AU2009251053B2 - An Improved Stopper - Google Patents

Abstract

A stopper for slidably connecting two adjacent blind panels, the stopper including a lockable protrusion, a slidable protrusion, and a bridging portion that extends between the lockable and slidable protrusions. The lockable protrusion is adapted to be received by a first blind panel or rail and, when positioned appropriated, locked therein. The slidable protrusion is adapted to be received by a second blind panel or rail and remains slideably movable therein. The protrusions of the stopper are contained substantially within a channel portion of the panels/rails.

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention Title: AN IMPROVED STOPPER The invention is described in the following statement: 2 FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to stoppers and, more particularly, to substantially internal stoppers for connecting adjacent blind panels in a panel blind assembly. BACKGROUND ART 5 [Mere reference to background art herein should not be construed as an admission that such art constitutes common general knowledge in relation to the invention.] Often it is desirable to block or limit the amount of light transmitted through a window or glass door or the like. Various types of curtains and blinds are commonly used for this purpose. One type of blind, namely vertical blinds, has been developed which 10 typically comprises various vertically divided slats. Vertical blinds can usually be drawn horizontally to at least one side of the area it is covering, and the vertical slats can sometime be rotated to allow light to pass and/or to see past the blind. Different blind constructions are utilised for different purposes and to provide different effects. One type of vertical blind has panels hung vertically from a track or rail, 15 wherein the panels are individually moveable along the rail. However, it is necessary to pull and arrange and/or align each panel separately. It is an aim of this invention to provide an improved stopper which overcomes or ameliorates one or more of the disadvantages or problems described above, or which at least provides a useful alternative. 20 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a stopper for connecting two adjacent blind support panels, the stopper comprising: a lockable protrusion adapted to be received by a first blind panel support and locked therein; 25 a slidable protrusion adapted to be received by a second blind panel support and slideably movable therein; and a bridging portion that extends between the lockable protrusion and the slidable protrusion.

