Horizontal blind

Abstract

To provide a horizontal blind capable of smoothly adjusting the tilt of the uppermost slat even when the width of the slat in the short side direction is increased.SOLUTION: A horizontal blind 10 includes a head box 1, a plurality of slats 2, a ladder cord 3 hanging from the head box 1 to the slats 2 to suspend and support the slats 2 in the lifting and lowering direction and to adjust the tilt of the slats 2 by changing the relative positions of both sides of the slats 2 in the short side direction, a bottom rail 4 arranged below the lowest slat 2, and a lifting cord 5 hanging from the head box 1 in contact with the short side end of the uppermost slat 12 to lift and lower the bottom rail 4. The distance between the contact point between the uppermost slat 12 and the lifting cord 5 and the short side center of the uppermost slat 12 is shorter than the distance between the short side end and the short side center of the other slats 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to horizontal blinds. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a horizontal blind that supports multiple slats by suspending them with ladder cords hanging from a head box. The horizontal blind raises and lowers the slats by lifting and lowering a bottom rail, which is located below the bottom end of the slats, with a lifting cord hanging from the head box. The lifting cord is not inserted through holes in the slats, but is instead routed along the ladder cords. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-224367 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In horizontal blinds, when all the slats are lifted up and stacked toward the head unit in the fully open state, a smaller product height from the mounting part of the head box to the underside of the bottom rail reduces the area where the bundle of stacked slats hangs down into the window, resulting in a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.

[0005] One way to reduce the product height is to reduce the number of slats, but in order to prevent the area that the horizontal blind can block from decreasing even if the number of slats is reduced, it is necessary to increase the width of each slat in the direction of its short side.

[0006] However, the lift cords are bent inward in the short-side direction from the short-side edge of the top slat toward the storage section of the head box. In horizontal blinds in which the lift cords are arranged along ladder cords, such as those disclosed in Patent Document 1, if the width of the short-side direction of the slats is increased, the force applied horizontally from the lift cords to the short-side edge of the top slat increases.

[0007] In particular, when attempting to adjust the tilt while multiple slats are partially lifted, the weight of the slats that are already lifted is added to the lifting cord, which may make it difficult to change the angle of the topmost slat due to the tension of the lifting cord.

[0008] The present invention has been developed in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a horizontal blind that allows smooth tilt adjustment of the uppermost slat even if the width of the slats in the short side direction is increased. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] One aspect of the horizontal blind of the present invention comprises a long, box-shaped head box, a plurality of slats formed in the shape of thin plates along the underside of the head box and aligned in the lifting and lowering direction, ladder cords hanging down from the head box on both sides of the slats in the short side direction to suspend and support the slats at a predetermined pitch in the lifting and lowering direction and adjust the tilt of the slats by changing the relative position of both sides of the slats in the lifting and lowering direction, a bottom rail arranged below the lowest slat, and a lifting cord hanging down from the head box in contact with the short side end of the topmost slat to raise and lower the bottom rail, and the distance between the contact point between the short side end of the topmost slat and the lifting cord and the short side center of the topmost slat is shorter than the distance between the short side end and the short side center of the other slats. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a horizontal blind that allows smooth tilt adjustment of the uppermost slat even if the width of the slats in the short side direction is increased. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a horizontal blind according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing an upper portion of the horizontal blind shown in FIG. 1B. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a horizontal blind in a comparative example to this embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing an upper part of the horizontal blind shown in FIG. 3B. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a horizontal blind in the first modified example. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of a horizontal blind in a comparative example to the first modified example. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of a horizontal blind in the second modified example. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a part of the head box of the horizontal blind in the second modified example, viewed obliquely from below. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the configuration of a horizontal blind in a reference example. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of a horizontal blind in a comparative example in comparison with the reference example. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a comparison diagram showing changes in the position of the slats in the reference example and a comparative example. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a side view showing how the slats are stacked as the bottom rail is raised in the horizontal blind of the reference example. [Figure 13]FIG. 13 is a side view showing how the slats are stacked as the bottom rail is raised in a horizontal blind in a comparative example to the reference example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] [Present embodiment] Figure 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a horizontal blind 10 according to this embodiment, where Figure 1A is a perspective view of the horizontal blind 10 as seen from diagonally above, and Figure 1B is a side view of the side of the horizontal blind 10 of Figure 1A as seen from the direction of arrow P.

[0013] In the following description, as shown in Figure 1A, the X-axis direction is referred to as the "length direction", which is the horizontal direction and longitudinal direction of the horizontal blind 10, the Y-axis direction is referred to as the "width direction", which is the horizontal direction and short side direction of the horizontal blind 10, and the Z-axis direction is referred to as the "lifting direction", which is the height direction of the horizontal blind 10.

[0014] (structure) The horizontal blind 10 includes a head box 1, slats 2, ladder cords 3, a bottom rail 4, a lifting cord 5, and a loop cord 6.

