Horizontal blind

Abstract

To provide a horizontal blind allowing slats to be automatically operated between close and open corresponding to surrounding temperature even in a simple structure.SOLUTION: A horizontal blind (1) is provided with: a head box; a plurality of slats; a lift adjustment mechanism (50); an angle adjustment mechanism (60); an operation code (40) adjustably operated for open / close angle and lift height of the slats; and a temperature motion mechanism (70) arranged so as to be driven in response to the angle adjustment mechanism (60) to close the plurality of slats when surrounding temperature exceeds the specific temperature, and to open the plurality of slats to open when the surrounding temperature becomes lower than the specific temperature.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to horizontal blinds, and more particularly to a horizontal blind in which a cord for controlling the opening and closing angle of the slats and a cord for controlling the height of the slats are integrated. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Horizontal blinds called Venetian blinds, which have long horizontal slats that open and close up and down, have been known for some time, and technology is known that automatically opens and closes the slats by detecting solar heat or the like.

[0003] For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 5-214884 (Patent Document 1) discloses a blind that is provided with a cord for opening and closing the slats and a cord for controlling the height at which the slats are raised and lowered, and that a coil-shaped shape memory alloy driver is attached to the slat opening and closing driver that controls the opening and closing of the slats. When the temperature rises due to sunlight, the shape memory alloy driver drives the slats in the closing direction.

[0004] Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2020-200671 (Patent Document 2) discloses an electric blind that allows multiple slats to be electrically raised and lowered and their angles adjusted. Specifically, it discloses that light sensors are attached to the surfaces of the slats, and that when the light sensors detect sunlight, the slats automatically close. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-214884 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-200671 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In recent years, horizontal blinds that have a cord for controlling the opening and closing angle of the upper slats and a cord for controlling the height of the upper slats are integrated into one unit have become mainstream.

[0007] The blinds in Patent Document 1 can automatically close the slats when the temperature rises due to sunlight, but this can only be used on blinds that are provided with a cord for opening and closing the slats and a cord for controlling the height of the slats.Furthermore, the blinds in Patent Document 2 can open and close automatically, but because they are electrically operated, the structure is complex.

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a horizontal blind that has a simple structure but whose slats can be automatically opened and closed depending on the ambient temperature. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, a horizontal blind comprises a head box, a plurality of slats extending along the extension direction of the head box and aligned along the lifting direction, a lifting adjustment mechanism that adjustably supports the lifting height of the plurality of slats, an angle adjustment mechanism that adjustably supports the opening and closing angle of the plurality of slats, and an operating cord that operates to adjust both the opening and closing angle of the slats by the angle adjustment mechanism and the lifting height of the slats by the lifting adjustment mechanism, and further comprises a temperature displacement mechanism that is operable by the angle adjustment mechanism to close the plurality of slats when the ambient temperature is above a predetermined temperature and to open the plurality of slats when the ambient temperature is below the predetermined temperature.

[0010] Preferably, the temperature displacement mechanism can take on a manual opening / closing position in which the opening / closing angle of the slats can be adjusted by the angle adjustment mechanism by operating the operating cord, an automatic opening / closing position in which the opening / closing angle of the slats can be automatically adjusted by the temperature displacement mechanism in accordance with the ambient temperature, and a switching position in which the manual opening / closing position is switched to the automatic opening / closing position.

[0011] Preferably, the angle adjustment mechanism and the lift adjustment mechanism extend along the extension direction of the head box and are rotatably supported by a shaft that rotates by operating an operating cord, and the temperature displacement mechanism moves along the longitudinal direction of the shaft to change its position between the manual opening / closing position, the switching position, and the automatic opening / closing position.

[0012] Preferably, the temperature displacement mechanism includes a thermoelement that expands and contracts in response to the ambient temperature.

[0013] Preferably, the temperature displacement mechanism includes a function enabling mechanism for enabling the thermo-element to function in a function enabling state at the switching position.