3 The lockable protrusion and the slidable protrusion are preferably substantially perpendicular to the bridging portion. Preferably the lockable protrusion and the slidable protrusion are located substantially within the panel supports in use. The stoppers according to the present invention are typically used in a blind system 5 wherein a plurality of parallel tracks are provided with a blind mounted to each track. The blinds will normally be mounted to the track using a blind panel support member which is secured to a track, typically using external gliders which may be integrally formed with a stopper or separately therefrom. Each blind panel support member will typically have a tapering upper opening for 10 receiving a means for attaching the blind panel support member to the track and a tapering lower opening for mounting or attaching a blind panel. The stopper of the present invention can be located in the upper openings or the lower openings of the blind panel support members in a blind assembly. The slidable protrusion can preferably move freely within the second blind panel 15 support. The slidable protrusion may be the same as the lockable protrusion, but not placed in a locked state so that it can still slide relative to the panel support. Alternatively, the slideable protrusion may be a tongue which extends into the opening of the blind panel support member. Preferably, the second blind panel support has at least one obstruction at a 20 predetermined location such that slidable protrusion can move freely within the second blind panel support but not past the obstruction. Preferably there are two obstructions arranged at or near the ends of the panel support and the slidable protrusion can move feely between the obstructions. The obstructions may be integral with the blind panel support, or may be a separate block, or the 25 like, installed at predetermined locations. Preferably n-l stoppers are used for n panel supports (where n is any number greater than 1, preferably between 2 and 6). An obstruction on one panel may be the lockable protrusion of a stopper between a different set of panel supports. In this way, the stoppers may be used in a nestable 4 configuration where the lockable protrusion of one stopper forms an obstruction limiting the movement of a slideable protrusion of an adjacent panel support. Preferably the stopper is arranged within the first and second blind panel supports such that a first panel can move along a track past the an adjacent panel but, when the end 5 of the first panel support reaches the end of the second panelsupport , the stopper is located such that the second panel is drawn along its track with the first panel (but slightly behind the first panel). The stopper may be made from a single piece of material. For example, it may be moulded or machined from a single piece of material such as, for example, aluminium, 10 stainless steel, acetal, or plastic. Preferably, the stopper is made from an acetal plastic material such as polyoxymethylene (or 'POM'). Additionally, the stopper may be polished and/or plated. Preferably the lockable protrusion is tapered or slanted outwards and is received by a correspondingly tapered or slanted receiving portion of the panel support, normally the Is upper or lower opening. Preferably the lockable protrusion comprises an expansion means adapted to expand, preferably when located at a predetermined location within a panel. For example, a panel holding portion of the lockable protrusion may be slid into the receiving portion of the panel support and, once located appropriately there therein, at least a portion of the panel holding portion is expanded to frictionally engage with the receiving portion of 20 the panel support. The expansion means may comprise a screw receiving portion with a frustroconical entrance. As the screw is tightened into the screw receiving portion, a head of the screw pushes against the frustroconical entrance, exerting lateral forces which, in turn, expand the lockable protrusion. The expansion means may further comprise a substantially straight 25 channel portion, narrower than the screw receiving portion, about which the panel holding portion expands. Any other means of locking the stopper to the blind support member may be used including direct attachment to the blind support rail, adhesives or similar. However, it is particularly preferred that the stoppers are attached to the blind support rail internally (into 5 the upper and/or lower openings in the blind panel support) to increase the aesthetic appeal of the blind system as a whole and the blind support rail particularly. The panel supports may comprise an elongate rail attached (either directly or indirectly) to a blind panel, and the protrusions may therefore be received within 5 corresponding portions of the rail. The bridging portion will typically space the lockable protrusion from the slideable protrusion. As the slideable protrusion is able to move relative to the blind panel support, it also functions as a guide member during movement of the blind panel support. Typically, the bridging portion will space the lockable protrusion from the slideable protrusion the JO same distance as the separation between the longitudinal axes of the tracks used in the blind system. The stoppers may be used as the head of the blind system and/or at the bottom (or sill) of the blind system. Use at the bottom or sill of the blind system, particularly in tall blind systems may assist with the guidance of the blinds during movement and minimise 15 any dislodgement or the blinds from their preferred orientation. The stoppers may be provided with an absorbing or resilient portion between the nested stoppers to minimise the sound of the stoppers when they abut each other and/or to reduce the likelihood of damage to the stoppers. According to an aspect of the invention, there is a panel blind assembly comprising: 20 a plurality of tracks; a bracket that affixes the plurality of tracks to