Roller blind handle

Abstract

The present disclosure concerns a roller blind handle for operating a roller blind actuator, comprising: an actuator-mounting adapter comprising: an actuator-mounting end portion configured to be engaged to the roller blind actuator; and a handle-mounting end portion; and a handle member, comprising: a rod coupled to or at least partially formed integral with the handle-mounting end portion of the actuator-mounting adapter; and an operating portion extending from the rod and defining an operating aperture, the operating portion comprising two lateral portions extending from the rod in opposing directions, and a connecting portion connecting lower ends of the two lateral portions and configured to receive a force applied by a user, wherein the connecting portion and the two lateral portions at least partially delimit the operating aperture. The present disclosure also concerns a roller blind actuating assembly including the roller blind handle.

Description

ROLLER BLIND HANDLEPRIOR APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 63 / 515,400, filed on July 25, 2023, and entitled “ROLLER BLIND HANDLE”, the disclosure of which being hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The technical field relates to handles for roller blinds, and more particularly to roller blind handles that do not require prehension or twisting to be actuated.BACKGROUND

[0003] There are a variety of appliances having manual controls in commercial, industrial and residential applications that require users to operate mechanisms by making use of their hands and wrists. Such appliances may be light switches, coin slots, control handles, door handles, window operators and locks, fire alarm pull stations, etc. Whether it be by grasping, pinching, twisting or other movements of the hands and the wrists, users who have partial or moot use of their hands or wrists are limited in the interaction they may have with their environment. Windows blinds, roller blinds and shades that are manually controlled generally have actuation mechanisms that usually also require the use of hands or wrists.

[0004] In view of the above, there is a need for a handle, for instance for a roller blind, which would be able to overcome or at least minimize some of the above-discussed prior art concerns.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0005] It is therefore an aim of the present invention to address the above-mentioned issues.

[0006] According to a general aspect, there is provided a roller blind handle for operating a roller blind actuator, the roller blind handle comprising: an actuatormounting adapter comprising: an actuator-mounting end portion configured to beengaged to the roller blind actuator; and a handle-mounting end portion; and a handle member, comprising: a rod coupled to or at least partially formed integral with the handle-mounting end portion of the actuator-mounting adapter; and an operating portion extending from the rod and defining an operating aperture, the operating portion comprising two lateral portions extending from the rod in opposing directions, and a connecting portion connecting lower ends of the two lateral portions and configured to receive a force applied by a user, wherein the connecting portion and the two lateral portions at least partially delimit the operating aperture.

[0007] According to another general aspect, the at least one of the two lateral portions and the connecting portion can comprise one or more sections being one or a combination of straight, curved, and angled sections. The operating portion can have a round, elliptical, triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, or hexagonal shape. The connecting portion can comprise a surface, an edge, or a contact point for receiving the force applied by the user. The operating portion can comprise a material of a different elastic coefficient and / or a different friction coefficient than a material of the rod and / or of the two lateral portions and / or of the actuator-mounting adapter The roller blind handle can be made of one or a combination of plastic, wood, fabric, steel, glass, and rubber. The roller blind handle can have a hardness between about 85 shores and about 105 shores. A cross-sectional shape of the connecting portion can seamlessly match with a cross-sectional shape of the two lateral portions. The cross- sectional shape of the connecting portion and the cross-sectional shape of the two lateral portions can be shaped as a tube, a band ora beam. The cross-sectional shape of the connecting portion and the cross-sectional shape of the two lateral portions can have a thickness smaller than about 1 inch. The cross-sectional shape of the connecting portion and the cross-section shape of the two lateral portions can have a width smaller than about 2 inches. The operating portion can have a height between about 5 inches and about 10 inches. The operating portion can have a width between about 2 inches and about 10 inches. The operating aperture can have a diameter between about 2 inches and about 8 inches. The operating aperture can have a perimeter between about 7 inches and about 20 inches. The at least one of the two lateral portions and the connecting portion can be hollow. A length of the actuatormounting end portion can be about the same as a length of the handle-mounting endportion of the actuator-mounting adapter. The actuator-mounting end portion and the handle-mounting end portion of the actuator-mounting adapter can be manufactured separately. The actuator-mounting adapter can comprise a coupling member at an end of one or more of the actuator-mounting end portion and of the handle-mounting end portion.