[0014] Preferably, the function exerting mechanism has a moving part that moves the temperature displacement member along the longitudinal direction of the shaft, an operating part that puts the thermoelement into a function exerting state in which the function of the thermoelement is exerted, and a transmission part that transmits the movement of the thermoelement in the function exerting state to the shaft. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the horizontal blind of the present invention, the slats can be automatically opened and closed in accordance with the ambient temperature, despite the simple structure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a horizontal blind according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a lifting / lowering adjustment mechanism and an angle adjustment mechanism of a general horizontal blind. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic plan view of a horizontal blind according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 4A and 4B are diagrams showing a temperature displacement mechanism of a horizontal blind according to the present embodiment, where (A) is a front view and (B) is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line IVb-IVb in FIG. 4A. [Figure 5]1A and 1B are diagrams showing position changes of a horizontal blind according to the present embodiment, in which (A) is a manual opening / closing position, (B) is a switching position, and (C) is an automatic opening / closing position. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a modified example of the horizontal blind. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing another modified example of the horizontal blind. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals denote like or corresponding parts and will not be described repeatedly.

[0018] First, before explaining the horizontal blind according to this embodiment, we will briefly explain the configuration of a typical horizontal blind 100, which combines a cord for controlling the opening and closing angle with a cord for adjusting the lifting height, with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

[0019] (General configuration of horizontal blinds) The horizontal blind 100 is a blind that combines a cord for controlling the opening and closing angle of the slats with a cord for adjusting the height of the slats. Referring to Figure 1, a typical horizontal blind 100 generally comprises a head box 10, a plurality of slats 20, a bottom rail 30, and an operating cord 40.

[0020] The head box 10 is attached to a mounting portion such as a ceiling, window frame, or curtain box. The head box 10 is a member extending in the longitudinal direction and includes a case body 12 provided at one longitudinal end and a case body 13 for an operating cord provided at the other end. The head box 10 is a box body that is open at the bottom, and as shown in Figure 2, it houses inside it a lift adjustment mechanism 50 that winds and feeds a lift cord 51, an angle adjustment mechanism 60 that adjusts the angle of the slats 20 using a ladder cord 61, and the like.

[0021] The slats 20 are made of, for example, synthetic resin, metal such as stainless steel, wood, or fabric, and are formed as elongated rectangular thin plates with arc-shaped convex upper surfaces. A plurality of slats 20 are provided and arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction between the head box 10 and the bottom rail 30. A hole 21 through which a lifting cord 51 is inserted is formed at a predetermined position in each slat 20.

[0022] The bottom rail 30 is a member that maintains the multiple slats 20 in a lowered state. The longitudinal dimension of this bottom rail 30 is approximately the same as the dimension of the slats 20. As a result, when the bottom rail 30 is raised, the multiple slats 20 are stacked on the bottom rail 30. The tips of the lifting / lowering cord 51 and ladder cord 61 that are fed out from the head box 10 are fixed to the bottom rail 30. Note that although the ladder cord 61 is not connected to the bottom rail 30 in FIG. 2, it does not matter whether it is fixed or not.

[0023] For example, three lifting / lowering cords 51 are provided, one at each end and one at the center in the longitudinal direction perpendicular to the lifting / lowering direction of the multiple slats 20. The lifting / lowering cords 51 movably pass through the holes 21 of the slats 20. The ladder cords 61 extend in the vertical direction along the lifting / lowering cords 51, and are disposed and fixed at both ends of the slats 20 in the width direction (direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction).

[0024] The operating cord 40 is provided inside the operating cord case 13 described above. The operating cord 40 is provided so as to rotate in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the head box 10 extends. The operating cord 40 is unwound below the head box 10, and by operating the operating cord 40, both the height and angle of the slats 20 can be adjusted. The operating cord 40 shown in FIG. 1 is a ball chain, but it may be any long member such as a string.

[0025] Next, the elevation adjustment mechanism 50 and the angle adjustment mechanism 60 disposed inside the head box 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 2(A).

[0026] A shaft 15 is provided within the head box 10 to rotate the elevation adjustment mechanism 50 and the angle adjustment mechanism 60 in synchronization. The shaft 15 extends along the longitudinal direction of the head box 10. The shaft 15 rotates by operating an operating cord 40. The head box 10 is provided with a pair of stoppers 14a, 14b for stopping the rotation of the angle adjustment mechanism 60.

