotation of the first roller blind rod 5 in the first direction of rotation and the screen thereby is displaced to a second distance from the wall 1, the hooks 8 will engage the sockets or coupling means 7 of the second roller blind rod 6. Preferably, the roller blind device is mounted such that the first distance is chosen to be greater than the second distance.

It is now referred to Figures 12-20. In principle the same embodiment is shown in these figures as in Figures 1-4, but with certain additions. In the embodiment shown in Figure 13-20, the second screen 4 is wider than the first screen 3 and guides 22,23 are arranged in connection with the rims of a window in which the roller blind device is mounted. The guides 22,23 are arranged at a distance from each other, which distance is greater than the width of the first screen 3, but when unwinding the second screen 4 the guides 22,23 will receive the edges of the second screen 4 so that these may be guided in close connection to the rims of the window. The guides 22,23 may suitably consist of rails 22,23 having channels in which the edges of the second screen 4 may run when the second screen 4 is unwound. The guides 22,23 forces the second screen 4 to run close to the edge of the window so that no slot will occur between the edge of the window and the second screen 4. Thereby, the advantage is attained that the roller blind device is able more efficiently to shield of the light when a black-out is desired. It should be understood that what is primarily intended here is an embodiment in which

the second screen 4 has a low transparency to light, the second screen 4 possibly even being entirely or almost entirely impervious to light.

It should be understood that the Figures 12-20 show a sequence that starts with a start position that is shown in Figures 12 and 13. Then, the second roller blind rod 6 is in an upper start position. In Figure 15 and 16, there is shown a position in which a part of the first screen 3 has been unwound from the first roller blind rod 5. In Figures 17 and 18, there is shown a position in which the first screen 3 has been completely unwound from the first roller blind rod 5 and, at a continued rotation of the first roller blind rod, again has started to wind on the first roller blind rod 5. The first screen 3 has thereby been moved in a direction towards the window (or towards the wall in which the window is placed). Then, gripping appliances 8 such as hooks 8 can engage with sockets 7 that are arranged on or in connection with the second roller blind rod 6. Then, the second roller blind rod 6 is prevented from moving upwards and the second screen 4 will be fed out as the first screen 3 is wound. Finally, in Figures 19 and 20, there is shown a position in which the second screen 4 has been unwound.

It is now especially referred to Figure 19 and to Figure 20. For achieving a more efficient black-out, the inventive roller blind device may also be provided with a third screen 24 which is arranged on the second roller blind rod 6. The third screen 24 is arranged to screen off the window in an area below the second roller blind rod 6 when the second screen 4 has been completely unwound from the second roller blind rod 6.

The third screen 24 is relatively short and its length may be less than a tenth of the length of the second screen 4. In the start position, the third screen is wound on the second roller blind rod 6 and is then inside the roll of the second screen 4 and is covered by the same. When the second screen 4 has been completely unwound from the second roller blind rod, the third screen 24 falls down and shields an area beneath the second roller blind rod 6 and may then accomplish a more efficient black-out. It is realised that such a construction primarily is a relevant in applications in which the second screen 4 has. a low transparency or no transparency to light.

It is now referred to Figures 5-11. In these figures, a second main embodiment of the invention is shown. As has been explained previously in connection with Figures 1-3, the roller blind device may be provided with gripping appliances/hooks 8 in order to by hooking-on allow the unwinding of the second screen when the second roller blind rod 6 has reached its lowermost position. In the embodiment shown in Figures 5-11, the gripping appliances 8 are arranged to hook-on in connection with an end of the screen 4

of the second roller blind rod 6, so that screen may thereafter be unwound from the roll of the second roller blind rod 6. In this second main embodiment, the first screen 3 and the second screen 4 need not anymore be directly connected to each other in an interconnected screen. Instead, the second screen 4 is connected with the first screen 3 by the roller blind rod 6 of the second screen 4 being journalled in a carrier 19 that is coupled with a lowermost edge of the first screen 3. The roller blind device is provided with appliances 8, hooks 8 for example, in order to engage with or in connection with a lowermost edge of the second screen 4, when the first screen 3 has been completely unwound and the second roller blind rod 6 has reached its lowermost position, and to lock the second screen 4 at its lowermost edge, against upwards movement. The winding of the first screen 3 onto the first roller blind rod 5 then results in that the second roller blind rod 6 moves upwards at the same time as the second screen 4 is unwound from the second roller blind rod 6.