[0008] According to another general aspect, there is provided a roller blind handle for operating a roller blind actuator, the roller blind handle comprising: an actuatormounting adapter comprising: an actuator-mounting end portion configured to be engaged to the roller blind actuator; and a handle-mounting end portion; and a handle member, comprising: an adapter-coupling portion coupled to or at least partially formed integral with the handle-mounting end portion of the actuator-mounting adapter; and an operating portion extending from the adapter-coupling portion and defining an operating aperture, the operating portion comprising two lateral portions diverging away from the adapter-coupling portion, and a connecting portion connecting distal ends of the two lateral portions and configured to receive a force applied by a user, wherein the connecting portion and the two lateral portions at least partially delimit the operating aperture.

[0009] According to yet another general aspect, there is provided a roller blind actuating assembly, comprising a roller blind actuator, an actuation mechanism, and a roller blind handle as previously described.

[0010] According to a general aspect, the actuation mechanism can comprise cords tethering the roller blind actuator to the roller blind handle. The cords can be at least partially encompassed by hollow rods. The roller blind handle can be displaceable by the force to actuate the roller blind actuator without prehension, grasping, pinching, twisting, or gripping by the user. The force to actuate the roller blind actuator can be equal to or less than about 30 newtons (N).

[0011] According to another general aspect, the operating portion of the roller blind handle can prevent an object of about 4.33 inches breadth, about 5.83 inches length, about 5.9 inches height and about 16.6 inches circumference of passing through the operating aperture when pushed or pulled by a force of about 44.5 N perpendicular to a plane of the operating aperture.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of two roller blind handles in accordance with an embodiment, the roller blind handles engaging a roller blind actuator of a roller blind assembly comprising a roller blind;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of a roller blind handle in accordance with an embodiment;

[0014] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the roller blind handle of FIG. 2;

[0015] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the roller blind handle of FIG. 2 along section lines A-A;

[0016] FIG. 5 is a top perspective exploded view of the roller blind handle of FIG. 2;

[0017] FIG. 6 is an illustration of front elevation views of roller blind handles in accordance with embodiments having various shapes;

[0018] FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of a roller blind handle in accordance with an embodiment having a defined operating aperture; and

[0019] FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the roller blind handle of Fig. 7.

[0020] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar elements. Furthermore, for the sake of simplicity and clarity, namely so as to not unduly burden the figures with several references numbers, not all figures contain references to all the components and features, and references to some components and features may be found in only one figure, and components and features of the present disclosure which are illustrated in other figures can be easily inferred therefrom. The embodiments, geometrical configurations, materials mentioned and / or dimensions shown in the figures are optional and are given for exemplification purposes only.

[0022] Moreover, it will be appreciated that positional descriptions such as “above”, “below”, “upward”, “downward”, “forward”, “rearward” “left”, “right” and the like should, unless otherwise indicated, be taken in the context of the figures only and should not be considered limiting. For example, in the specification, the term “upward” refers to an element being over a certain element whereas the term “downward” refers to an element being under a certain element.

[0023] To provide a more concise description, some of the quantitative expressions given herein may be qualified with the term “about”. It is understood that whether the term “about” is used explicitly or not, every quantity given herein is meant to refer to an actual given value, and it is also meant to refer to the approximation to such given value that would reasonably be inferred based on the ordinary skill in the art, including approximations due to the experimental and / or measurement conditions for such given value.

[0024] It will be appreciated that the term “transversal”, “transversally” and the like should, unless otherwise indicated, be taken in the context of an axis or direction crossing through another axis or direction. For example, a transversal axis to a longitudinal axis would imply that the transversal axis crosses through the longitudinal axis. The crossing angle may be any angle between 0 and 180 degrees, the interval being an open interval. Specific embodiments may refer to “lateral” axis, which may be taken in the context of the axis being at 90 degrees from the axis to which it is compared to; these embodiments must however be taken only in the context of said embodiments and are not limitative for the rest of the possible embodiments. The term “laterally” may however be taken in the context of “next to” or “on the side of”, especially if it refers to the position of an element relative to another element. On the other hand, the term “laterally” may be taken in the context of “in the direction of the lateral axis” if it refers to the direction of a movement.