[0027] The lifting / lowering adjustment mechanism 50 is a mechanism that raises and lowers the horizontal blind 1 by raising and lowering the height of the bottom rail 30. The lifting / lowering adjustment mechanism 50 includes the above-mentioned lifting / lowering cord 51 and a lifting / lowering drum 52 that winds and unwinds the lifting / lowering cord 51. The lifting / lowering drum 52 rotates together with the shaft body 15, and is therefore rotated by operating the operating cord 40. In other words, by operating the operating cord 40, the lifting / lowering drum 52 rotates together, and the lifting / lowering cord 51 is wound and unwound, thereby adjusting the height of the blind.

[0028] The angle adjustment mechanism 60 changes the angle of the slats 20 to change the open / close angle of the horizontal blind 1. The angle adjustment mechanism 60 includes the ladder cord 61 described above and an angle adjustment drum 62 that winds and unwinds the ladder cord 61. As shown in FIG. 1, the ladder cords 61 are located at both widthwise ends of the slat 20. The cord located on one widthwise side (e.g., the room side) is referred to as the first ladder cord 61a, and the cord located on the other widthwise side (e.g., the window side) is referred to as the second ladder cord 61b. Returning to FIG. 2(A), the angle adjustment drum 62 has a pair of protrusions 63a, 63b formed at different circumferential positions. The upper end of the first ladder cord 61 is fixed to the first protrusion 63a, and the upper end of the second ladder cord 61b is fixed to the second protrusion 63b.

[0029] The angle drum 62 rotates together with the shaft body 15, and is rotated by operating the operating cord 40. The angle drum 62 rotates together with the lifting drum 52 described above, but when the protrusions 63a and 63b come into contact with the stoppers 14a and 14b of the head box 10, the rotation stops and only the lifting drum 52 rotates.

[0030] Next, the operations of the elevation adjustment mechanism 50 and the angle adjustment mechanism 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2(A) to 2(C).

[0031] First, as shown in Figure 2(A), when the operating cord 40 is operated (pulled and wound), the shaft 15 rotates counterclockwise, causing the lifting drum 52 and the angle adjustment drum 62 to rotate together, and as shown in Figure 2(B), the first protrusion 63a of the angle adjustment drum 62 abuts against the stopper 14a of the head box 10, stopping the rotation of the angle adjustment drum 62. At this time, the first ladder cord 61a extends downward and the second ladder cord 61b is pulled upward, causing the slats 20 to tilt relative to the horizontal direction, allowing the slats 20 to close.

[0032] If the operating cord 40 is further operated in this state, the rotation of the angle adjusting drum 62 will stop and only the lifting drum 52 will rotate. As a result, the lifting cord 51 will be fed out, as shown in FIG. 2(C), allowing the bottom rail 30 to move downward. Although not shown, when the bottom rail 30 reaches a desired height, the operating cord 40 can be operated in the reverse direction to rotate the angle adjusting drum 62 clockwise, thereby making the opening and closing angle of the slats 20 approximately parallel to the horizontal direction or tilting them in the opposite direction. In this way, both the opening and closing angle and the lifting height of the slats 20 can be adjusted simply by operating the operating cord 40.

[0033] The horizontal blind of this embodiment is a horizontal blind 100 that combines a cord for controlling the opening and closing angle and a cord for adjusting the lift height, and is equipped with a "temperature displacement mechanism 70" that enables the opening and closing angle of the slats 20 to be automatically adjusted according to the ambient temperature. Next, the horizontal blind 1 according to this embodiment will be described in detail.

[0034] (About this embodiment) The horizontal blind of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of the horizontal blind of this embodiment, and Figure 4 is a diagram showing a temperature displacement mechanism provided in the horizontal blind. The horizontal blind 1 of this embodiment is basically the same as the general horizontal blind 100 described above, and similar components are shown with the same reference numerals as in Figures 1 and 2.

[0035] In the horizontal blind 1 of this embodiment, an operation drum 41 that rotates together with the operation cord 40, and a shaft 15 that extends in the extension direction of the head box 10 and rotates together with the operation drum 41 are arranged within the head box 10. The lifting drum 52 of the lifting adjustment mechanism 50 and the angle adjustment drum 62 of the angle adjustment mechanism 60 described above are fixed to the shaft 15, and the lifting drum 52 and the angle adjustment drum 62 rotate together with the shaft 15. The configuration up to this point is almost the same as that of a typical horizontal blind.