The first roller blind rod 5 is pivotable/rotatable journalled at an upper end of a window in a wall, and has a certain diameter so that, when the first screen 3 is completely unwound from the first roller blind rod 5 by rotation of the first roller blind rod in one direction, a continued rotation of the first roller blind rod 5 in the same rotational direction will bring the first screen 3 to be wound once again on the first roller blind rod 5. Thereby, both the first screen 3 and the second roller blind rod 6 will be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the first screen 3, by a distance corresponding to the diameter of the first roller blind rod 5, so that the first screen 3 is moved from a first distance from the window to a second distance from the window. Furthermore, the roller blind device comprises gripping appliances 8, such as hooks 8, that are arranged at the wall or some other stationary structure and are positioned such that when the first screen 3 is at its first distance from the window, the second roller blind rod 6 and its screen may pass the gripping appliance 8 or appliances 8 freely, and that when the first screen 3 is at its second distance from the window, the gripping appliance 8 or appliances 8 will engage with the second screen 4 in connection with its lowermost edge and prevent it from moving upwards. By an upwards movement of the first screen 3, the second screen 4 will thereby start to be unwound from the second roller blind rod 6.

Preferably, a transversal bar 16 or lath 16 is arranged in this embodiment, in connection with the lowermost edge of the second screen 4 and the gripping appliances 8 arranged on the wall or some other stationary structure are disposed to engage with the ends of the bar 16 so that the second screen 4 is thereby prevented from moving upwards.

In the same way as it is possible in the first embodiment to use a third screen 24 to achieve a more efficient black-out, a similar arrangement can be used in the second embodiment too. Then, the transversal bar 16 of the second screen 4 may be positioned at a certain distance from the lowermost edge of the second screen 4. A lowermost part 24 of the second screen 4 may be arranged thereby to shield off the window in an area beneath the transversal bar of the second screen 4, when the second screen 4 is unwound from the second roller blind rod 6.

The embodiment shown in Figures 5-11 operates in the following way. In a start position that is shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6, the second roller blind rod 6 is journalled in bearings in a carrier 19 that hangs in a lowermost edge of the first screen 3.

The carrier 19 may for example be an aluminium profile. As is best seen in Figure 7, the lowermost edge of the first screen 3 may be provided with a bar 21 that is in engagement with a channel 21 in the carrier 19. Thereby, the carrier 19 and the second roller blind rod 6 hang in the first screen 3. As is clear from Figure 6, gripping appliances 8, hooks 8 for example, are arranged in the wall in which the window to be shielded is positioned. As is further clear from Figure 6, the first screen 3 is unwound from the outside of the roll of the first roller blind rod 5 (the side that is positioned at the greatest distance from the wall). The second roller blind rod 6, as well as the second screen 4 and the bar 16, may then pass the gripping appliances or the hooks 8 freely, as the first screen 3 and the second roller blind rod 6 are fed downwards. In Figure 8 and Figure 9 there is then shown a position in which the first screen 3 has been completely unwound from the first roller blind rod. The first roller blind rod 5 has then been turned/rotated in a first direction of rotation. As is clear from Figure 9, the first screen 3 hangs straight down from the first roller blind rod and the first screen 3 has moved towards the wall with a distance that is half the diameter of the first roller blind rod 5. A continued turning/rotation of the first roller blind rod 5 in the first direction of rotation will now bring the first screen 3 to once again start to be wound onto the first roller blind rod 5, this time however on the inside of the first roller blind rod 5 (the side that is closest to the wall). Then, the second roller blind rod 6 will be lifted up. The gripping appliances 8 arranged in the wall will then meet the ends of the bar 16 and by engagement with the bar 16 fix the lowermost end of the second screen 4. The second screen 4 will then unwind from the second roller blind rod at the same time as the second roller blind rod 5 moves upwards. Finally, in Figures 10 and 11, there is shown a position in which a great part of the second screen 4 already has been unwound. As is clear from Figure 11, the first screen 4 has now moved towards the wall a distance corresponding to the diameter of the first roller blind rod 5. It is realised that the

diameter of the roll increases somewhat as the first screen 3 is wound, why the screen tends to move in direction towards the wall. Now, if the direction of rotation is reversed on the first roller blind rod, the course of events will naturally be reversed.

In all the embodiments shown in Figures 1-4, Figures 5-11 and Figures 12-20, the second roller blind rod 6 is suitably provided with some appliance that strives to wind the second screen 4 to a roll on the second roller blind rod. Such an appliance may be composed of an inner spring 40 such as shown in Figure 14.

