JP7498091B2 - Vertical blinds - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to vertical blinds.

A vertical blind is known that has a hanger rail (head rail), a number of first and second runners (carriers) arranged movably within the hanger rail, and louvers suspended from each runner, and that allows the angle of the louvers to be changed to adjust the amount of light entering the room (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In the vertical blinds of Cited Document 1, a translucent first louver is suspended from a first runner via a hook, and the first louver is adapted to rotate around a vertical axis in a corresponding direction. An opaque second louver is suspended from a second runner via a hook, and the second louver is adapted to rotate around a vertical axis in a corresponding direction.

The first louver is positioned between two second louvers, and by rotating the first louver, it can be switched between a state where there is no gap between the second louvers, preventing the interior from being seen from the outside (privacy), and a state where there is a gap between the louvers, ensuring a view to the other side.

JP 2010-150857 A

The vertical blinds described in Patent Document 1 have an additional opaque first louver between the second louvers, compared to normal vertical blinds. This increases the folding margin when the louvers are folded, and conventionally, in vertical blinds with folded louvers, the louvers are bulky in the direction of movement.

Therefore, the present invention was made to solve the above problems, and aims to provide technology that ensures privacy and allows the amount of light coming in from the front to be adjusted.

In order to solve the above problems, the vertical blind according to the present invention is a vertical blind comprising a hanger rail, a tilt shaft supported within the hanger rail so as to be rotatable around an axis, a first runner and a second runner supported so as to be movable relative to the tilt shaft, and a louver suspended from each of the first runner and the second runner, wherein the first runner and the second runner each have a worm inserted into the tilt shaft, a worm wheel that engages with the worm, and a hook to which the worm wheel is attached and which rotatably supports the louver, and the twist direction of the worm and the worm wheel of the first runner and the twist direction of the worm and the worm wheel of the second runner are different from each other.

In one aspect of the vertical blind of the present invention, the first runners and the second runners are arranged alternately on the tilt shaft.

This invention allows you to ensure privacy and adjust the amount of light coming in from the front.

1 is a front view for explaining a configuration of a vertical blind according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the louvers are in a fully closed state. 2A is a front view of the vertical blind shown in FIG. 1 with the louvers in a fully open state, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the vertical blind taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing only a tilt shaft and a runner of the vertical blind. 4A is an exploded perspective view of a first runner, and FIG. 4B is an exploded perspective view of a second runner. 1A is a diagram of a worm gear in a first runner according to this embodiment, viewed along the axis of the worm, and FIG. 1B is a diagram of a worm gear in a second runner according to this embodiment, viewed along the axis of the worm. 1A is a diagram of a worm gear in a first runner according to this embodiment, viewed along the axis of the worm wheel, and FIG. 1B is a diagram of a worm gear in a second runner according to this embodiment, viewed along the axis of the worm wheel. 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining the configuration of the runner case, where (a) is an oblique view of the runner case as viewed from above, (b) is an oblique view of the runner case as viewed from below, and (c) is a cross-sectional view of the runner case along line B-B in (a). FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the rotation progress of louvers attached to each runner in a vertical blind at each specified rotation angle.

Below, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a front view for explaining the configuration of a vertical blind 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2(a) is a front view of the vertical blind 100 shown in Figure 1 with the louvers 140 fully open, and Figure 2(b) is a cross-sectional view of the vertical blind 100 taken along line A-A in (a). The vertical blind 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a solar shading device that, for example, allows the outside to be seen from inside the room, prevents the inside of the room from being seen from outside, and adjusts the amount of light entering the room by providing multiple louvers 140 and making the angle of the louvers 140 (more precisely, the rotation angle in the horizontal plane in the horizontal cross section of the louvers 140) adjustable. The vertical blind 100 according to this embodiment is a known vertical blind that is attached to a window frame or the like, and is not limited to a specific vertical blind.