[0025] In the following description, the term “about” means within an acceptable error range for the particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art, which will depend in part on how the value is measured or determined, i.e. , the limitations of the measurement system. It is commonly accepted that a 10% precision measure is acceptable and encompasses the term “about”.

[0026] In the above description, an embodiment is an example or implementation of the roller blind handle described herein. The various appearances of “one embodiment,” “an embodiment” or “some embodiments” do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiments. Although various features may be described in the context of a single embodiment, the features may also be provided separately or in any suitable combination. Conversely, although the roller blind handle may be described herein in the context of separate embodiments for clarity, it may also be implemented in a single embodiment. Reference in the specification to “some embodiments”, “an embodiment”, “one embodiment” or “other embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments.

[0027] It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is not to be construed as limiting and are for descriptive purpose only. The principles and uses of the teachings of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the accompanying description, figures and examples. It is to be understood that the details set forth herein do not construe a limitation to an application of the invention.

[0028] Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out or practiced in various ways and that the invention can be implemented in embodiments other than the ones outlined in the description above. It is to be understood that the terms “including”, “comprising”, “consisting” and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude the addition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers or groups thereof and that the terms are to be construed as specifying components, features, steps or integers. If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element. It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to “a” or “an” element, such reference is not to be construed that there is only one of that element. It is to be understood that where the specification states that a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, “can” or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included.

[0029] The descriptions, examples, methods and materials presented in the claims and the specification are not to be construed as limiting but rather as illustrative only.Meanings of technical and scientific terms used herein are to be commonly understood as by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs, unless otherwise defined. It will be appreciated that the methods described herein may be performed in the described order, or in any suitable order.

[0030] In accordance with one aspect, the present description concerns a roller blind handle. The roller blind handle may be used in any type of application requiring actuation of a roller blind actuator. Even though the present description focuses on the use of the disclosed handle with a roller blind actuator, it is understood that the handle could also be used to equip any other handle-actuated device such as a garage door, an electromechanical device, and the like.

[0031] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 , an embodiment of two roller blind handles 20 is shown. Each one of the roller blind handles 20 is configured to engage with and operate a roller blind actuator 10. The roller blind actuator 10 may, consequently, actuate a roller blind 12 lowering, raising or laterally displacing a blind 14 covering a window 16 for example. It may be understood that the term blind may also refer to any other known window covering or shade. For example, the blind 14 may be fabric of one or more layers of a flexible material mounted to and wrappable around the roller blind 12. The roller blind actuator 10 may comprise an actuating mechanism, or actuation mechanism, for actuating the roller blind 12. In the embodiment shown, the actuation mechanism includes actuation rods 18 which can be operated to actuate the roller blind actuator 10 and therefore the roller blind 12. In the embodiment shown, two actuation rods extend downwardly from the roller blind actuator 10. Each of the actuation rods 18 may be operable independently from the other to either raise or lower the blind 14. Cords may generally be located within the actuation rods 18 to tether the roller blind actuator 10 to the roller blind handle 20, whether directly or indirectly. In certain embodiments, cords that are not covered by actuation rods 18 may extend from the roller blind actuator 10. The actuation rods 18 and / or the cords may be replaced by any other known mechanism for actuating the roller blind actuator 10.

[0032] Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 5, an embodiment of a roller blind handle 20 is shown. The roller blind handle 20 comprises an actuator-mounting adapter 22, oradapter, that is configured to connect, or link, the roller blind handle 20 with the roller blind actuator 10. In the embodiment shown, the embodied adapter 22, better shown in FIG. 5, has a substantially elongated cylinder shape comprising at least two portions 24, 26. The first of the at least two portions is an actuator-mounting end portion 24 configured to be engaged (for instance in a removable manner) to the roller blind actuator 10 and the second of the at least two portions is a handle-mounting end portion 26 configured to be engaged to a handle member 42.

[0033] The actuator-mounting end portion 24 and the handle-mounting end portion 26 may be manufactured unitarily, in which case no fastening or engagement thereof is required, or separately. When manufactured separately, the two portions 24, 26 may be fastened or engaged to one another by any means known in the art and the engagement may be permanent or temporary. A length of each of the two portions 24, 26 may represent about half of a length of the actuator-mounting adapter 22 in an embodiment, whereas in other embodiments, the length of each may differ from one another. Furthermore, each of the actuator-mounting end portion 24 and of the handlemounting end portion 26 may be manufactured as a single portion or as a combination of smaller sub-portions.

