DESCRIPTION TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a blind for a window, particularly but not exclusively a window in a non-vertical plane and for example a skylight or a glazed panel of a conservatory roof.

BACKGROUND ART A known venetian blind (10) for a glazed panel of a conservatory roof is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The known blind (10) comprises a plurality of adjustable slats (12) (which may be horizontally or vertically aligned), the inclination of which determines the amount of light transmitted through the blind. The adjustable slats (12) are mounted in slat clips (14) each of which is pivotally coupled to-essentially adjacent the longitudinal axis (15) of the respective slat-a separate arm (16) depending from an associated support beam (18). The support beam (18) is suspended from the conservatory roof using brackets (20) which are secured to glazing bars. Each slat clip (14) has

a rigid linkage (22) which is pivotally coupled to an operating strip (24). The position of the operating strip (24) is determined by a crank (26) which is coupled thereto through linkage (28). A gearbox or motor (not shown) would be provided for driving the drive shaft (32) which in turn moves the crank (26).

In use, a gearbox for example-which may be powered manually or electrically-rotates the drive shaft (32) and crank (26). Rotation of the crank (26) causes the reciprocal motion of the operating strip (24) with the direction of motion depending upon the sense of rotation (clockwise or anti-clockwise) of the drive shaft (32). With the operating strip (24) in its extended position (see left hand side of Figure 2), the slat clips (14) are substantially horizontal and would thus hold the slats in the"closed"position, i. e. blind closed. Clockwise rotation of the drive shaft (32) causes retraction of the operating strip (24), with the movement of the latter bringing pivotal motion of each slat clip (14) about its pivotal coupling to its respective arm (16). In this way, the slat clips (14) may be aligned substantially vertically (see right hand side of Figure 2) and would thus hold the slats in the"open"position i. e. blind open.

The present applicant has appreciated that there are certain disadvantages to the known blind. Firstly, the known blind occupies a significant amount of space, greatly reducing the headroom available after installation. This is because of overall depth of the blind, necessitated in part

by the operating mechanism. Another disadvantage relates to the number of components which are highly visible when the blind is open. Such a consideration may be highly relevant to cost if the components have to colour match to surrounding fixtures and fittings.

The present applicant has taken these disadvantages into consideration and provided a novel blind which obviates or at least alleviates them.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a blind for a window, comprising a pair of support members and at least one slat pivotally coupled to the support members, the at least one slat having a linkage coupled to a reciprocating member for pivoting the at least one slat to determine its orientation relative to the support members, characterised in that the at least one slat pivot axis is located laterally of the at least one slat.

In the present case,"located laterally"means that the pivot axis is spaced closer to one lateral side of each slat than the other. Thus, the pivot axis will be radially offset from a notional centre line or longitudinal axis extending the length of the slat. Generally, the pivot axis will be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the at least one slat. Therefore, the at least one slat is cantilevered in the sense that one lateral edge projects further away from the pivot axis than the other. This is in contrast to the known blind illustrated in Figures 1 and 2,

where the respective pivot axes are substantially adjacent the longitudinal axes of the slats. The pivot axis may be located beyond one lateral side of the at least one slat.

The at least one slat may be pivotally coupled to the support members via the linkage.

The support member may comprise a casing for housing the reciprocating member. The casing may thus help to conceal the reciprocating member from view which may be advantageous. The casing may be formed in two parts, and the two parts may in use be hinged together. A two-part casing may assist in housing the reciprocating member therein, and the hinged arrangement facilitates fixing the two parts together with a fastener spaced from the hinge axis.

The pivot axis of the at least one slat may extend through the casing. In this way, the linkage may be contained within the casing. In the case of a two-part casing, the pivot forming the pivotal coupling between the at least one slat and the support member may also fasten the two parts together.

The linkage may include means for engaging the at least one slat. The linkage may be metal and may comprise a length of metal wire, part of which may be coiled around the at least one slat pivot axis. The metal wire may be shaped with the two ends forming opposed hooks between which the at least one slat is retained. Alternatively, the linkage may comprise a slat clip integrally formed (e. g. cut from a single piece) therewith.

Each of the support members may have a reciprocating member associated therewith. The blind may further comprise a shaft extending between, and mounted in bearings in, the pair of support members, the shaft being arranged such that rotation causes reciprocating motion of the reciprocating members associated with the support members. In this way, rotation of the shaft can be used to drive both reciprocating members simultaneously, ensuring the slats do not twist as they move between the open and closed positions. The shaft may comprise more than one section, with adjacent sections being interlockable. For example, the shaft may comprise end portions separated by a middle portion disposed therebetween. The end portions may have an angular periphery, and for example may have a hexagonal cross-section. In contract, the middle portion may have a smooth periphery, and for example may have a circular cross-section. A shaft comprising sections may assist with installation of the blind.