a substantially vertical or horizontal surface; at least one glider adapted to traverse each track; a blind panel adapted to hang from each at least one glider; and 25 at least one stopper as hereinbefore described connected between adjacent pairs of blind panels. In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practice, one or more embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 illustrates a side elevation view of a panel blind. Figure 2a illustrates various configurations for the panel blind illustrated in figure 1 having multiple tracks and multiple panels with the panels being stackable on a single side 5 of the blind. Figure 2b illustrates various configurations for the panel blind illustrated in figure 1 having multiple tracks and multiple panels with the panels being stackable on both sides of the blind. Figure 3 illustrates a perspective exploded view of a blind assembly. 10 Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of a portion of track with a cutaway portion. Figure 5 illustrates an end elevation view of the track illustrated in figure 4. Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of glider on the track illustrated in figure 4. Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of two adjacent panel rails and a stopper extending between them. 15 Figure 8 illustrates a perspective cutaway view of a bracket for affixing the tracks to a substantially horizontal surface. Figure 9 illustrates a perspective exploded view of brackets for affixing the tracks to a substantially horizontal surface. Figure 10 illustrates a perspective cutaway view of a portion of a bracket for 20 affixing the tracks to a substantially vertical surface. Figure 11 illustrates a perspective exploded view of brackets for affixing the tracks to a substantially vertical surface. Figure 12 illustrates an exploded side elevation view of a bracket for affixing the tracks to a substantially vertical surface. 25 Figure 13 illustrates a perspective cutaway view of a bracket for affixing the tracks to a substantially vertical surface being installed 7 Figure 14 illustrates a side perspective view of a blind rail and various components that can be received therein. Figure 15a illustrates a perspective exploded view of an arrangement of a rail, with gliders. 5 Figure 15b illustrates a side elevation view of the rail illustrated in figure 15a with gliders installed. Figure 16a illustrates a perspective exploded view of another arrangement of a rail, with a stopper and gliders. Figure 16b illustrates a side elevation view of the rail illustrated in figure 16a with 10 the stopper and gliders installed. Figure 17 illustrates diagrammatic plan view of an arrangement of stoppers for six parallel rails. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) Illustrated in figure 1 is a blind panel 10 hanging from a rail 20 which is slidably 15 affixed to a track 40. The track 40 is mounted via brackets 60 to a surface such as a wall, ceiling, window/door frame, or the like. The panel 10 is preferably made of a fabric, although this is not to be regarded as limiting as other materials could also be used. Where the panel 10 is relatively light weight, a bottom rail I1 may be provided. Although only a single panel 10 is illustrated, typically each rail 20 will have a panel 10 hanging therefrom 20 and that there will be enough rails and panels to cover an area or segregate/divide at least a portion of a space (e.g. a room). For example, for the area illustrated in figure 1, there would preferably be approximately four or five panels 10, each attached to the track 40 by respective rails 20. The panels rails 20 are preferably mounted to separate tracks 40 (only one visible in figure 25 1) such that the panel rails 20 can all slide behind one another (e.g. stacked) or can be aligned adjacently along the length of the rail 20 to cover the area. Various configurations of panels 10 hanging from respective rails 20 are illustrated in figures 2a and 2b. In figure 2a configurations in which the panels 10 can be stacked on a single side of an area are illustrated, and in figure 2b configurations in which a portion of 8 the panels 10 can be stacked on either side of the area are illustrated. Each rail 20, with panel 10 hanging therefrom, on a single horizontal vector would have a corresponding track 40, but for clarity this is not illustrated in figures 2a and 2b. Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of a blind assembly having a plurality of 5 tracks 40a to 40e, with rails 20 (only a single rail is clearly illustrated as the others are obstructed from view, and no panels 10 are illustrated for clarity). The rail 20 has two gliders 80, one at each end thereof. Two types of brackets 60 and 70 of various lengths are illustrated (however, in use it is envisaged that only brackets of the appropriate type and size for the application and number of tracks 20 would be utilised). The brackets 60 and 70 10 each have respective locking means 60a and 70a, which will be discussed in more detail later with respect to figures 8 and 9, and figures 10 and 11, respectively. The rail 20 has a stopper 100 and obstruction 101 which fit into a shaped channel in the rail 20. A handle or 'wand' 12 is fixedly engaged with the rail 20 and provides a means for an operator to manoeuvre the rail 20 along its track 40 without having to either pull on 15 either the panel 10 (not illustrated in figure 3) or to reach up to the rail 20. A close up view (with a cutaway portion) of a section of a track 40 is illustrated in figure 4 and a cross sectional view (or end view) is illustrated in figure 5. The track 40 has a generally elongate 'figure 8' or lemniscate shape. Namely, the track 40 has an upper portion 41 and a lower portion 42, held together by a straight connecting portion 43. The 20 upper portion 41 has a generally circular cross section, albeit with a flattened top 44. The lower portion 42 also has a generally circular cross section. The upper portion 41 of the track 40 is shaped to be held by a bracket 60 and the lower portion 42 is shaped to be received by a glider 80. Both the upper portion 41 and lower portion 42 are hollowed and the connection portion 43 is sold. This shape not only 25 provides sufficient strength, but also reduces the overall weight and cost of the track 40. The flattened top 44 of the upper portion 41 extends the longitudinal length of the track 40, and provides an enlarged surface for at least a portion of the locking means 60a or 70a of the brackets 60 or 70 to frictionally engage with. The flattened top 44 also minimises rotation of the track 40 relative to the brackets 60 or 70. 