Referring to the embodiment shown in Figures 5-11, a method of mounting of the inventive roller blind device will also be described in more general terms. Generally, a roller blind device according to Figures 1-3 or Figures 5-11, may be mounted by a method that comprises the following steps: a) Providing a roller blind device with a first screen part/screen 3 that has a certain light transparency and a second screen part/screen 4 that has a light transparency that differs from the transparency of the first screen part 3, which first screen 3 is wound, in one of its ends, on a first roller blind rod 5 on which the first screen part 3 can be wound and unwound, respectively, the second screen part 4 in one end being wound on a second roller blind rod 6 on which second roller blind rod 6 the second screen or screen part 4 can be wound and unwound, respectively, and which second roller blind rod 6 is rotatable journalled and preferably rotatable journalled in a carrier 19, for example a carrier that comprises consoles 11 that are interconnected by bars 13,14, and whereby one or more sockets or coupling elements 7,13, 14,16 are arranged in connection with the second screen or the second roller blind rod 6, b) providing at least two gripping appliances/hooks, c) mounting the first roller blind rod 5 in connection with an upper end of a window, the first roller blind rod 5 being stationary journalled so that the first screen or screen part 3 can be unwound from the first roller blind rod 5, d) attaching the gripping appliances/hooks 8 in a wall 1 or some other stationary structure, the gripping appliances 8 being placed at a distance from each other and at the same height as each other, at a level below the first roller blind rod 5, so that the sockets or coupling means 7,13, 14,16 that are arranged in

connection with the second roller blind rod 6 or the lowermost edge of the second screen 4 may be brought to engage with the gripping appliances/hooks 8 when enough of the first screen part 3 has been unwound from the first roller blind rod 5 for the second roller blind rod 6 to reach a level for the gripping appliances/hooks 8.

At the mounting of the roller blind, the gripping appliances/hooks 8 are preferably mounted at a distance from the first roller blind rod 5 that corresponds to the length of the first screen or screen part 3. The hooks/gripping appliances 8 are positioned at such a distance from the wall 1 that the second roller blind rod 6 or the second screen 4 may pass the hooks 8 freely when the first screen/screen part 3 has not yet been entirely unwound from the first roller blind rod 5 at rotation of the first roller blind rod 5 in a first direction of rotation and the screen is at a first distance from the wall 1, but when the first screen 3 is starting to wind on the first roller blind rod 5 at a continued rotation of the first roller blind rod 5 in the first direction of rotation and the screen thereby is displaced to a second distance from the wall 1, the hooks 8 will engage the sockets 7 of the second roller blind rod 6 or a socket arranged in connection with the lowermost edge of the second screen 4. Preferably, the roller blind device is mounted such that the first distance is chosen to be greater than the second distance.

Referring now to Figures 22-33, a third main embodiment will be explained. In the embodiment shown in Figures 22-33, the outer ends 25,26 of the second roller blind rod 6 are provided with a roll of string 27,28. In an upper start position, in which both the first 3 and the second 4 screen are wound onto their respective roller blind rods 5,6, the string is wound onto the end 25,26 of the second roller blind rod 6 in a direction opposed to the direction of rotation for the second screen 4. Thereby, the string 27,28 prevents the second screen 4 from being unwound when the roll of the second roller blind rod 6 hangs in the first screen 3 or moves downwards in connection with the unwinding of the first screen 3 from the first roller blind rod 5.

Preferably, each of the strings 27,28 that are wound about an outer end 25,26 of the second roller blind rod 6 is also wound about an outer end 31,32 of the first roller blind rod 5 and the end of the string 27,28 that is wound about and outer end 31,32 of the first roller blind rod 5 in an upper start position in which both the first 3 and the second screen 4 are wound onto their respective roller blind rods 5,6 is wound onto the end of the first roller blind rod 5 in a direction that is the same as the direction of rotation for

the first screen 3. Then, the string 27,28 and the first screen 3 may be unwound together from the first roller blind rod 5.

Suitably, the string 27,28 that is wound about an outer end of the second roller blind rod 6 is at least as long as the first 3 and the second screen 4 together.

