JP7523316B2 - Vertical blinds - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to vertical blinds.

A vertical blind is known that has a clothes rail, multiple runners movably attached to the clothes rail, and louvers (slats) suspended from each runner, and that allows the amount of light entering the room to be adjusted by changing the angle of the louvers. The louvers are suspended from each runner within the clothes rail (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

The vertical blinds described in Patent Document 1 are equipped with two types of louvers: translucent, which allows light to pass through, and semi-translucent, which allows some light to pass through. The two types of louvers are hung from runners alternately along the length of the clothes rail.

JP 2009-161910 A

Incidentally, in the vertical blinds described in Patent Document 1, all of the hooks that are provided on each runner and rotatably support the louvers are aligned in series in a straight line along the longitudinal direction of the clothes rail. As a result, adjacent louvers overlap each other when fully closed. For example, if two types of louvers with different appearances overlap each other, the uniformity of the design of the vertical blind as a whole when the louvers are fully closed will be lost.

Therefore, the present invention was made to solve the above problems, and aims to provide a unified design when the louvers are fully closed.

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 gear, and a hook to which the worm wheel is attached and which rotatably supports the louver, and the worm wheel of the first runner and the worm wheel of the second runner are disposed on different sides of the tilt shaft and rotate in different directions.

In a vertical blind according to one aspect of the present invention, the first runner and the second runner each have a case that houses the worm and the hook and is inserted into the tilt shaft, and the case has two housing portions formed as holes that can house the hooks on different sides of the tilt shaft.

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.

In a vertical blind according to one embodiment of the present invention, the louvers of the first runner overlap at their ends with the louvers of the adjacent first runner when fully closed, and the louvers of the second runner overlap at their ends with the louvers of the adjacent second runner when fully closed, the louvers of the first runner do not contact the hooks of the adjacent second runner when rotated, and the louvers of the second runner do not contact the hooks of the adjacent first runner when rotated.

In a vertical blind according to one aspect of the present invention, the louvers of the first runner are translucent or non-translucent, and the louvers of the second runner are non-translucent or translucent.

The present invention provides a unified design when the louvers are fully closed.

1 is a front view for explaining a configuration of a vertical blind according to an embodiment of the present invention. 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 a 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 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. 11 is a plan view showing a state in which the runner is attached to the tilt shaft. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a rotation range of each louver in a vertical blind. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the rotational progress of each louver of a vertical blind at each predetermined 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 141 and 142 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 includes a plurality of louvers 141 and 142 and adjusts the angles of the louvers 141 and 142 (more precisely, the rotation angles in the horizontal plane in the horizontal cross section of the louvers 141 and 142) to, for example, enable the outside to be seen from inside the room, prevent the inside of the room from being seen from outside, and adjust the amount of light entering the room. 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 x1 within the hanger rail 110, a first runner 1 and a second runner 3 supported movably relative to the tilt shaft 150, and louvers 141, 142 suspended from 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 engaging with the worm 11, 31, and a hook (hereinafter also referred to as a "runner hook") 13, 33 to which the worm wheel 12, 32 is attached and which rotatably supports the louvers 141, 142. The worm wheel 12 of the first runner 1 and the worm wheel 32 of the second runner 3 are disposed on different sides of the tilt shaft 150 and rotate in different directions. The configuration of the vertical blind 100 is explained in detail 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, two types of louvers 141, 142, a tilt shaft 150, and runners 1, 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 the longitudinal direction LR. The direction in which the louvers 141, 142 hang down from the hanger rail 110 is the height direction UD. The left-right direction in FIG. 2(b) is the front-rear direction (width direction) FB. The side where the operating rod 120 is attached to the vertical blind 100 is the indoor side F, and the side where the vertical blind 100 is attached to a window frame or the like is the 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 in 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 vertical blind 100 is attached, the hanger rail 110 has an opening 111 that opens toward the lower side D so that multiple louvers 141, 142 can be hung 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. By rotating the operating rod 120, a tilt shaft 150 (described later) is rotated 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 141, 142 suspended and supported by the runners 1, 3 to rotate.