The blind may comprise more than one pair of support members, particularly if the window is relatively large (there is a need to support the slats at regular intervals to prevent sagging) or if the window has a complex, non- rectangular geometry.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a blind for a window comprising at least one support, a linkage pivotally coupled to the at least one support, a slat mounted to a first part of the linkage, and a reciprocating member

pivotally coupled to a second part of the linkage spaced from the first part, the reciprocating member determining the slat's orientation relative to the at least one support, wherein the linkage is configured to pivot with respect to the at least one support around an axis located laterally of the slat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying Figures in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a part-assembled blind known from the prior art; Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of the blind of Figure 1, showing slats in open (right hand side only) and closed (left hand side only) orientations; Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a blind embodying the present invention in the closed position; Figure 4 shows a schematic side view of the blind of Figure 3; Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a blind embodying the present invention in the open position; Figure 6 shows a schematic side view of the blind of Figure 5; and Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing detail of one of the support members of the blind of Figures 3 to 6.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A blind (50) embodying the present invention is illustrated in Figures 3 to 6, and comprises a plurality of

blind slats (52) which are each pivotally coupled via a linkage (56) to a pair of support members (54,55) aligned perpendicularly to the longitudinal axes of the slats. Each linkage (56) is pivotally coupled to a common reciprocating member (58) for pivoting the slats (52) to determine their orientation relative to the support members (54,55). Each blind slat (52) pivots about a respective pivot axis (60) which is located laterally beyond side (52A) of the said blind slat. The blind slat illustrated is a 45mm wood slat, although the system can be adapted easily to suit slats in any material at most sizes between 25mm and 100mm wide, by virtue of altering the spacing of pivot points (60) and linkage dimensions.

The support members (54,55) each comprise a casing (62) formed in two parts (64,65). The two parts (64,65) are extruded components, formed with interengagable hook (66) and socket (68) profiles which provide a hinge (70) along the top of the assembled casing (62). In use, the two parts of the casing (64,65) may be held together by a fastener (60A) providing a pivotal coupling between support member (54) and slat linkage (56). The two parts (64,65) additionally have protrusions (72) around which brackets (74) may be fastened, or to which an accessory block (76) may be attached. The bracket (74) may fit the top as well as the side of the casing (62) and may be fastened to glazing bars (not shown) from which the blind (50) may hang. The accessory block (76) may facilitate the mounting of a gearbox (78) to the side of the casing (62).

The reciprocating member (58) which is of U-shaped cross-section is housed in the casing (62). One end of each linkage (56) is pivotally mounted in the U-shaped channel (79) of the reciprocating member (58) using a pivot fastener (80). Each linkage (56) thus extends from its respective pivot fastener (80) to the pivot axis (60) and beyond to the blind slat (52). The linkages (56) are formed from a length of spring steel wire, coiled and shaped in such a way that the two ends (82,83) provide opposed hooks between which a slat (52) may be held. In between the two ends (82,83), the wire is coiled about the pivot axis (60) and the pivot fastener (80). In this way, movement of the reciprocating member (58) causes each of the linkages (56) to rotate around their respective pivot axis (60), thereby moving the blind slat between the open and closed positions.

Movement of the reciprocating member (58) is controlled by gearbox (78). Input energy (mechanical or electrical) is applied to the gearbox (78) through rotation of input shaft (90). The gearbox (78) in turn drives a lay shaft (92) which extends between and is mounted in bearings in the support members (54,55). Rotation of gears in the gearbox (78) causes torque to be applied to a crank (94).

Applying an anticlockwise torque to the crank (94) in the position shown in Figure 4 applies a force through driving the link arm (96) to a secondary crank (98) causing the lay shaft (92) to rotate in a clockwise direction. The crank (94), link arm (96) and secondary crank (98) are external

to the channel (79). A drive crank (99) is mounted within the channel (79), and has its rotational axis centred on the lay shaft (92) and distal end linked to the reciprocating member (56). Rotation of the lay shaft (92) and drive crank (99) causes the reciprocating member (58) in each support member (54,55) to move in an arcuate path until it achieves the position shown in Figure 6. The lay shaft (92) is formed in sections, comprising drive end portions of hexagonal cross-section which are received in recesses of corresponding profile in the ends of a middle portion spanning between the support members (54,55).

Although the arrangement described makes use of a gearbox, this is not essential. Instead the gearbox (78) could be replaced-along with crank (94) and link (96)- by a linear action motor coupled to the lay shaft (92). The linear action motor would rotate the lay shaft (92) clockwise/anticlockwise as appropriate to open/close the slatting.

The embodiment described provides a compact blind arrangement for use with glazed panels in conservatory roofs and the like. Many of the moving components are concealed in the casing which form the support members. In particular, the reciprocating members and linkages are contained within the casings, due in part because the pivot axes for the blind slats pass through the casings. This arrangement is achieved because each slat is pivotally coupled to the support members such that the pivot axis is located laterally of each respective slat.