NZ741974B2 - Side Track - Google Patents

Abstract

side track 60 for a blind or awning 10, the side track 60 including an insert runner 61. The insert runner 61 includes an elongate body 62 forming an external key shape and a track body 63 adapted to extend internally and facing a longitudinal centre-line 22 of a sheet 21 of the blind or awning 10. The track body 63 includes a slot 64 defining an elongate cavity 65 for receiving and capturing a pronounced side edge 23 of the sheet 21 and a narrow elongate opening 66 to the slot 64. The opening 66 is coextensive with the elongate cavity 65, adapted to receive an inner section 24 of the sheet 21 that is spaced from the pronounced side edge 23, and dimensioned to allow the inner section 24 to travel in a gap defined by the opening 66. side track 60 also includes an outer channel 70i having, when viewed in section, a base wall 71 and a pair of spaced side arms 72a,b defining a recess 73. The outer channel 70i is adapted to be mounted to a side structure, which is, in turn, adapted to support the blind or awning 10. The outer channel 70i is also adapted to receive the insert runner 61 in the recess 73 in any of a range of lateral positions of the insert runner 61 relative to the base wall 71. Accordingly, variations in the lateral spacing of the pronounced feature 23 relative to the side structure can be accommodated by the movability of the insert runner 61 relative to the outer channel 70i.

Claims (14)

The claims de?ning the invention are as follows:

1. A side track for a blind or awning, the side track including: (1) an inselt runner, the insert runner including: (a) an elongate body forming an external key shape; and (b) a track body adapted to extend internally and to face a longitudinal centreline of a sheet of the blind or awning, the track body including: (i) a slot de?ning an elongate cavity for ing and capturing a pronounced side edge of the sheet; and (i) a narrow elongate opening to the slot, the opening being: (x)coextensive with the elongate cavity; (y)adapted to receive an inner section of the sheet that is spaced from the pronounced side edge; and (z) dimensioned to allow the inner section to travel in a gap defined by the opening; and (2) an intermediate channel having, when viewed in section, a base wall and a pair of spaced side arms g a recess, the intermediate channel d to: i (a) be mounted to a side structure adapted to support the blind or awning; (b) receive the insert runner in the recess in any of a range of lateral positions of the insert runner relative to the base wall; and (c) be ntially co—extensive with the insert runner along its longitudinal axis, variations in the l g of the pronounced side edge relative to the side structure are accommodated by the insert runner being movable relative to the side structure; the side track further includes an outer channel, the intermediate channel adapted to be interposed between the outer channel and the insert runner such that it is in floating relationship with the outer channel.

2. A side track as de?ned in Claim 1, wherein the ?oating relationship of the ediate channel permits lateral movement within the outer channel preinstallation, and is ?xed relative to the outer channel post—installation.

3. A side track as defined in Claim 1 or 2, wherein, before installation of the side track, the intermediate channel is adapted to move relative to the outer l to assume any one of a range of lateral positions of the insert runner relative to a base wall of the outer channel, whereby variations in the lateral spacing of the pronounced feature relative to the side ure can be accommodated by the movability of the insert runner housed in the intermediate channel relative to the outer channel.

A side track as de?ned in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the intermediate channel is adapted to move laterally relative to the outer channel to enable an installer to achieve a satisfactory drop of the sheet with minimal creasing of the sheet.

A side track as de?ned in Claim 4, wherein the outer channel is adapted to be lly ?xable to the side support structures and once the blind is ed to fall in a satisfactory manner, the outer channel and intermediate l fastenable to each other.

A side track as defined in Claim 4 or 5, wherein the intermediate channel includes an internal recess adapted to capture the elongate body of the insert runner.

A side track as de?ned in any one of Claims 4 to 6, wherein the ediate channel is adapted to expose the track body that has a slot to receive the pronounced feature.

A side track as defined in Claim 6 or 7, wherein the internal recess is shaped, in section, to trap the elongate body against lateral, forward or rd movement relative to the intermediate channel.

A side track as de?ned in any one of Claims 4 to 8, wherein the intermediate 10 channel is adapted to be received in the outer channel and the ediate channel is able to be laterally adjustably positioned during instailation of the aWning or blind.

10. A side track as de?ned in any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the pronounced feature is consistent in section along its .

ll. A side track as de?ned in any one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the pronounced feature comprises a plurality of discrete pronounced knobs aligned in series.

12. A side track as de?ned in any one of Claims 1 to 10, n the nced feature is in the form of one part of a two-part zip mechanism.

l3. A side track as de?ned in any one of Claims 1 to 12, further including a receiver to facilitate entry of the pronounced feature into the slot of the insert runner.

14. A side track as de?ned in Claim 13, wherein the receiver includes a wide mouth with a curved and converging pathway to provide guided entry of the pronounced feature into the elongate cavity. .39 mmOdOZ A} 1‘ 2 I Wm“ H! an §