The embodiment shown in Figures 21-33 operates in the following way. In the position shown in Figures 21,22 and 23 a and 23b, the second roller blind rod 6 is in an upper start position and is situated somewhat below the first roller blind rod 5. It should be understood that the first roller blind rod 5 suitably then is fixedly mounted in connection with an upper end of a window. The second roller blind rod 6, on which the second screen 4 is wound, hangs in the first screen 3. Then, the first screen 3 and the second screen 4 are directly joined together, to form a continuous screen just as in the case of the embodiment shown in Figures 1-3 and 12-13 and 15-20. As is clear from Figure 21, the second roller blind rod 6 however hangs in strings 27,28 that are wound onto the outer ends 25,26 of the second roller blind rod 6 and onto the outer ends 31,32 of the first roller blind rod 5. For an accurate positioning of the strings 27, 28 on the outer ends of the roller blind rods 5,6, the strings 27,28 may be wound in channels provided through guides 33,34, 35,36 on the ends of the roller blind rods. As is clear from Figure 22 and Figure 23a and 23b, the strings 27,28 exit the first roller blind rod 5 on the same side of the first roller blind rod as the first screen 3. It should be understood that Figure 23a shows a cross-section at the end of the roller blind rods 5,6, while Figure 23b shows a cross-section at the middle of the roller blind rods. Accordingly, the strings at the ends of the roller blind rods 5,6 can be seen in Figure 23a, while Figure 23b shows how the roller blind screen 3,4 is wound onto the roller blind rods. If the first roller blind rod 5 is rotated to feed off the first screen 4, i. e. counter-clockwise in Figures 22 and 23, both the first screen 3 and the strings 27,28 will be unwound from the first roller blind rod 5 and its ends 25,26. This is the case because the strings 27,28 and the first screen 3 are wound with the same direction of rotation or winding direction. On the second roller blind rod 6, the strings 27,28 are however wound with a winding direction that is opposed to the winding direction of the second screen 4 that is wound onto the second roller blind rod. Therefore, the second roller blind rod 6 can not rotate in the upper start position, but hangs without rotating in the first screen 3 and the strings 27,28. Therefore, is it not possible to feed out the second screen 4 in this position. Therefore, when screen is fed out from the first roller blind rod 5, there will initially be substantially no feeding out of the second screen 4. In Figure 24 there is shown a position in which a great part of the first screen 3 has been unwound from the

first roller blind rod 5. The second roller blind rod 6 is now in a lowermost position but no substantial feeding out of the second screen 4 has begun yet. A great part of the strings 27,28 are still wound on the outer ends of the first roller blind rod 5. At the same time, a part of the first screen 3 is still wound on the first roller blind rod 5 in the same winding direction as the strings 27,28, which is clear from Figure 25a and 25b. In Figure 26 and 27a, 27b there is then shown a position in which the first screen 3 has been completely unwound from the first roller blind rod. This is most clear in Figure 27b, in which it can be seen that the first screen 3 no longer exits from the side of the first roller blind rod 5 but hangs in the lowermost edge of the first roller blind rod 5. In this position, the first screen 3 has no defined winding direction on the first roller blind rod 5. Up to this position, no considerable feeding-out of screen has been done from the roll of the second roller blind rod 6. If the first roller blind rod 5 is continued to be rotated from this position, in the same direction of rotation as during the feeding-out of the first screen 3, the first screen 3 will imperatively start to wind again on the first roller blind rod 5, however now with the opposite winding direction. However, only a part of the length of the string 27,28 has been fed out, normally half of its length.

Therefore, the strings 27,28 will still have the same winding direction on the ends of the first roller blind rod 5. This position is shown in Figure 28 and in Figure 29a, 29b.

Thereby, the strings 27,28 and the first screen 3 will have opposite winding directions on the first roller blind rod 5. The strings 27,28 will continue to be fed out while the first screen 3 is being wound onto the first roller blind rod 5. In this position, the second roller blind rod 6 will rotate with a direction of rotation that is indicated in Figure 29a and the second screen 4 will start to be fed out from the second roller blind rod 6. In Figure 30 and 3 la, 3lb, there is then shown a position in which a part of the second screen 4 has been fed out and a part of the first screen 3 has been wound onto the first roller blind rod 5. In Figure 3 lb, the reference numeral 15 is used to indicate the transition between the first screen 3 and the second screen 4. In Figures 32 and 33a, 33b there is finally shown a position in which the first screen 3 is almost completely raised and the second screen 4 is almost completely fed out. It is realised that the course of events can be opposed if the direction of rotation is opposed. It should also be realised that a certain limited feeding-out of screen from the second roller blind rod 6 may take place also in connection with the lowering of the second roller blind rod 6. This depends on differences in the diameter between the roll of the string 27,28 and the roll of the first screen 3. Furthermore, the diameter of these rolls does not change in exactly the same way during the course of feeding-out. For the same reasons, the second roller blind rod 6 need not be entirely immovable in a vertical direction when it has reached its lowermost position. These phenomena that depend on differences in diameters between