30 The track 40 is illustrated with a glider 80 thereon in figure 6. The glider 80 receives the lower portion 41 of the track 40 within a panel holding portion having two 9 symmetrically opposed arms 81 (only one being visible in figure 6) on either side of the track 40. The arms define an opening between them that is shaped substantially similarly to the lower portion 41 of the track 40 so that the glider 80 can slide relative to the track 40. Accordingly, with the shape of the track 40 illustrated in the figures, the opening 5 between the arms 81 of the glider 80 would have a substantially circular cross section, with a perpendicularly disposed straight entrance portion (which, when in use, is adjacent the straight connecting portion 43 of the track 40). Because the connection portion 43 of the track 40 is narrower than the lower portion 41, and because the arms 81 of the glider 80 define an opening of a substantially similar cross section, the glider 80 can slide relative to 10 the track 40, but not be removed (or placed thereon) perpendicularly. Furthermore, the glider 80 can exhibit this effect by being entirely external to the track 40. The glider 80 has a panel holding portion 82 adjacently below the arms 81 of the glider 80. The panel holding portion 82 is adapted to be held within a portion of a rail 20 (not illustrated in figure 6), with the rail 20 then holding the actual blind panel 10. 15 Typically, two spaced apart gliders 80 are employed to hold a single rail 20 (as illustrated in figure 3). The panel holding portion 82 is tapered (or slanted) outwards to form a wedge shape having a greater thickness at a distal end thereof. The panel holding portion 82 is subsequently held within a shaped channel portion 21 of the rail 20 (not illustrated in figure 20 6). The shaped channel portion 21 of the rail 20 is correspondingly tapered/slanted such that the wedge can slide in an end of the channel, but cannot be inserted or removed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the rail 20. When the panel holding portion 82 is located within the rail 20, it can be slid to a position it is to be affixed and then expanded by way of a screw (not shown) to lock it at 25 that position within the rail 20. To expand the panel holding portion 82, the screw is inserted in the opening 83 which has a inward frustroconical shaped entrance. As the screw is tightened in the opening 83, an enlarged head of the screw is pulled further into the opening 83, pushing against the frustroconical entrance. This exerts lateral forces on the panel holding portion 82 which expands about the opening. 30 To facilitate the expansion, a straight channel portion is provided in the opening about which the panel holding portion 82 can more readily expand. Once expanded, the 10 outer surfaces of the panel holding portion 82 exert sufficient force on the internal surfaces of the shaped channel portion 21 of the rail 20 to prevent movement between the two. The glider 80 is made from a single piece of material, with at least the inner surface of the arms 81 being polished to a smooth surface to reduce friction between the glider 80 5 and the track 40. Two adjacent rails 20 are illustrated in figure 7. The shaped channel portion 21 of the rails 20 can clearly be seen along both the top and bottom edges of the rails 20. The middle of the rails 20 is hollow, this reduces weight and costs, while an internal baffle 22 retains sufficient structural integrity. The rail 20 may have Velcro (not shown) which may 10 be utilised to assist in the mounting and affixing of the blind panels 10. Alternatively, the blind panels 10 may be affixed by a 'no sew' spline method using, for example, a triangle spline. Also illustrated in figure 7 is a stopper 100 connecting two adjacent rails 20, and an obstruction 101 in one of the rails 20. The stopper 100 has two protrusions 102 and 103, 15 connected by a bridging portion 104. One of the protrusions is a lockable protrusion 102. The lockable protrusion 102 is received within a first blind panel, such as the left blind rail 20 in figure 7, and can be positioned and locked therein. The lockable protrusion 102 is received within the shaped channel portion 21 of the rail 20, and is shaped and locks in substantially the same way as the panel holding portion 82 of the glider 80. 20 In particular, the lockable protrusion 102 has is tapered/slanted outwards to form a wedge shape having a greater thickness at a distal end thereof. The shaped channel portion 21 of the rail 20 is correspondingly tapered/slanted such that the wedge can slide in an end of the channel, but cannot be inserted or removed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the rail 20. 25 When the lockable protrusion 102 is located within the shaped channel portion 21 of the rail 20, it can be slid to a position it is to be locked, and then expanded by way of a screw (not shown) to lock it at that position within the rail 20. To expand the lockable protrusion 102, the screw is inserted in the opening 105 which has a inward frustroconical shaped entrance. As the screw is tightened in the opening 105, an enlarged head of the 30 screw is pulled further into the opening 105, pushing against the frustroconical entrance. This exerts lateral forces on the lockable protrusion 102 which expands about the opening.