The vertical blind 100 according to the present invention comprises a hanger rail 110, a tilt shaft 150 supported rotatably around an axis within the hanger rail 110, a first runner 1 and a second runner 3 supported movably relative to the tilt shaft 150, and a louver 140 suspended from each of the first runner 1 and the second runner 3. The first runner 1 and the second runner 3 each have a worm 11, 31 inserted into the tilt shaft 150, a worm wheel 12, 32 engaged with the worm 11, 31, and a hook 13, 33 to which the worm wheel 12, 32 is attached and which rotatably supports the louver 140, and the twist direction of the worm 11 and the worm wheel 12 of the first runner 1 is different from the twist direction of the worm 31 and the worm wheel 32 of the second runner 3. The configuration of the vertical blind 100 will be specifically described below.

<Configuration of vertical blinds>
The vertical blind 100 includes a hanger rail 110, a drive mechanism (not shown), an operating rod 120, an operating cord 130, a louver 140, a tilt shaft 150, and runners 1 and 3. For ease of explanation, in the drawings, as shown in FIG. 1, the extension direction of the hanger rail 110 of the vertical blind 100 is defined as a longitudinal direction LR. The direction in which the louver 140 hangs down from the hanger rail 110 is defined as a height direction UD. The left-right direction in FIG. 2(b) is defined as a front-rear direction (width direction) FB. The side where the operating rod 120 is attached to the vertical blind 100 is defined as an indoor side F, and the side where the vertical blind 100 is attached to a window frame or the like is defined as an outdoor side B.

The hanger rail 110 is a hollow box-like member extending along the longitudinal direction LR, and has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape intersecting with the width direction FB. Both ends of the hanger rail 110 in the longitudinal direction LR are closed by end caps. In the height direction UD when the hanger rail 110 is attached, the hanger rail 110 has an opening 111 that opens toward the lower side D so that multiple louvers 140 can be suspended from the hanger rail 110.

An operating rod 120, an operating cord 130, and a drive mechanism are provided on one side (right side R) of the closed end of the hanger rail 110. The operating rod 120 is suspended from and supported by the hanger rail 110. Rotating the operating rod 120 rotates a tilt shaft 150 (described later) via a gear (not shown) of the drive mechanism. The rotation of the tilt shaft 150 rotates the runner hooks 13, 33 of the runners 1, 3 (described later), causing the louvers 140 suspended and supported by the runners 1, 3 to rotate.

The operating cord 130 hanging down from one end cap is arranged so that it can rotate within the hanger rail 110, and more specifically, it is attached to the runner 1; 3 on the other end cap side of the multiple runners 1, 3 described below.

For example, the louvers 140 are formed from a translucent (transparent) material that allows light to pass through and/or a non-translucent (non-transparent) material that does not allow light to pass through.

The tilt shaft 150 is supported within the hanger rail 110 so as to be rotatable about its axis x1. The tilt shaft 150 is a shaft member having a plurality of splines formed on the outer circumferential surface of the tilt shaft 150 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The splines extend along the axis x1.

The vertical blind 100 has a plurality of runners (first runners) 1 and a plurality of runners (second runners) 3. Each of the runners 1, 3 is arranged to be movable relative to the tilt shaft 150 along the longitudinal direction LR.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing only the tilt shaft 150 and the runners 1 and 3 of the vertical blind 100. The runners 1 and 3 are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction LR on the tilt shaft 150. Adjacent runners 1 and 3 are connected to each other by spacer links (not shown), limiting the maximum distance between them.

Figure 4(a) is an exploded perspective view of the runner (first runner) 1, and Figure 4(b) is an exploded perspective view of the runner (second runner) 3. Runner 1 has a worm gear (worm 11 and worm wheel 12) 10, a runner hook 13, and a runner case 20. Runner 3 also has a worm gear (worm 31 and worm wheel 32) 30, a worm 31, a worm wheel 32, a runner hook 33, and a runner case 40. Note that the worm runner hooks 13, 33 and the runner cases 20, 40 of runners 1, 3 are members having the same configuration.