[0034] In the embodiment shown, the actuator-mounting end portion 24 and the handle-mounting end portion 26 each comprise a coupling member 28, 30 at respective opposed ends of the actuator-mounting adapter 22. The coupling members 28, 30 are generally configured to be detachably engaged with the roller blind actuator 10 (for the coupling member of the actuator-mounting end portion) or to the handle member 42 (for the coupling member of the handle-mounting end portion) so that the roller blind handle 20 may be secured and unsecured from the roller blind actuator 10 in order to discard, repair or replace the roller blind handle 20 for example. It will be understood that although the embodied two end portions 24, 26 comprise different embodiments of coupling members 28, 30, each of the end portions 24, 26 may comprise any or a combination of the features of the described embodiments of coupling members 28, 30.

[0035] In the embodiment shown, the actuator-mounting end portion 24 comprises a coupling member 28 divided into a male coupler 32 and a female coupler 34. Thecoupling member 28 is shaped and dimensioned so that the male coupler 32 and the female coupler 34 are couplable with corresponding and respective female coupler and male coupler of another coupling member, not shown. The other coupling member may generally be engaged or fastened to or at least partially made integral with the roller blind actuator 10. For example, it may be located at the bottom end of an actuation rod 18 or of a cord. In the embodiment shown, the coupling member 28 comprises a snap-fit connector 36 (for instance a cantilever snap-fit connector); however other shapes and types of connectors could be conceived.

[0036] Still in the embodiment shown, the handle-mounting end portion 26 of the actuator-mounting adapter comprises a coupling member 30 having a snap-fit connector 38 at its end (for instance a dome shaped connector) and depressions 40 or holes along the side surface of the handle-mounting end portion 26. The snap-fit connector 38 is configured to engage with a corresponding connector, not shown, in the handle member 42. The embodied depressions 40 linearly span on the side surface of the handle-mounting end portion 26, however in other embodiments, the depressions 40 may be arranged in any other configuration known in the art. The number of depressions 40 may also vary in other embodiments. The depressions 40 are configured to engage with corresponding connectors, not shown, from the handle member 42. The corresponding connectors may be snap-fitted within the depression 40 or may be fastened with any other fastening means known in the art.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 5, an embodiment of a handle member 42 is shown. The handle member 42 comprises a rod 44 (or adapter-coupling portion) and an operating portion 52 defining an operating aperture or operating loop. Understandably, in some embodiments, the rod 44 and the operating portion 52 may be manufactured unitarily or separately, in which case they may subsequently be coupled to one another by any means known in the art.

[0038] The embodied rod 44, or handle rod, or adapter-coupling portion, is a vertical tubular member 46 with a hole 48 having an opening 50 at a top end of the rod 44 for receiving the handle-mounting end portion 26 of the adapter 22. Within the hole 48 may be a coupling member, not shown, corresponding to the coupling member 30 at the end of the handle-mounting end portion 26 of the adapter 22 for coupling with thesame. In an embodiment of the invention, the rod 44 may be detachably coupled to the actuator-mounting adapter 22. In another embodiment, the rod 44 may be permanently coupled to the actuator-mounting adapter 22, such that it is partially formed integral with the actuator-mounting adapter 22. The rod 44 may therefore be overmolded over the actuator-mounting adapter 22 such that at least a part of the handle-mounting end portion 26 is received within the hole 48 of the rod 44. In an alternate embodiment not shown, the rod 44 may be received within a hollow section in the actuator-mounting adapter 22 and temporarily coupled by way of corresponding coupling members or permanently coupled by way of overmolding. In such embodiment, the rod 44 may not comprise a hole. In the embodiment shown, the vertical tubular member 46 and the hole 48 have a cylindrical shape whereas in other embodiments, they may have any other shape known in the art such as rectangular, triangular, and so forth.