[0036] In addition to this general configuration, the horizontal blind 1 also includes a temperature displacement mechanism 70 and a function exerting mechanism 80 for putting the temperature displacement mechanism 70 into a state in which it exerts its function. Each mechanism will now be described.

[0037] The temperature displacement mechanism 70 is provided to operate on the angle adjustment mechanism 60, and closes the slats 20 when the ambient temperature rises above a predetermined temperature, and opens the slats 20 when the ambient temperature falls below the predetermined temperature. In other words, by providing the temperature displacement mechanism 70, the slats 20 can be automatically opened and closed, for example, when the temperature rises due to sunlight. When the slats 20 are open, they extend substantially parallel to the horizontal direction, as shown in FIG. 2(A). When the slats 20 are closed, they are inclined relative to the horizontal direction, as shown in FIG. 2(B).

[0038] 4(A) and 4(B), the temperature displacement mechanism 70 includes a main body 71, a frame 72 surrounding the periphery of the main body 71, and a sound sensor 73 protruding outward from the frame 72. The main body 71 further includes a first expandable portion 74 and a second expandable portion 75.

[0039] The main body 71 and the first telescopic section 74 are, for example, hollow cylindrical in shape. The second telescopic section 75 is, for example, rod-shaped, extends within the main body 71 and the first telescopic section 74, and is braced between the upper and lower frames of the frame 72. As shown in FIG. 4(B) , a linear rack 78 extending in the vertical direction is attached to the back surface (left side of the drawing) of the first telescopic section 74. The rack 78 meshes with a gear 84 that rotates together with the angle adjustment drum 62 of the angle adjustment mechanism 60, which will be described later. For ease of understanding, the main body 71, the first telescopic section 74, and the second telescopic section 75 are indicated by light ink in FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B).

[0040] A support base 76, which protrudes outward in the circumferential direction, is fixed to the lower end of the first telescopic section 74. A spring 77, for example, is disposed between the support base 76 and the upper end of the frame body 72. The spring 77 is, for example, a compression spring, and constantly urges the first telescopic section 74 to protrude downward.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 4(A), the frame 72 is a frame that is roughly square-shaped in a plan view. The frame 72 accommodates the main body 71, the first and second expandable sections 74 and 75, the support base 76, and the spring 77 described above. The components accommodated in the frame 72 are preferably thermoelements that expand and contract in response to the ambient temperature. Here, "accommodation" refers simply to the four sides, above, below, and on both sides, and does not include the front and rear in the depth direction. An opening is provided at the top of the frame 72, from which the sound sensor 73 protrudes.

[0042] The sound sensor 73 is a part that detects the ambient temperature. As shown in FIG. 3, the sound sensor 73 protrudes upward from an opening 11 provided on the top surface of the head box 10. The opening 11 is an elongated hole that extends in the axial direction and extends the distance that the temperature displacement mechanism 70 moves. This allows the sound sensor 73 to efficiently detect the temperature of the air outside the head box 10 (for example, the air inside a room). In other words, the ambient temperature detected by the sound sensor 73 is the temperature of a room where a person is staying. This opening 11 is not provided in a typical horizontal blind 100, but is provided in the horizontal blind 1 of this embodiment.

[0043] The length of the second expandable portion 75 varies depending on the temperature detected by the sound sensor 73. Specifically, when the sound sensor 73 detects that the ambient temperature is high, the first expandable portion 74 is retracted into the main body 71, and the exposed length of the second expandable portion 75 increases (see, for example, FIG. 5(B)), and when the sound sensor 73 detects that the ambient temperature is low, the first expandable portion 74 returns to its original position by the biasing force of the spring 77, and the exposed length of the second expandable portion 75 decreases (see, for example, FIG. 5(A)). For example, when the ambient temperature is 30 degrees or higher, preferably 28 degrees or higher, the sound sensor 73 determines that the temperature is "high," and when it is lower, it determines that the temperature is "low."