In the runners 1 and 3, the worm gears 10 and 30 are formed by the worms 11 and 31 and the worm wheels 12 and 32. The worms 11 and 31 are each formed in a hollow cylindrical shape and have multiple teeth 11a and 31a on their outer circumferential surfaces. The teeth 11a and 31a are formed in a spiral shape around the axes x2 and x3 that pass through the center of the worms 11 and 31 and serve as the center of rotation. The worms 11 and 31 are fitted to the tilt shaft 150 so as to be slidable along the axis x1.

Figure 5(a) is a view of the worm gear 10 in the runner 1 according to this embodiment, viewed along the axis x2 of the worm 11, and Figure 5(b) is a view of the worm gear 30 in the runner 3 according to this embodiment, viewed along the axis x4 of the worm 31. Figure 6(a) is a view of the worm gear 10 in the runner 1 according to this embodiment, viewed along the axis x4 of the worm wheel 12, and Figure 6(b) is a view of the worm gear 30 in the runner 3 according to this embodiment, viewed along the axis x5 of the worm wheel 32.

In FIG. 5, the worm wheels 12, 32 are disposed to the left of the worms 11, 31. The twist direction (extension direction) of the teeth 11a extending around the axis x2 of the worm 11 rises to the left, and the twist direction (extension direction) of the teeth 31a extending around the axis x3 of the worm 31 rises to the right. In other words, the twist directions of the teeth 11a, 31a of the worms 11, 31 are mutually different.

The worms 11 and 31 each have three convex ridges 11b and 31b that are equally spaced in the circumferential direction on the inner circumferential surface and protrude toward the axis x2 and x4. Each ridge 11b and 31b extends along the axis x2 and x3 and engages with, for example, a spline groove N (see FIG. 3) of the tilt shaft 150.

The worm wheels 12, 32 are formed in a hollow cylindrical shape and are fitted into the runner hooks 13, 33 described below. The worm wheels 12, 32 have multiple teeth 12a, 32a on their outer circumferential surfaces. The multiple teeth 12a, 32a extend parallel or approximately parallel to each other and obliquely along the axis x4, x5 that passes through the center of the worm wheels 12, 32 and serves as the center of rotation.

In FIG. 6, the twist direction (extension direction) of the teeth 12a along the axis x4 of the worm wheel 12 rises to the left, and the twist direction (extension direction) of the teeth 32a along the axis x5 of the worm wheel 32 rises to the right. In other words, the twist directions of the teeth 12a, 32a of the worm wheels 12, 32 are different from each other. When the worms 11, 31 are fitted to the tilt shaft 150, the worm wheels 12, 32 engage with the worms 11, 31 on the same side (left side) of the tilt shaft 150.

Returning to FIG. 4, the runner hooks 13, 33 are rod-shaped members that have lower parts 13a, 33a that partially protrude outside the runners 1, 3 when supported by the runners 1, 3, and upper parts 13b, 33b that are housed within the housing space S. A louver 140 is attached to the lower parts 13a, 33a so as to rotate around the axis (x4, x5) of the runner hooks 13, 33.

The worm wheels 12, 32 are attached to the upper parts 13b, 33b of the runner hooks 13, 33. When the worm wheels 12, 32 are fitted into the upper parts 13b, 33b of the runner hooks 13, 33, the worm wheels 12, 32 and the runner hooks 13, 33 do not rotate relative to each other.

The worm wheels 12, 32 mesh with the worms 11, 31 that rotate together with the tilt shaft 150. When the tilt shaft 150 rotates with the worm wheels 12, 32 meshed with the worms 11, 31, the rotational output is transmitted to the runner hooks 13, 33 via the worms 11, 31 and the worm wheels 12, 32, and the louvers 140 rotate together with the rotation of the runner hooks 13, 33. Specifically, the louvers 140 suspended from the runner 1 and the louvers 140 suspended from the runner 3 rotate in different directions.