[0039] Still in the embodiment shown, the operating portion 52 projects from the rod 44 with first and second lateral portions 54, 56. The embodied first and second lateral portions 54, 56 comprise elongated members 58, 60 having each an upper end 62 and a lower 64 end. From their upper ends 62, the lateral portions 54, 56 extend from the rod 44 in different (or diverging) directions from one another. The lateral portions 54, 56 may extend from the rod 44 in opposing directions or in directions that are symmetrical or asymmetrical with regards to a vertical central axis 66 of the rod 44. In the shown embodiment, the lateral portions 54, 56 extend from the rod 44 in a substantially inversed Y-shape. The lateral portions 54, 56 may extend from the rod 44 at any angle between, and excluding, a straight upward angle and a straight downward angle. The lateral portions 54, 56 may extend from the rod 44 such that there is an empty space between the two lateral portions 54, 56. The lateral portions 54, 56 may comprise one or a plurality of sections, each of which may be straight, curved, angled, or a combination thereof. For example, a lateral portion may comprise a plurality of sections angled or curved from one another to define any shape known in the art.

[0040] The lateral portions 54, 56 are connected to one another at their lower ends 64 (i.e., ends thereof opposed to the ends of the lateral portions by which the lateral portions are secured to or extend from the rod or adapter-coupling portion) by aconnecting portion 68. In an embodiment, the shape of the connecting portion 68 may seamlessly match with the shape of the lateral portions 54, 56 (i.e. , form together a substantially continuous profile). For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the connecting portion 68 and the first and second lateral portions 54, 56 define a substantially seamless elliptical ring. In other embodiments, the connecting portion 68 may break or differ, with angles, curves, cross-sectional shape, or diameter, from the shape defined by the lateral portions 54, 56. For example, the connecting portion 68 and the lateral portions 54, 56 may define a square in which the connecting portion 68 is an elongated horizontal member connecting elongated vertical sections of the lateral portions 54, 56. Various and non-limitative possible embodiments are illustrated on FIG. 6 showing different shapes of roller blind handles 20 with elliptic, triangular, rectangular, pentagonal and hexagonal shapes. Understandably, the connecting portion 68 may comprise one or more sections, each of which may be straight, curved, angled or a combination thereof.

[0041] Because the connecting portion 68 is configured to be pressed downwardly by a descending force, it may comprise at least an upper surface 70, upper edge, or upper contact point for receiving the descending force. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the connecting portion 68 is a curved and substantially horizontal elongated member with a top concave and substantially flat surface 70.

[0042] In an embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the first and second lateral portions 54, 56 and the connecting portion 68 may have a thickness T comprised between about more than 0 inch and about 1 inch, for instance comprised between about 0.1 inch and about 1 inch, for instance comprised between about 0.12 inch and about 0.2 inch, for instance of about 0.15 inch and a width w comprised between about more than 0 inch and about 2 inch, for instance comprised between about 0.1 inch and about 2 inch, for instance comprised between about 0.2 inch and about 1 inch, for instance of about 0.38 inch. The rod 44 may have a diameter of about more than 0 inch and about 2 inches, for instance comprised between about 0.1 inch and about 2 inches, for instance comprised between about 0.2 inch and about 1 inch, for instance about 0.38 inch. The actuator-mounting adapter 22 may have a diameter of about more than 0 inch and about 2 inches, for instance comprised between about 0.1 inch and about 2 inches, for instance comprised between about 0.2 inch and about 1 inch, for instanceabout 0.291 inch. As shown in FIG. 7, the operating portion 52 may have a height H of between about 5 inches and about 10 inches, for instance of about 7 and 15 / 16 inches and a width W of between about 2 and 1 inches and about 10 inches, for instance about 5 inches and 1 / 16 inches.

[0043] The first and second lateral portions 54, 56 and the intervening connecting portion 68 of the operating portion 52 at least partially delimit the above-mentioned operating aperture 72, operating loop, or closed operating aperture. More precisely, the lateral portions 54, 56 and the connecting portion 68 define a closed-off, or at least substantially closed-off, aperture 72 in which a user may insert a body member, body member portion, tool, or object within. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the aperture 72 may comprise free space having a diameter of at least about 2.25 inches. In other embodiments, the aperture 72 may comprise free space having a diameter under about 3 inches; in other embodiments, the aperture 72 may comprise free space having a diameter under about 5.5 inches; in yet other embodiments, the aperture 72 may comprise free space having a diameter under about 8 inches.