I1 To facilitate the expansion, a straight channel portion is provided in the opening about which the panel lockable protrusion 102 can more readily expand. Once expanded, the outer surfaces of the lockable protrusion 102 exert sufficient force on the internal surfaces of the shaped channel portion 21 of the rail 20 to prevent movement between the 5 two. The other protrusion is a slidable protrusion 103. The slidable protrusion 103 is received by a second blind panel (e.g. the panel on the right in figure 7) and can slide longitudinally with the rail 20 therein until it hits an obstruction such as the stopper block 101. The stopper block 101 may have an expansion means similar to that used with respect 10 to the lockable protrusion 102 of the stopper 100, to enable the stopper block 101 to be locked in place within the rail 20 at desired locations. Preferably the stopper block 101 is arranged such that one rail 20 can move along a track past an adjacent rail 20 but, when at the edge of the other rail (e.g. when there is a small overlap), the other rail is pulled along its track with the first rail. This allows the rails 15 20 to be stacked behind each other when the blind assembly is open, and spread adjacent in a longitudinal direction when the blind assembly is closed (as illustrated in various configurations in figures 2a and 2b). The stopper 100 together with an obstruction, such as the stopper block 101, ensures that when one rail 20 (with panel 10 therein) is pulled, the other following rails 20 will follow, and the operator is not required to pull and align each 20 rail/panel individually. Of course, if it were desired for the rails/panels to be independent, stoppers 100 and stopper blocks 101 would not be required. To enable the rails/panels to follow each other when the blind is being opened or closed, there are two obstructions arranged at or near the ends of each rail 20, and the slidable protrusion 103 of the stopper 100 can move feely between the obstructions. The 25 obstructions may be integral with the rail, or may be separate such as, for example, the stopper block 101. Preferably n-l stoppers 100 are used for n rails/panels (where n is any number greater than 1, preferably between 2 and 6). In the case of three or more rails/panels, an obstruction on one rail may be the lockable protrusion 102 of a stopper 100 between a different set of panels. For example, if another stopper 100 was illustrated in 30 figure 7 with its slidable protrusion 103 in the left hand rail 20, the lockable protrusion 102 of the illustrated stopper 100 would provide an obstruction, and it would not be necessary to employ another obstruction, such as the stopper block 101, at that location. With this 12 arrangement, it is envisaged that for each rail (except, perhaps, end rails) there are two obstructions at each end of the rail 20, one being the lockable protrusion 102 of a stopper 100, and the other being a stopper block 101. The stopper 100 and/or stopper block 101 are made from a single piece of material. 5 Preferably the stopper 100 and/or stopper block 101 are made from an acetal such as polyoxymethylene (or 'POM') which is classified as an acetal copolymer, or a polycarbonate, or plastic, or the like. Illustrated in figures 8 to 11, are two types of bracket 60 and 70 (illustrated in figures 8, 9 and 10, 11, respectively). The brackets 60 and 70 hold a plurality of tracks 40 10 to a substantially vertical or horizontal surface such as, for example, a wall, window frame, door frame, ceiling, or the like. The bracket adapted to hold a plurality of tracks 40 a substantially horizontal surface is a 'recess fit' bracket 60, and the adapted to hold a plurality of tracks 40 a substantially vertical surface is a 'face fit' bracket 70. Both types of brackets 60 and 70 have a mounting portion adapted to be mounted to 15 the surface, a track receiving portion adapted to hold a plurality of tracks therein, and a locking means that locks the respective bracket relative to the plurality of tracks 40. When held within the bracket, the plurality of tracks 40 are arranged at a uniform distance apart, parallel to each other, as illustrated in figure 3. Furthermore, as illustrated in figures 9 and 11, the brackets 60 and 70 can be made in different lengths to hold different numbers of 20 tracks 40. In use, the brackets 60 and 70 are arranged substantially transverse or perpendicular to the plurality of tracks 40. The track receiving portions of the brackets 60 and 70 has a shaped openings 61 and 71 for a portion of each track to be received therein. The openings 61 and 71 are shaped to substantially correspond with the cross section of the portion of the 25 track held therein which, in the illustrated embodiment, is substantially circular. The different examples of brackets 60 and 70 will now be described separately. As illustrated in figures 8 and 9, the recess fit bracket 60 has openings 61 which receive the upper portion 41 of the track 40. The openings 61 are shaped such that the bracket 60 has to be slid on to the track 40, and the track 40 cannot be removed from the 30 bracket perpendicularly (otherwise the track 40 would fall out of the bracket 60). Once the bracket 60 has been arranged on the plurality of tracks 40 as desired, the bracket 60 can be 13 locked into place by a locking means such as a locking plate 62. The locking plate 62 slides within a channel of the main body of the bracket 60 and, in use, locks the bracket 60 relative to the plurality of tracks 40 by exerting force laterally on the flattened surface 44 of the tracks 40 held in the openings 61 of the bracket 60. 