This invention relates to a carrier for use in a louvre blind and to a louvre blind assembly incorporating a plurality of such carriers.

According to the present invention there is provided a carrier for a louvre blind, the carrier comprising a main body having an interior which is accessible through one end thereof, means located in the main body for rotatably suspending the louvre from an opposed end thereof, means located in the main body for transmitting an operable drive into rotation of the louvre suspension means, means providing for rolling engagement of the main body on a track for movement therealong, and cover means for connecting onto said one end of the main body to close access to the interior, the cover means locating means for spacing adjacent carriers apart when a plurality of the carriers are located on the track.

Preferably the cover means has a releasable connection to the main body, for example a snap fitting connection. Preferably also each of the main body and the cover means is formed of a moulded plastics material.

The rolling means may comprise a pair of freely rotatable wheels positioned on respective sides of the main body. The wheels are preferably located in respective recesses in the main body, whereby not to protrude substantially beyond the respective sides thereof, the width of the main body being such as to enable the carrier to be movable on a standard width of track, i.e. a track having a width not greater than 33 mm. The wheels may be formed of a moulded plastics material.

The spacing means may have the form of an elongate strap, one end of which is mounted on the cover means and the other end of which provides a clip, the cover means further providing stop means engagable by the clip on the strap of an adjacent carrier on the track, whereby to determine the maximum

spacing between the adjacent carriers.

The invention also provides a louvre blind assembly comprising an elongate track, a plurality of carriers as described in any of the four preceding paragraphs movably located on the track, a louvre rotatably suspended from each of the carriers, an operable drive for effecting rotation of the louvre suspension means of each carrier and consequently tilting of the respective louvre, and means connected to one of the carriers for moving same along the track, with consequent movement of the other carriers.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawing which is a front perspective view of a carrier for use in a vertical louvre blind assembly.

Referring to the drawing, a carrier 10, for use in a vertical louvre window blind assembly, has a main body 12 of substantially rectangular configuration. The body 12 has an interior profile whereby to locate therein a worm gear assembly 14 which comprises a spiral collar on a barrel and which is rotatable on an axis substantially horizontal in use, the sprial collar being in driving engagement with a cog (not shown) which is also located in the body 12 and which is rotatable about an axis, the latter being vertical in use. Fixed for rotation with the cog is a shaft of a conventional louvre or slat hook 16, on which can be suspended a vertical slat or louvre (not shown). A drive rod (not shown), manually controllable by a cord looped around a drive pulley, extends through the barrel which is configured, whereby rotation of the rod will cause rotation of the barrel and the collar, corresponding rotation of the cog and thereby tilting of the hook 16 with the louvre.

The interior of the carrier 10 is accessible through the end thereof remote from the hook 16, i.e. the upper end in use, to enable the drive components to be introduced to the carrier 10 through the top, and enable access to the drive components thereafter. A cover 18 is releasably connected

onto the upper end of the body 12 whereby to normally close access to the interior of the latter. Preferably the body 12 and the cover 18 are each formed of a moulded plastics material, with the cover 18 having a snap fit connection to the main body 12. The two part construction, i.e. the body 12 and the cover 18, enables the main body 12 to have a width such as to be locatable on a standard width of track or headrail (not shown),the latter being mounted in any conventional manner across a window.

As the drive components are not introduced through the lower end of the carrier, as is the case with known designs, the construction also enables a lower recess 20 to be formed in each side edge of the body 12 without obstructing movement of the drive components into and out of the carrier, and a pin 22 can be formed on the body 12 to extend into the recess. The pin 22 is adapted to enable a wheel 24 to be freely rotatably located thereon, each wheel 24 being spaced above a respective lower end section 26 of the body 12 whereby, when the carrier 10 is located on the track or headrail, a respective edge of the track locates between the wheel 24 and the section 26. The carrier 10 is therefore in rolling engagement along the track, the wheels 24 being provided on the body 12 within the width of the latter which still enables the carrier 10 to be used on a track or headrail of standard width., i.e. a width not greater than 33 mm. The wheels 24 may be formed of a moulded plastics material.

The cover 18 has a recess 28 positioned substantially above the location of the worm 14. A spacer 30 in the form of an elongate strap, preferably formed of a moulded plastics material, has one end mounted in the recess 28 and extends to one side of the carrier 10. At its free end, the spacer 30 is profiled to form a clip 32. The cover 18 provides a pair of locating pins 34 extending into the recess 28 from opposed sides thereof above the spacer 30. When a plurality of the carriers 10 are located in the track or headrail, the spacer 30 of each of the carriers 10 locates in the recess 28 of the adjacent carrier 10, the elongate section of the spacer 30 engaging under the locating pins 34 of the adjacent carrier 10, with the clip 32 engaging with the pins 34 when the carriers are moved apart, thereby determining the maximum spacing

of the carriers.

When the carriers 10 are located in the track or headrail for use in a blind assembly, the other components of the assembly can be conventional, e.g. a transmission cord connected to one of the carriers for moving the latter along the track, the spacers 30 providing for movement of the other carriers 10 in one direction and the abutment of the carriers 10 effecting movement together in the opposite direction; and a drive rod extending through the worms 14 of the carriers 10 to be rotatable by way of a drive pulley, around which is looped a pull cord or chain, rotation of the drive rod effecting tilting of the individual louvres or slats.

There is thus provided a carrier which has a configuration such as to enable mounting of the gearing components through one end of the casing, and consequently enable side wheels to be incorporated without increasing the width of the main body. Wheels on a carrier provide certain advantages, the present invention enabling the improved carriers to be usable with tracks or headrails of conventional width. Also, the cover prevents upward dislodging of the drive components and thereby the louvre hook, avoiding the risk of faulty operation.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example, the shape of the various components of the carrier may differ from those specifically described and shown. The components may be made from other materials and it will be appreciated that apertures and the like can be provided at suitable locations to reduce the weight of the carrier and reduce the costs of manufacture.