[0044] As shown in Fig. 3, the temperature displacement mechanism 70 moves along the longitudinal direction of the shaft 15 by operating the operating cord 40. Specifically, the temperature displacement mechanism 70 can take a manual opening / closing position (Fig. 5(A)) in which the height of the slats 20 can be adjusted by the elevation adjustment mechanism 50, an automatic opening / closing position (Fig. 5(C)) in which the opening / closing angle of the slats is automatically adjusted according to the ambient temperature, and a switching position (Fig. 5(B)) between the manual opening / closing position and the automatic opening / closing position.

[0045] A function exerting mechanism 80 is provided to bring the temperature displacement mechanism 70 into a state in which its function is exerted at the switching position shown in Fig. 5(B). The function exerting mechanism 80 changes the temperature displacement mechanism 70 from the state shown in Fig. 5(A) to the state shown in Fig. 5(C). Specifically, the function exerting mechanism 80 includes at least a moving member 90 for moving the temperature displacement mechanism 70 along the extension direction of the shaft 15, a plate 81 fixed to the head box 10, and a gear 84 fixed to the angle adjustment drum 62 of the angle adjustment mechanism 60.

[0046] In the horizontal blind 1 of this embodiment, the lift cord 51 is fully extended, the bottom rail 30 (FIG. 1) is at the lowest position, and the slats 20 are tilted relative to the horizontal direction and closed, and then there is an "operation margin" that allows the operating cord 40 to be operated to rotate the shaft 15 several times. A moving unit 90 is provided to move the temperature displacement mechanism 70 in the axial direction during this "operation margin."

[0047] As shown in Figure 3, the moving part 90 includes a first gear 91 that rotates together with the shaft body 15, a second gear 92 that meshes with the first gear 91, a crawler-type rotating belt 94, and a first support part 93a and a second support part 93b that support both ends of the rotating belt 94 and fix the rotating belt 94 to the head box 10.

[0048] The first and second gears 91, 92 are helical gears, for example, that convert the rotation direction of the shaft 15 from vertical to horizontal. The rotating belt 94 moves in the axial direction in response to the rotation of the second gear 92. The rotating belt 94 is connected to the frame 72 of the temperature displacement mechanism 70. Therefore, when the operation cord 40 is operated, the operation drum 41 rotates, and in response to this rotation, the shaft 15 and the first gear 91 rotate, and the second gear 92, which meshes with the first gear 91, rotates in the axial direction (horizontal on the page).

[0049] The plate 81 has, for example, a generally pentagonal shape in a plan view, and has a first inclined portion 82 that inclines upward toward the axial end and a second inclined portion 83 that inclines downward toward the axial end. The support base 76 of the temperature displacement mechanism 70 abuts against the first inclined portion 82 of the plate 81 when the temperature displacement mechanism 70 moves to the switching position ( FIG. 5(B) ). The gear 84 rotates together with the angle adjustment drum 62 of the angle adjustment mechanism 60. It is preferable that an end of the gear 84 is located near the apex, which is the intersection of the first inclined portion 82 and the second inclined portion 83 of the plate 81. The gear 84 meshes with a rack 78 provided on the back surface of the first expansion / contraction portion 74 of the temperature displacement mechanism 70.

[0050] With the configuration described above, the first inclined portion 82 of the plate 81 and the support base 76 of the temperature displacement mechanism 70 of this embodiment function as an "actuating portion" for bringing the temperature displacement mechanism 70 into a functional state in which it can function. Furthermore, the gear 84 that rotates together with the angle drum 62 of the angle adjustment mechanism 60 of this embodiment and the rack 78 fixed to the first extension / contraction portion 74 of the temperature displacement mechanism 70 function as a "transmitting portion" that transmits the movement of the temperature displacement mechanism 70 in the functional state to the shaft 15.

[0051] The operation of the temperature displacement mechanism 70 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 5(A) to 5(C). In summary, the temperature displacement mechanism 70 moves axially by operating the operation cord 40, moving from the manual opening / closing position (Figure 5(A)), through the switching position (Figure 5(B)), to the automatic opening / closing position (Figure 5(C)).

[0052] 5(A) shows a state in which the lift cord 51 is fully extended, the bottom rail 30 (FIG. 1) is at the lowest position, and the slats 20 are tilted relative to the horizontal direction and start from a closed state. In this state, there is the "operation margin" described above, and by utilizing this "operation margin," the slats 20 can be automatically opened and closed.