[0015] The head box 1 is a box with a roughly rectangular cross section formed in a long box shape to have an internal space. The head box 1 is disposed at the top of the horizontal blind 10 and is fixed by fitting it into a plurality of brackets 7 that are screwed to the bottom and front of the window frame (not shown).

[0016] The slats 2 are thin plates formed along the underside of the head box 1, and many of them are provided so as to be aligned in the lifting direction. Notches 8 (Fig. 6) are provided at a predetermined pitch along the length of the slats at the widthwise ends of the slats 2. The notches 8 catch ladder cords 3 (described later) and prevent the slats 2 from moving in the lengthwise direction.

[0017] The ladder cord 3 has a pair of warp threads hanging down from the head box 1 to both sides of the slat 2 in the width direction, and weft threads connecting the pair of warp threads so as to maintain the distance between them in the width direction of the slat 2. The weft threads run so as to connect the warp threads at a predetermined pitch in the ascending / descending direction, and each weft thread suspends and supports the slat 2 at a predetermined pitch in the ascending / descending direction.

[0018] The ladder cords 3 also perform tilt adjustment to change the tilt angle of the slats 2 according to the relative positions of the pair of warps in the ascending and descending direction.

[0019] The bottom rail 4 is provided below the lowest slat 2 among the slats 2 aligned in the lifting direction. The bottom rail 4 has substantially the same shape and size as the slats 2, and is suspended and supported by a lifting cord 5.

[0020] The lifting cord 5 hangs down from the head box 1 while contacting only one of the widthwise ends of the uppermost slat 12, and is connected to the bottom rail 4. When the lifting cord 5 is wound up, the bottom rail 4 rises, and the slat 2 is lifted up.

[0021] The loop cord 6 is a loop-shaped cord that hangs down through a cord gate 9 provided near the end of the head box 1 in the longitudinal direction. The loop cord 6 adjusts the tilt of the slats 2 and raises and lowers the bottom rail 4 in response to the user's pulling out operation.

[0022] The head box 1 has a tilt drum and a take-up drum inside, not shown. The tilt drum has a ladder cord 3 hanging down from the head box 1, and holds a number of slats 2 at a predetermined pitch in the lifting direction by the ladder cord 3. The take-up drum has a lifting cord 5 hanging down from the head box 1, and the lifting cord 5 holds the bottom rail 4.

[0023] Here, the dimensions of the slat 2 will be described.

[0024] All of the slats 2 have approximately the same shape, formed as thin plates along the underside of the head box 1, but as shown in Figure 1B, only the topmost slat 12 is formed so that its width dimension is smaller than that of the other slats 2.

[0025] The ladder cords 3 located at the widthwise ends of the slats 2 are wound around a tilt drum inside the head box 1, but the outer diameter of the tilt drum is smaller than the widthwise dimension of the slats 2. This is because, when tilt adjustment is performed to bring the angles of all slats 2 closer to the vertical, a smaller outer diameter of the tilt drum allows the angles of the slats 2 to be brought closer to the vertical direction, thereby reducing the distance between adjacent slats 2 and between the upper end of the uppermost slat 2 in the widthwise direction and the underside of the head box 1. In this way, the outer diameter of the tilt drum is formed sufficiently smaller than the widthwise dimension of the slats 2 when they are in a horizontal position.

[0026] As a result, when the slats 2 are in a substantially horizontal position, the ladder cord 3 comes into contact with the widthwise end of the uppermost slat 12 between the widthwise end of the slat 2 one step below the uppermost slat and the small-diameter tilt drum inside the head box 1. In other words, the ladder cord 3, which runs from below to above, bends toward the widthwise center at the widthwise end of the uppermost slat 12 and runs toward the inside of the head box 1.

[0027] In addition, since the lifting cord 5 runs along the ladder cord 3 on the outside or inside of the horizontal blind 10, it comes into contact with the widthwise end of the topmost slat 12 between the widthwise end of the slat 2 one step below the topmost slat and the winding drum inside the head box 1, just like the ladder cord 3 described above.

[0028] (operation) The operation of the horizontal blind 10 from the deployed state in which it is deployed to the bottom end in the up-down direction to the retracted state in which all the slats 2, 21 are retracted will be described.

[0029] In the unfolded state, when the user pulls out the loop cord 6, the tilt drum rotates, and the pair of warps of the ladder cord 3 move in opposite directions along the vertical movement, causing the tilt angles of the slats 2 and 21 to change in phase, thereby adjusting the tilt.

[0030] Furthermore, when the user further pulls out the loop cord 6, the winding drum rotates and the bottom rail 4 suspended and supported by the lifting cord 5 rises. As the bottom rail 4 rises, the slats 2 are placed one by one on the bottom rail 4 and stacked.

[0031] When the user continues to pull the loop cord 6 and the slats 2 stacked on the bottom rail 4 come into contact with the underside of the head box 1, the bottom rail 4 is prevented from rising any further and the horizontal blind 10 is fully stored.