5 To provide a secure 'lock' between the bracket 60 and the tracks 40, the locking plate 62 tightened against the upper surface 44 of the tracks 40 by one or more screws, such as a grub screw 63 to be received in a threaded portion 64. Advantageously, the locking plate 62 locks the bracket 60 to all of the tracks 40 simultaneously by exerting force across all of the tracks 40 at the same time. 10 The bracket 60 has mounting holes 65 therethrough, which also align and pass through the locking plate 62 when it is in the locked position. These mounting holes 65 enable the bracket 60 to be attached to a surface, preferably a horizontal surface, by screwing the bracket, with tracks etc. thereon, into the surface. Figures 10 and 11 illustrate a face fit bracket 70 having openings 71 which, like the 15 recess fit bracket 60, receive the upper portion 41 of the track 40. The openings 71 are shaped such that the bracket 70 has to be slid on to the track 40, and the track 40 cannot be removed from the bracket perpendicularly (otherwise the track 40 would fall out of the bracket 70). Once the bracket 70 has been arranged on the plurality of tracks 40 as desired, the bracket 70 can be locked into place by a locking means. 20 With the illustrated embodiment of the face fit bracket, the locking means comprises a rotatable member 72 having two cam portions 73 adapted to lock the bracket 70 relative to the tracks 40. The radius of the cam portions 73 is smaller than the radius of the rotatable member 72. The rotatable member 72 is located within a body portion of the bracket 70, with the cam portions 73 being arranged perpendicularly adjacent to the tracks 25 40. Namely, one of the cam portions is arranged adjacent some of the tracks and the other cam portion is arranged adjacent the rest of the tracks. The rotatable member 72 is also provided with a number of cylindrical rotator guides 200. These guide portions 200 are closely received within the body of the bracket and rotation of the rotatable member 72 is about these portions 200. The cam portions 73 30 are eccentrically associated with the guide portions 200 in order to be rotatable between a locked state, wherein the cam portions extend at least partially into the track receiving 14 openings (typically all of the track openings at once) and an unlocked state wherein the cam portions are away from the track receiving openings freeing the tracks to be moved. The rotatable member 72 is rotated using a tool such as, for the illustrated embodiment, an Allen key (more particularly, a 4mm Allen key) in an Allen key socket 74. 5 The rotatable member 72 has three portions having a cross-section of uniform radius, each end and a portion in the middle. These portions of uniform radius are received by corresponding uniform radius portions of the bracket 70 such that when the rotatable member 72 is rotated, the axis of the rotatable member 72 stays fixed within the bracket. However, to the tracks adjacent the cam portions 73, the rotatable member 72 appears to 10 moves towards and away from the tracks 40 (depending on which direction the rotatable member 72 is being rotated). The location of the rotatable member 72 intersects with the openings 71, such that when the rotatable member 72 is rotated to have the cam portions 73 at their greatest radius adjacent the openings 41, the cam portions 73 reduce the size of the openings 71 by 15 displacing some of the open space. However, then the rotatable member 72 is rotated to have the cam portions 73 at their least radius adjacent the openings 41, the cam portions 73 preferably do not overlap with the openings 71. With this arrangement, the tracks 40 are received within the openings 71 of the bracket 71 when the rotatable member 72 is rotated to have the cam portions 73 away from 20 the openings 71. When the rotatable member 72 is subsequently rotated (e.g. by using an Allen key) the distance between the cam portions 73 of the rotatable member 72 and the tracks 40 at the intersections between the rotatable member 72 and the tracks 40, decreases. Eventually, the cam portions 73 will engage with the tracks 40 contained in the openings 71 and, more particularly, with the flattened surface 44 of the tracks 40. Once engaged, further 25 tightening of the rotatable member 72 results in the cam portions 73 exerting increasingly more force on the tracks 40, locking them in to place with respect to the bracket. As the cam portions 73 can engage with all of the tracks simultaneously, the brackets also locks with respect to all of the tracks simultaneously. Figure 12 illustrates an exploded side elevation view of the parts for a face fit 30 bracket 70 according to a preferred embodiment. The bracket has a body portion 70' and a mounting portion, the mounting portion including a mounting plate 75 and a covering