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

For example, louver 141 is made of a translucent (permeable) material that allows light to pass through, and louver 142 is made of a non-translucent (non-transparent) material that does not allow light to pass through. In this embodiment, louver 141 is attached to runner 1, and louver 142 is attached to runner 3, but the reverse may also be true. Note that louver 141 may also be made of a semi-translucent (semi-transparent) material that allows some 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 arranged alternately along the longitudinal direction LR. 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 runner hook 33, and a runner case 40. Note that the worm gears (worms 11, 31 and worm wheels 31, 32) 10, 30, the runner hooks 13, 33, and the runner cases 20, 40 of runners 1, 3 are common members.

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.

In FIG. 4, the worm wheel 12 is disposed to the left of the worm 11, and the worm wheel 32 is disposed to the right of the worm 31. In other words, when the tilt shaft 150 is inserted through each of the worms 11 and 31, the worm wheels 12 and 32 engage with the corresponding worm wheels 12 and 32 from different sides. The twist directions of the teeth 11a and 31a of the worms 11 and 31 are upward to the right. In other words, the twist directions of the teeth 11a and 31a of the worms 11 and 31 are the same.

The worms 11 and 31 each have convex ridges 11b and 31b that are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the inner circumferential surface and protrude toward the axis x2 and x3. 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 teeth 12a, 32a extend obliquely along the axes x4, x5 that pass through the centers of the worm wheels 12, 32 and serve as the centers of rotation. In FIG. 4, the twist direction of the teeth 12a, 32a of the worm wheels 12, 32 is, for example, upward to the right. The twist directions of the teeth 12a, 32a of the worm wheels 12, 32 need only be in the same direction, and may be upward to the left.

Runner hooks 13, 33 are rod-shaped members that have lower parts 13a, 33a that partially protrude outside runners 1, 3 when supported by runners 1, 3, and upper parts 13b, 33b that are housed within housing space S. Louver 141 is attached to lower part 13a so as to rotate around axis x4 of runner hook 13. Louver 142 is attached to lower part 33a so as to rotate around axis x5 of runner hook 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 141, 142 rotate in different directions as the runner hooks 13, 33 rotate.

Figure 5 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 so as to be slidable along the longitudinal direction LR relative to the hanger rail 110 and the tilt shaft 150. 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 141, 142 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. 5, 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 that is supported movably on the hanger rail 110 on a surface along the extension direction of the tilt shaft 150. As shown in FIG. 5, 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 two holes 27a, 27b; 47a, 47b through which the runner hook 13; 33 is inserted. The two holes 27a, 27b; 47a, 47b are provided at a predetermined interval along the first wall portion 21; 41 and are symmetrically disposed on either side of the insertion hole 22; 42 in the first wall portion 21; 41. In this embodiment, the runner hook 13 is inserted through the hole 27a, and the runner hook 33 is inserted through the hole 47b.

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 within 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 27a, 47b.

Figure 6 is a plan view showing the state in which runners 1 and 3 are attached to tilt shaft 150. A plurality of worms 11 and 31 are attached to tilt shaft 150 alternately at equal intervals along the extension direction of tilt shaft 150. As shown in the figure, for example, worm wheel 12 in runner 1 is on the indoor side F with respect to tilt shaft 150, and worm wheel 32 in runner 3 is on the outdoor side B with respect to tilt shaft 150. In other words, worm wheel 12 in runner 1 and worm wheel 32 in runner 3 are on different sides with respect to tilt shaft 150. Runner hook 13 of runner 1 rotates clockwise (see arrow), and runner case 40 of runner 3 rotates counterclockwise (see arrow).

Figure 7 is a diagram showing the rotation ranges R1, R2 of each louver 141, 142 in the vertical blind 100. Runner 1 and runner 3 are attached to the tilt shaft 150 so that when the louver 141 rotates, the louver 141 does not come into contact with the runner hook 33 of the adjacent runner 3, and when the louver 142 rotates, the louver 142 does not come into contact with the runner hook 13 of the adjacent runner 1. In other words, the rotation ranges R1, R2 of each louver 141, 142 do not include the runner hooks 13, 33 to which the other louvers 141, 142 are attached.