[0053] In Figure 5(A), the temperature displacement mechanism 70 is in the manual opening / closing position, and by operating the operating cord 40, the angle drum 62 of the angle adjustment mechanism 60 described above can be rotated to adjust the opening / closing angle of the slats 20.

[0054] Further, as the operation cord 40 is operated, the temperature displacement mechanism 70 is moved by the moving part 90 toward the axial end (the right side on the paper). Specifically, when the operation cord 40 is operated, the shaft 15 rotates together with the operation drum 41, causing the first gear 91 to rotate. Furthermore, the second gear 92, which meshes with the first gear 91, rotates in the axial direction, causing the rotating belt 94 to move toward the axial end (the right side on the paper). Because the rotating belt 94 and the frame 72 of the temperature displacement mechanism 70 are fixed, the temperature displacement mechanism 70 also moves as the rotating belt 94 rotates, and the support base 76 of the temperature displacement mechanism 70 abuts against the plate 81.

[0055] As shown in Figure 5(B), when the support base 76 of the temperature displacement mechanism 70 comes into contact with the plate 81, the support base 76 moves upward along the inclination of the first inclined portion 82. As a result, the first expandable portion 74 of the temperature displacement mechanism 70 is housed within the main body portion 71, and the exposed portion of the second expandable portion 75 is extended. Furthermore, as the temperature displacement mechanism 70 moves axially, a rack 78 formed on the first expandable portion 74 of the temperature displacement mechanism 70 meshes with a gear 84 provided on the angle drum 62 of the angle adjustment mechanism 60, as shown in Figure 5(C).

[0056] When the rack 78 of the temperature displacement mechanism 70 and the gear 84 of the angle adjustment mechanism 60 are engaged, the temperature displacement mechanism 70 is in the automatic opening / closing position. In this state, the sound sensor 73 of the temperature displacement mechanism 70 detects the ambient temperature, and if the temperature is high, the slats 20 remain closed, but if the temperature is low, the slats 20 open.

[0057] Specifically, when the sound sensor 73 detects that the ambient temperature is low, as the first telescopic unit 74 of the temperature displacement mechanism 70 extends downward, the gear 84 is rotated by the rack 78 provided on the first telescopic unit 74, which in turn rotates the angle adjusting drum 62, opening the slats 20. In other words, when the temperature is low, the slats 20 automatically open. On the other hand, when the sound sensor 73 detects that the ambient temperature is high, the first telescopic unit 74 is retracted into the main body 71, which rotates the gear 84 in the opposite direction, which in turn rotates the angle adjusting drum 62 in the opposite direction, closing the slats 20. In other words, when the temperature is high, the slats 20 automatically close.

[0058] The above describes the operation of the temperature displacement mechanism 70 moving from the manual opening / closing position to the switching position and then to the automatic opening / closing position. However, by operating the operating cord 40 in the reverse direction, it can be moved from the automatic opening / closing position to the switching position and then back to the manual opening / closing position.

[0059] As described above, the horizontal blind 1 of this embodiment is provided with the temperature displacement mechanism 70, which detects the ambient temperature and automatically opens and closes the slats 20. The position of the temperature displacement mechanism 70 can be changed by operating the operating cord 40, which simplifies usage.

[0060] Furthermore, the function exerting mechanism 80 is used as a means for moving the temperature displacement mechanism 70 from the automatic opening / closing position to the manual opening / closing position, and since the function exerting mechanism 80 has a simple configuration consisting of a plate 81 and a gear 84, it is possible to prevent malfunction of the temperature displacement mechanism 70.

[0061] (Variation 1) 6 is a plan cross-sectional view showing a modified horizontal blind. A horizontal blind 1A differs from the horizontal blind 1 of the first embodiment in the structure of a moving part 90 that moves the temperature displacement mechanism .

[0062] The moving part 90A arranged in the horizontal blind 1A of this embodiment includes a first gear 91A that rotates together with the shaft 15, a second gear 92A that meshes with the first gear 91A, a threaded body 93A that rotates together with the second gear 92A and extends in the axial direction, and a nut 94A that fits onto the threaded body 93A and is arranged inside the frame 72. Operating the operating cord 40 rotates the shaft 15, which in turn rotates the first gear 91A and the second gear 92A, which in turn rotates the threaded body 93A and moves the nut 94A towards the axial end (the right side on the page), thereby moving the frame 72 in the axial direction.