[0044] The lateral portions 54, 56 and the connecting portion 68 may have the shape of a tube, a band, a beam, or any other shape known in the art. The lateral portions 54, 56 and / or the connecting portion 68 may be hollow inside to reduce weight of the roller blind handle 20. Edges or surfaces of the operating portion 52 facing the operating aperture 72 may comprise or be covered by a material, not shown, having a higher elastic coefficient and / or a higher friction coefficient than the other components of the roller blind handle 20. The roller blind handle 20 may be made of plastic, wood, fabric, steel, glass, rubber, and other materials. The operating portion 52 may be made of the same or other materials. The connecting portion 68 may have a higher, lower or equal flexibility than the lateral portions 54, 56. The operating portion 52 may have a higher, lower or equal flexibility than the rod 44. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the handle member 42 is made of a material that is different from the material of the actuator-mounting adapter 22. In such embodiment, the handle member 42 may be made from a flexible material having a hardness allowing said member 42 from retaining its shape after various cycles of use. Such material for the handle member may be Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), such as Texin® 285, Covestro. The actuator-mounting adapter 22 may be made at least partially from a nylon fibersmaterial, such as glass-fiber reinforced resin, such as glass-fiber reinforced PA66 resin, such as Vydyne® R314H. On the Shore hardness scale, the material used to manufacture the handle member 42 may for example have a hardness comprised between about 85 shores to 105 shores, for instance comprised between about 90 shores to 100 shores, for instance of about 95 shores.

[0045] It will be appreciated that the handle member 42 and the operating aperture 72 may allow a user to downwardly displace the roller blind handle 20, and consequently operate the roller blind actuator 10, without the need to prehend, grasp, pinch, twist or grip the roller blind handle 20. A downward pressure on the top surface, edge or point of contact 70 of the connecting portion 68 may be sufficient to engage the roller blind actuator 10. In one embodiment, the force applied by a user on the roller blind handle 20 to operate the roller blind actuator 10 may be equal or under about 30 newtons (N) or equal or under about 20 N.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 7, the roller blind handle 20 may have an operating aperture 72 with a maximal diameter comprised between about 100 millimeters (mm), or about 3.94 inches, and about 140 mm, or about 5.51 inches. The diameter of the operating aperture 72 may be under 140 mm, or about 5.51 inches. The perimeter of the operating aperture 72 may be comprised between about 180 mm, or about 7.09 inches, to about 500 mm, or about 19.69 inches, between about 300 mm, or about 11.81 inches, to 450 mm, or about 17.72 inches, or equal or lower than about 440 mm, or about 17.32 inches. In an embodiment, the perimeter of the operating aperture 72 may be of about 409 mm. The maximal diameter and the perimeter of the operating aperture 72 may be with or without force applied onto the operating portion 52. In some embodiments, the force applied may be between about 20 N and about 30 N. Other embodiments of operating aperture 72 diameters and perimeters with or without a force applied may be employed depending on the shape, configuration and materials used to manufacture the roller blind handle 20.

[0047] In some embodiments, the roller blind handle 20 may be up to code with any past, present and future versions of one or more of the following codes or guides: American with Disabilities Act (ADA) 101 - Operable Parts; ANSI / WCMA A100.1- 2022; and DORS / 2019-97. For example, in an embodiment, the roller blind handle 20may be operable with one hand and shall not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist and the force required to activate the roller blind handle 20 may be 22.2 N maximum. In yet another embodiment, there is provided a probe having a head of about 148 mm, or 5.83 in, length, about 110 mm, 4.33 in, breadth, 150 mm, 5.9 in, height, and about 422 mm + / - 8 mm, 16.6 in + / - 0.3 in, circumference. The operating portion 52 may prevent the passage of the probe pushed or pulled perpendicular to a plane of the aperture 72 by a force of about 44.5 N or less through the operating aperture 72.

[0048] Several alternative embodiments and examples have been described and illustrated herein. The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be exemplary only. A person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate the features of the individual embodiments, and the possible combinations and variations of the components. A person of ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that any of the embodiments could be provided in any combination with the other embodiments disclosed herein. It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. Accordingly, while the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind. The scope of the invention is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A roller blind handle for operating a roller blind actuator, the roller blind handle comprising: an actuator-mounting adapter comprising: an actuator-mounting end portion configured to be engaged to the roller blind actuator; and a handle-mounting end portion; and a handle member, comprising: a rod coupled to or at least partially formed integral with the handle-mounting end portion of the actuator-mounting adapter; and an operating portion extending from the rod and defining an operating aperture, the operating portion comprising two lateral portions extending from the rod in opposing directions, and a connecting portion connecting lower ends of the two lateral portions and configured to receive a force applied by a user, wherein the connecting portion and the two lateral portions at least partially delimit the operating aperture.