Figure 8 is a diagram showing the rotational progress of each louver 141, 142 of the vertical blind 100 at each specified angle. Runner 1 and runner 3 are attached to the tilt shaft 150 so that the ends of adjacent louvers 141 overlap when fully closed (0° and 180°) and the ends of adjacent louvers 142 overlap when fully closed. When the operating rod 120 is rotated, the tilt shaft 150 rotates, and the louvers 141 rotate 180° clockwise and the louvers 142 rotate 180° counterclockwise.

In the vertical blind 100 described above, the worm wheels 12, 32 on each runner 1, 3 are located on different sides of the worms 11, 31. As a result, when the tilt shaft 150 is rotated in a predetermined rotational direction, the worm wheel 12 and runner hook 13 on runner 1 and the worm wheel 32 and 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 simply adjust the amount of light entering the window at an angle. In other words, the gaps between the louvers gradually narrow from the front side of the room toward the diagonal, thereby simply adjusting the amount of light entering the room.

In contrast, in the vertical blind 100, when the tilt shaft 150 rotates, as shown in FIG. 8, the louvers 141, 142 can always adjust the distance (amount of gap) between them in stages (for example, 45° to 135°) in opposing directions (directions facing each other) to the inside and outside of the room. This allows for fine adjustment (dimming) of the amount of light entering the room from the front through the window.

Furthermore, when the louvers 141, 142 are adjusted to open or closed (dimming) (for example, between 15° and 60°), the non-translucent louvers 141 can be seen between the translucent louvers 142, preventing visibility from outside into the room and maintaining privacy.

Furthermore, when the louvers 141, 142 are fully closed, for example, only the non-translucent louvers 141 are visible from the inside of the room, i.e., the translucent louvers 142 are not visible from the inside of the room, enhancing the design (uniformity) of the vertical blind 100.

Furthermore, when the louvers 141 and 142 are in a fully closed state (0° and 180°), a predetermined space is provided between the louvers 141 and 142. This allows an air layer to be formed between the louvers 141 and 142 when fully closed, providing a heat insulating effect.

In addition, the runner cases 20, 40 of the runners 1, 3 each have two holes 27a, 27b; 47a, 47b that accommodate the runner hooks 13, 33, so that the same runner cases 20, 40 can be used for each runner 1, 3.

In addition, because the ends of the louvers 141 on runners 1 and the louvers 142 on runners 3 overlap, for example, when the vertical blind 100 is viewed from the inside F, only the louvers 141 are visible, and when the vertical blind 100 is viewed from the outside B, only the louvers 142 are visible, resulting in a unified design.

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 use mode of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, translucent louvers 141 and non-translucent louvers 142 are supported on the runners 1 and 3, but the type of louvers is not particularly limited, and the two types of louvers used can be appropriately determined according to the interior design, such as different colors.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the same runner cases 20, 40 were used, but they may be designed to have only holes for accommodating specific runner hooks 13, 33 on the side that matches the supporting louvers 141, 142.

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, 22: Insertion hole, 23, 25: Second wall, 24: Arm, 24a: Protruding portion, 24b: Opposing portion, 24c: Protruding portion, 26: Protruding portion,
27: bottom wall portion, 27a, 27b: holes, 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, 47a, 47b: holes, 100: vertical blind, 110: hanger rail, 111: opening, 120: operating rod, 130: operating cord, 141, 142: louvers, 150: tilt shaft

Claims (5)

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,
The worm wheel of the first runner and the worm wheel of the second runner are disposed on different sides of the tilt shaft and rotate in different directions. each of the first runner and the second runner has a case that houses the worm and the hook and is fitted onto the tilt shaft;
The vertical blind according to claim 1, wherein the case has two receiving portions formed as holes capable of receiving the hooks on either of different sides across the tilt shaft. The vertical blind according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first runners and the second runners are arranged alternately on the tilt shaft. When fully closed, ends of the louvers of the first runner overlap with those of the adjacent first runners, and when fully closed, ends of the louvers of the second runner overlap with those of the adjacent second runners,
A vertical blind as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the louvers of the first runner do not come into contact with the hooks of the adjacent second runner when rotated, and the louvers of the second runner do not come into contact with the hooks of the adjacent first runner when rotated. the louvers of the first runner are translucent or non-translucent;
5. The vertical blind of claim 1, wherein the louvers of the second runner are non-translucent or translucent.

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