[0063] In this way, the moving parts 90, 90A may be any parts that can move the temperature displacement mechanism 70 in the axial direction by operating the operation cord 40, and various general methods can be used.

[0064] (Variation 2) 7 is a plan cross-sectional view showing another modified example of the horizontal blind. A horizontal blind 1B differs from the horizontal blind 1 of the first embodiment in the attachment position of a gear 84B of a function exerting mechanism 80B.

[0065] The horizontal blind 1B shown in Figure 7 has a lift adjustment mechanism 50B and an angle adjustment mechanism 60B of a general structure that are arranged side by side at the end of the head box 10, and the lift adjustment mechanism 50B and the angle adjustment mechanism 60B can be operated by operating the operating cord 40, and the shaft 15 that is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the head box 10 also rotates together with them. The gear 84B of the function activation mechanism 80B of the horizontal blind 1B of this modified example is arranged on the shaft 15 and rotates together with the shaft 15.

[0066] In this way, the location of gear 84B, which constitutes the transmission part of function exerting mechanism 80B, is not limited as long as it transmits the movement of temperature displacement mechanism 70 in the function exerting state to shaft 15. Furthermore, plate 81, which constitutes the operating part of function exerting mechanism 80B, is not limited to a plate as long as it puts temperature displacement mechanism 70 into the function exerting state.

[0067] In the above embodiment, a thermoelement is used as the temperature displacement mechanism 70, but other structures that displace in response to the ambient temperature may also be used.

[0068] The above-described embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not intended to be limiting. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted solely by the above-described embodiments, but should be defined by the claims. Furthermore, all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the claims are included. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1,1A,1B horizontal blind, 10 head box, 15 shaft body, 20 slat, 40 operation cord, 50,50B lift adjustment mechanism, 60,60B angle adjustment mechanism, 70 temperature displacement mechanism (thermoelement), 80,80B function exertion mechanism, 81 operating part (plate), 90,90A moving part, 100 horizontal blind.

Claims

1. The head box and A plurality of slats extending along the extension direction of the head box and aligned along the lifting direction; a lift adjustment mechanism that supports the plurality of slats so that the lift heights of the slats can be adjusted; an angle adjustment mechanism that supports the plurality of slats so that the opening and closing angles thereof can be adjusted; a control cord for controlling the angle adjustment mechanism to adjust the opening and closing angle of the slats and the elevation adjustment mechanism to adjust the elevation height of the slats, A horizontal blind characterized by comprising a temperature displacement mechanism that is operable on the angle adjustment mechanism to close the plurality of slats when the ambient temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, and to open the plurality of slats when the ambient temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature.

2. The horizontal blind according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature displacement mechanism includes a thermoelement that expands and contracts in response to the ambient temperature.

3. The temperature displacement mechanism includes: a manual opening / closing position where the opening / closing angle of the slat can be adjusted by the angle adjustment mechanism by operating the operation cord; an automatic opening / closing position in which the temperature displacement mechanism can automatically adjust the opening / closing angle of the slats according to the ambient temperature; The horizontal blind according to claim 2 , which can take a switching position for switching from the manual opening / closing position to the automatic opening / closing position.

4. the angle adjustment mechanism and the elevation adjustment mechanism extend along the extension direction of the head box and are rotatably supported by a shaft that rotates by operating the operation cord, The horizontal blind according to claim 3 , wherein the temperature displacement mechanism moves along the longitudinal direction of the shaft to change its position among the manual opening / closing position, the switching position, and the automatic opening / closing position.

5. The horizontal blind according to claim 4 , wherein the temperature displacement mechanism includes a function enabling mechanism for enabling the thermo-element to function at the switching position.

6. 6. A horizontal blind as described in claim 5, wherein the function-activating mechanism comprises a moving member that moves the temperature displacement mechanism along the longitudinal direction of the shaft, an operating unit that brings the thermoelement into the function-activating state, and a transmission unit that transmits the movement of the thermoelement in the function-activating state to the shaft.

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