plate with a fixing pin 76 thereon. The mounting plate 75 is affixed to a wall or architrave by 15 placing screws or other affixing means (not shown) through holes therein. The covering plate with the fixing pin 76 therein is placed over the mounting plate 75, with the fixing pin 76 attached via a screw 77 that projects forward from the mounting plate 75. A recess 78 in the body of the bracket 70 (best seen in figure 10) then receives the fixing pin 76, and 5 one or more (preferably two) grub screws 79 are tightened perpendicularly through the body 70' into engagement with the fixing pin 76. The fixing pin and/or recessed portions may be shaped, preferably correspondingly, to provide alignment and a solid connection therebetween and/or with the grub screw(s). The Allen key socket 74 is preferably located within the recess 78 of the bracket 70 1o such that the rotatable member 72 can only be actuated/tightened while the body 70' of the bracket 70 is disconnected from the mounting means. The arrangement for tightening the rotatable member 72 using an Allen key is illustrated in figure 13, with two of the illustrated tracks being held in an alignment block 13 which may be utilised for alignment of the tracks 40 during installation. The cutaway portion of the bracket 70 in figure 13 15 clearly illustrates the cam portion 73 of the rotatable member 72 being engageable with the flattened surface 44 of the tracks. Figure 14 illustrates a rail 20 and various components that can be received within the shaped channel portion 21. Most of the components include some form of expansion means which is driven with a screw 14. Once one or more components have been inserted 20 into the shaped channel portion 21 of the rail 20, an end cap 15 can be placed in the end of the rail 20 to conceal and protect the components therein. Also illustrated in figure 14 is a wand assembly 12' having a portion adapted for insertion into the rail. Figures 15a and 15b illustrate an arrangement of components within a rail 20 that is particularly suited for a first rail on a first track of a plurality of rails 20 and tracks 40 for a 25 blind that is drawn/closed to the right (and opened to the left). Two gliders 80 are provided at each end of the rail 20, and a single stopper block 10lis located near the leftmost glider 80. Figures 16a and 16b then illustrate an arrangement of components within a rail 20 that is particularly suited for a subsequent rail on a subsequent track (for a blind that is 30 drawn/closed to the right). Again, two gliders 80 are provided at each end of the rail 20, and a single stopper block 10lis also located near the leftmost glider 80. However, for the subsequent rail, a stopper 100 is also provided. The lockable protrusion 102 of the stopper 16 100 is locked within the subsequent rail, and the slidable protrusion 103 of the stopper 100 is then located within the previous rail. For example,. if the rail in figures 16a and 16b is a second rail, the slidable protrusion 103 of the stopper 100 would be located in the channel between the gliders 80 of 5 the first rail illustrated in figures 15a and 15b. Accordingly, when the first rail is drawn, the slidable protrusion 103 will slide along the channel of that rail until it hits the stopper block 101. At this point, the stopper 100 will start to move with the first rail which, beause the other protrusion of the stopper 100 is locked relative to the second rail, pulls the second rail along behind the first rail. 10 A possible arrangement of stoppers 100a-100e and stopper blocks 101a-101d across six rails is illustrated in figure 17. (Note: in figure 17, the lockable protrusion 102 of each stopper 100a-100e is labelled as 'fixed' and the slidable protrusion 103 is regarded as the opposite edge of the stopper.) When the first rail is pulled (to the right) it will slide by itself until the first stopper block 101a engages with the slideable protrusion 103 of the 15 stopper 100a. At this point, assuming the first rail is continued to be pulled, the first stopper block 101a pulls slidable protrusion of the first stopper 100a along with it. Because the lockable protrusion of stopper 100a is fixed/locked to the second rail, the second rail is consequently pulled along with the first fail. The same process happens when the second stopper block 101b engages with the second stopper 100b, pulling the third rail along with 20 the first and second rails. However, since the third rail does not have any obstructions (e.g. a stopper block), it can be pulled freely along without 'catching' any subsequent panels. It is to be understood that the terminology employed above is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The foregoing embodiments are intended to be illustrative of the invention, without 25 limiting the scope thereof. The invention is capable of being practised with various modifications and additions as will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Throughout this specification, including the claims, where the context permits, the term "comprise" and variants thereof such as "comprises" or "comprising" are to be interpreted as including the stated integer or integers without necessarily excluding any 30 other integers.