Figure 7 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the runner case 20;40, where (a) is a perspective view of the runner case 20;40 as viewed from above, (b) is a perspective view of the runner case 20;40 as viewed from below, and (c) is a cross-sectional view of the runner case 20;40 along line B-B in (a). The runner case 20;40 is supported within the hanger rail 110 by the hanger rail 110 and the tilt shaft 150 so as to be slidable along the longitudinal direction LR. The runner case 20;40 is a housing-like member that houses the worm 11;31, the worm wheel 12;32, and the runner hook 13:33.

The runner case 20;40 has a pair of first walls 21;41 through which the tilt shaft 150 is inserted, and a pair of second walls 23, 25; 43, 45 supported by the hanger rail 110. In the runner case 20;40, the pair of first walls 21;41 and the pair of second walls 23, 25; 43, 45 define a storage space S. When the runners 1;3 are stored in the hanger rail 110, the side of the runner case 20;40 where the louvers 140 hang from the hanger rail 110 is closed by the bottom wall 27;47, and opens toward the side opposite the bottom wall 27;47.

The pair of first walls 21; 41 are provided at a predetermined interval from each other in the extension direction of the tilt shaft 150 and intersect in the extension direction when the tilt shaft 150 is inserted. The first walls 21; 41 each have an insertion hole 22; 42, through which the tilt shaft 150 is inserted.

The pair of second walls 23, 25; 43, 45 extend along the extension direction of the tilt shaft 150 when the tilt shaft 150 is inserted through the runner 1; 3, and connect the pair of first walls 21; 41. The second wall 23; 43 has an arm 24; 44 that slidably holds the spacer link on a surface along the extension direction of the tilt shaft 150. The arm 24; 44 has a protruding portion 24a; 44a and an opposing portion 24b; 44b.

The protruding portion 24a; 44a extends a predetermined amount in a direction away from the second wall portion 23; 43. The opposing portion 24b; 44b extends from the tip of the protruding portion 24a; 44a on the opposite side to the second wall portion 23; 43 to the opposite side to the bottom wall portion 27; 47, and faces the second wall portion 23; 43. The space between the second wall portion 23; 43 and the opposing portion 24b; 44b is formed so as to accommodate a spacer link.

The arm portion 24; 44 has a protrusion 24c; 44c on the surface of the opposing portion 24b; 44b facing away from the second wall portion 23; 43. As shown in FIG. 7, the protrusion 24c; 44c is formed in an inverted C shape or a substantially inverted C shape. The protrusion 24c; 44c is designed to allow the operating cord 130 to pass through.

The second wall portion 25; 45 has a protrusion 26; 46 on a surface along the extension direction of the tilt shaft 150 that is movably supported on the hanger rail 110. As shown in FIG. 7, the protrusion 26; 46 is formed in a C-shape or an approximately C-shape. The protrusion 26; 46 is designed to allow the operating cord 130 to pass through.

The bottom wall portion 27; 47 has a hole portion 28; 48 through which the runner hook 13; 33 is inserted. The runner hook 13; 33 is inserted into the hole portion 28; 48.

When the worms 11, 31, worm wheels 12, 32, and runner hooks 13:33 are housed in the runner cases 20, 40, the worms 11, 31 are arranged concentrically with the insertion holes 22; 42 of the runner cases 20; 40. In addition, the worm wheels 12, 32 and runner hooks 13, 33, which are attached so as not to be able to rotate relative to each other, are located in the housing space S when housed in the runner cases 20, 40, and the lower portions 13a, 33a of the runner hooks 13, 33 protrude from the holes 28, 48.

Figure 8 is a diagram showing the rotational progress of the louvers 140 attached to each runner 1, 3 of the vertical blind 100 at each specified rotation angle. Runner 1 and runner 3 are attached to the tilt shaft 150 so that the ends of adjacent louvers 140 overlap when fully closed (0° and 180°). When the operating rod 120 is rotated, the tilt shaft 150 rotates, and for example, the louvers 140 attached to runner 1 rotate 180° clockwise, and the louvers 140 attached to runner 3 rotate 180° counterclockwise.