the string rolls and the screen roll will however only have marginal effects. It is suitable to let the strings 27,28 have the same thickness as the first screen 3.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 21-33, the second roller blind rod 6 does not need an inner spring as the one shown in Figure 12, since the rotation of the roller blind rod 6 is controlled by the strings 27,28 and the screen 3,4. It may however be recommendable to ensure that the second roller blind rod 6 has a certain weight, in order for the screen to be properly tensioned.

In all embodiments of the invention, the first screen 3 may be a polyester canvas having a PVC coating. Such a screen may act as a sun screen having a certain transparency for light. The second screen 4 may for example be a screen that is sold under the name ILS Hortiroll and is provided by the company AB Ludvig Svensson at the address 115 82 Kinna, Sweden.

It is realised that the mounting of a roller blind device according to any one of the shown embodiments generally may be described as a method comprising the following steps: a) Providing a first 5 and a second roller blind rod 6 for the winding and unwinding of roller blind screen 3,4, a first screen 3 that has a first property being assigned to the first roller blind rod 5 and a second screen 4 that has a second property being assigned to the second roller blind rod 6, and the first 3 and the second 4 screen being interconnected so that one of the screens 3,4 can be wound on its rod 5,6 while the other screen 3,4 is unwound from its rod, and b) arranging the second roller blind rod 6 in such a way that it may move from an upper start position in which the screen 4 of the second roller blind rod 6 is wound to a roll on the second roller blind rod 6, downwards together with the thus unwound screen 3 essentially without any feeding-out of screen from the roll of the second roller blind rod 6, at the unwinding of screen from the first roller blind rod 5, but when the screen from the first roller blind rod 5 has been completely unwound and the second roller blind rod 6 has reached a lowermost position, to allow screen to be unwound from the roll of the second roller blind rod 6 at the same time as a screen once again starts to be wound onto the first roller blind rod 5, so that a surface that initially was covered by the first screen 3 instead will be increasingly

covered by the second screen 4 as this is fed out from the roll of the second roller blind rod 6.

The methods that have been described above with reference to Figures 1-3 and 5-11 should then be seen as special cases of the more general method. A third special case of the inventive method is then to provide the ends of the roller blind rods with strings that are wound in the manner described above with reference to Figures 21-33.

The second and third embodiment, that is the embodiments according to Figures 5-11 and Figures 21-33, are primarily intended for windows of relatively large height. The first embodiment, i. e. the main embodiment that is shown in Figures 1-4 and 12-20, is primarily intended for windows of relatively low height. The reason for this is that the first embodiment puts higher demands on the strength of the inner spring of the second roller blind rod, in order to hold the weight of the second screen. In a window having a <BR> <BR> height of 2 metres e. g. , the first embodiment may be a preferred embodiment. In<BR> windows with a height of 5 metres e. g. , the second or third embodiment may be more suitable.

The inventive roller blind device may also take the form of a prefabricated roller blind assembly that, for each of the embodiments shown, is delivered, together with the included parts described here in connection with the respective embodiment, so that the roller blind device may be mounted on a wall in connection with a window. Such a prefabricated roller blind assembly may then be delivered together with mounting instructions.

By use of two different screens or screen parts 3,4 having different transparency, the advantage is attained that the amount of light that is let in a room may be varied. By the lowermost screen 4 being arranged to be moveable on a roller blind rod 6, the advantage is attained that the screen may be entirely hoist up, so that no part of the window is shielded by the screen 2. By use of gripping appliances such as hooks 8 that are intended to engage with sockets or coupling means 7,16 arranged in connection with the second roller blind rod or the lowermost edge of the second screen 4, the advantage is attained for example that extensive frame constructions may be avoided. By use of the blocking elements/axles 13,14, the advantage is attained for example that turning of the console 11 of the second roller blind rod due to the spring force, can be avoided. By using stops 15 that are built-in in the screen, the advantage is attained that the first screen 3 can be prevented from winding on the second roller blind rod 6.