Claims (13)

1. A stopper for connecting two adjacent blind panels, the stopper comprising: a lockable protrusion adapted to be received by a first blind panel and locked therein; a slidable protrusion adapted to be received by a second blind panel and slideably movable therein; and a bridging portion that extends between the lockable protrusion and the slidable protrusion, wherein the lockable protrusion and the slidable protrusion are substantially perpendicular to the bridging portion.

2. A stopper according to claim 1, wherein in use, the lockable protrusion and the slidable protrusion are located substantially within respective blind panels.

3. A stopper according to any preceding claim, wherein the stopper is made from a single piece of material.

4. A stopper according to claim 3, wherein the stopper is made from polyoxymethylene (POM).

5. A stopper according to any preceding claim, wherein the lockable protrusion is shaped to be received within a corresponding channel portion of the panel.

6. A stopper according to claim 5, wherein the lockable protrusion tapers outwards from the bridging portion.

7. A stopper according to claim 6, wherein the lockable protrusion is generally wedge shaped.

8. A stopper according to any preceding claim, wherein the lockable protrusion comprises an expansion means.

9. A stopper according to claim 8, wherein the expansion means comprises a screw receiving portion with a frustroconical entrance. 18

10. A stopper according to claim 9, wherein the expansion means further comprises a straight channel portion that is narrower than the screw receiving portion

11. A panel blind assembly comprising: a plurality of tracks; a bracket that affixes the plurality of tracks to a substantially vertical or horizontal surface; at least one glider adapted to traverse each track; a blind panel adapted to hang from each at least one glider; and at least one stopper of any preceding claim connected between adjacent pairs of blind panels.

12. A panel blind assembly according to claim 11, wherein there are 'n' panels, and 'n-l' stoppers.

13. A stopper substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.