2. The roller blind handle of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the two lateral portions and the connecting portion comprises one or more sections being one or a combination of straight, curved, and angled sections.

3. The roller blind handle of claim 2, wherein the operating portion has a round, elliptical, triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, or hexagonal shape.

4. The roller blind handle of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the connecting portion comprises a surface, an edge, or a contact point for receiving the force applied by the user.

5. The roller blind handle of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the operating portion comprises a material of a different elastic coefficient and / or a different friction coefficient than a material of the rod and / or of the two lateral portions and / or of the actuator-mounting adapter.

6. The roller blind handle of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the roller blind handle is made of one or a combination of plastic, wood, fabric, steel, glass, and rubber.

7. The roller blind handle of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the roller blind handle has a hardness between about 85 shores and about 105 shores.

8. The roller blind handle of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a cross- sectional shape of the connecting portion seamlessly matches with a cross-sectional shape of the two lateral portions.

9. The roller blind handle of claim 8, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the connecting portion and the cross-sectional shape of the two lateral portions are shaped as a tube, a band or a beam.

10. The roller blind handle of claim 8 or 9, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the connecting portion and the cross-sectional shape of the two lateral portions have a thickness smaller than about 1 inch.11 . The roller blind handle of any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the cross- sectional shape of the connecting portion and the cross-section shape of the two lateral portions have a width smaller than about 2 inches.

12. The roller blind handle of any one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the operating portion has a height between about 5 inches and about 10 inches.

13. The roller blind handle of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the operating portion has a width between about 2 inches and about 10 inches.

14. The roller blind handle of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the operating aperture has a diameter between about 2 inches and about 8 inches.

15. The roller blind handle of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the operating aperture has a perimeter between about 7 inches and about 20 inches.

16. The roller blind handle of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the at least one of the two lateral portions and the connecting portion is hollow.

17. The roller blind handle of any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein a length of the actuator-mounting end portion is about the same as a length of the handle-mounting end portion of the actuator-mounting adapter.

18. The roller blind handle of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the actuatormounting end portion and the handle-mounting end portion of the actuator-mounting adapter are manufactured separately.

19. The roller blind handle of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the actuatormounting adapter comprises a coupling member at an end of one or more of the actuator-mounting end portion and of the handle-mounting end portion.

20. A roller blind handle for operating a roller blind actuator, the roller blind handle comprising: an actuator-mounting adapter comprising: an actuator-mounting end portion configured to be engaged to the roller blind actuator; and a handle-mounting end portion; anda handle member, comprising: an adapter-coupling portion coupled to or at least partially formed integral with the handle-mounting end portion of the actuator-mounting adapter; and an operating portion extending from the adapter-coupling portion and defining an operating aperture, the operating portion comprising two lateral portions diverging away from the adaptercoupling portion, and a connecting portion connecting distal ends of the two lateral portions and configured to receive a force applied by a user, wherein the connecting portion and the two lateral portions at least partially delimit the operating aperture.

21. A roller blind actuating assembly, comprising a roller blind actuator, an actuation mechanism, and a roller blind handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20.

22. The roller blind actuating assembly of claim 21 , wherein the actuation mechanism comprises cords tethering the roller blind actuator to the roller blind handle.

23. The roller blind actuating assembly of claim 22, wherein the cords are at least partially encompassed by hollow rods.

24. The roller blind actuating assembly of any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the roller blind handle is displaceable by the force to actuate the roller blind actuator without prehension, grasping, pinching, twisting, or gripping by the user.

25. The roller blind actuating assembly of claim 24, wherein the force to actuate the roller blind actuator is equal to or less than about 30 newtons (N).

26. The roller blind handle of any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein the operating portion prevents an object of about 4.33 inches breadth, about 5.83 inches length, about 5.9 inches height and about 16.6 inches circumference of passing through the operating aperture when pushed or pulled by a force of about 44.5 N perpendicular to a plane of the operating aperture.

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