In the vertical blind 100 as described above, worms 11, 31 with teeth 11a, 31a having different twist directions and worm wheels 12, 32 with teeth 12a, 32a having different twist directions are provided in each runner 1, 3. Therefore, when the tilt shaft 150 is rotated in a predetermined rotational direction, the runner hook 13 on runner 1 and the louvers 140 attached to the runner hook 13 and the runner hook 33 on runner 3 rotate in different directions, for example, clockwise and counterclockwise.

For example, with conventional vertical blinds, the louvers remain parallel to each other and rotate in the same direction until they are fully open, so they only adjust the amount of light entering at an angle through the window. The gaps between the louvers are large, so additional louvers are sometimes used to ensure privacy.

In contrast, in the vertical blind 100, when the tilt shaft 150 rotates, as shown in FIG. 8, the louvers 140 of each runner 1, 3 can always adjust the distance (amount of gap) between them in stages (for example, 15° to 165°) in the opposing directions (directions facing each other; front direction) to the inside and outside of the room. This makes it possible to adjust (dimm) the amount of light entering the room from the front through the window. Furthermore, it is possible to achieve both the adjustment of light entering the room and ensuring privacy.

Furthermore, in the vertical blind 100, there is no need to provide additional louvers between the louvers 140 to impede visibility, so the number of parts is not increased, and the folding allowance of the louvers when folded can be reduced.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the first embodiment described above, and includes all aspects included in the concept of the present invention and the scope of the claims. In addition, each configuration may be appropriately and selectively combined so as to achieve at least a part of the above-mentioned problems and effects. In addition, for example, the shape, material, arrangement, size, etc. of each component in the above embodiment may be appropriately changed depending on the specific usage mode of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the runners 1 and 3 are attached alternately to the tilt shaft 150, but two of the same runners 1 and 3 may be attached side by side.

1: Runner (first runner), 3: Runner (second runner), 10: Worm gear, 11: Worm, 11a: Teeth, 11b: Protrusion, 12: Worm wheel, 12a: Teeth, 13: Runner hook (hook), 13a: Lower portion, 13b: Upper portion, 20: Runner case, 21: First wall portion, 22: Insertion hole, 23, 25: Second wall portion, 24: Arm portion, 24a: Protruding portion, 24b: Opposing portion, 24c: Protruding portion, 26: Protruding portion,
27: bottom wall portion, 28: hole portion, 30: worm gear, 31: worm, 31a: teeth, 31b: protrusion portion, 32: worm wheel, 32a: teeth, 33: runner hook (hook), 33a: lower portion, 33b: upper portion, 40: runner case, 41: first wall portion, 42: insertion hole, 43, 45: second wall portion, 44: arm portion, 44a: protruding portion, 44b: opposing portion, 44c: protruding portion, 46: protruding portion, 47: bottom wall portion, 48: hole portion, 100: vertical blind, 110: hanger rail, 111: opening, 120: operating rod, 130: operating cord, 141, 142: louvers, 150: tilt shaft

Claims (2)

Clothes rail and
A tilt shaft supported rotatably about an axis within the hanger rail;
a first runner and a second runner supported movably relative to the tilt shaft;
a louver suspended from each of the first runner and the second runner;
A vertical blind comprising:
Each of the first runner and the second runner has a worm that is fitted onto the tilt shaft, a worm wheel that engages with the worm, and a hook to which the worm wheel is attached and which rotatably supports the louver,
A vertical blind, characterized in that a twist direction of the worm and the worm wheel of the first runner and a twist direction of the worm and the worm wheel of the second runner are different from each other. 2. The vertical blind according to claim 1, wherein the first runners and the second runners are alternately arranged on the tilt shaft.

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