[0032] In the stored state, when the user rotates the loop cord 6 in the opposite direction, the tilt drum rotates, and the pair of warps of the ladder cord 3 move in opposite directions along the vertical movement direction, causing the tilt angles of the slats 2 and 21 to change in the same phase. The lifting drum then rotates, unwinding the lifting cord 5, and the bottom rail 4, which is suspended from the lower end of the lifting cord 5, descends. As the bottom rail 4 descends, the slats 2 are suspended from the uppermost slat 12 in the stack by being supported by the weft of the ladder cord 3, and are arranged at a predetermined pitch in the lifting direction.

[0033] When the lifting / lowering cord 5 is fully extended by the user operating the loop cord 6, all the slats 2 move away from the bottom rail 4 and are aligned at a predetermined pitch in the lifting / lowering direction, reaching a fully deployed state.

[0034] Here, tilt adjustment of the horizontal blind 10 will be explained with reference to Figure 2. Figure 2 is an enlarged view showing the upper part of the horizontal blind 10 shown in Figure 1B. In reality, the slat 2 below the topmost slat 12 is also tilted in the state shown in Figure 2, but for clarity of explanation, it is shown in a horizontal state. In addition, the explanation will be given assuming that the lift cord 5 hangs down to the right of the page in Figures 2A and 2B, and that the lift cord 5 hangs down to the left of the page in Figure 2C.

[0035] As described above, the lifting cord 5 running from bottom to top is bent toward the widthwise center at the widthwise end of the uppermost slat 12 and runs toward the inside of the head box 1. At this time, since the widthwise dimension of only the uppermost slat 12 is formed to be smaller than that of the other slats 2, the force acting in the widthwise direction from the lifting cord 5 that abuts against the widthwise end of the slat 2 and bends is reduced.

[0036] Because the lifting cord 5 suspends the bottom rail 4, the tension increases as the bottom rail 4 rises. Therefore, the force applied from the lifting cord 5 to the widthwise end of the uppermost slat 12 is greater when tilt adjustment is performed while the lifting cord 5 is holding the bottom rail 4 at a position raised to a predetermined degree than when the lifting cord 5 is holding the bottom rail 4 at the lowest position.

[0037] Figure 2A shows a state in which the slat 2 is tilted counterclockwise from the horizontal on the page. From this state, when the slat 2 is rotated clockwise to the horizontal position, it becomes the state shown in Figure 2B. At this time, the widthwise end of the slat 2 on the right side of the page must rotate over the lift cord 5 that it is abutting, while squeezing the lift cord 5, i.e., while deforming the bent portion of the lift cord 5.

[0038] 2B, when the slat 2 is rotated clockwise from the horizontal position, it reaches the position shown in Fig. 2C. In this case, the widthwise end of the slat 2 on the left side of the page must rotate over the lift-down cord 5 while squeezing the lift-down cord 5 that it is in contact with.

[0039] In the horizontal blind 10 of this embodiment, the uppermost slat 12 alone is formed so that its width dimension is smaller than that of the other slats 2, thereby reducing the force applied to the uppermost slat 12 by the tension of the lift cord 5. Therefore, even if the overall slat width is increased, tilt adjustment can be performed smoothly.

[0040] [Comparative Example] A comparative example of the horizontal blind 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 3 is a structural diagram showing the structure of the horizontal blind 100 in a comparative example to this embodiment, Fig. 3A is a perspective view showing the horizontal blind 100 as seen from diagonally above, and Fig. 3B is a side view of the horizontal blind 100 of Fig. 3A as seen from the direction of arrow Q. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view showing an upper part of the horizontal blind 100 shown in Fig. 3B.

[0041] 3A and 3B, the horizontal blind 100 in the comparative example is identical to the horizontal blind 10 in the embodiment described above, except for the width dimension of the uppermost slat 2. Therefore, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted where appropriate.

[0042] In the comparative example, all of the slats 2 of the horizontal blind 100, including the topmost one, have the same width. Therefore, the ladder cords 3 located at the widthwise ends of the slats 2 run approximately vertically upward along the slats 2, bend at the widthwise end of the topmost slat 2, and run to the tilt drum inside the head box 1. In other words, the position where the ladder cord 3 bends toward the widthwise center is the widthwise end of the topmost slat 2.

[0043] Therefore, since the lifting cord 5 runs along the ladder cord 3 on the outside or inside of the horizontal blind 100, the position where it bends toward the center in the width direction is the width direction end of the uppermost slat 2, just like the ladder cord 3 described above.

[0044] As a result, the tension generated by the load on the lifting cord 5 acts in the width direction of the slats 2 only on the uppermost slat 2, so that the uppermost slat 2 receives a large force toward the center in the width direction.

[0045] Therefore, when the top slat 2 rotates from a counterclockwise tilted state as shown in Fig. 4A to a horizontal state as shown in Fig. 4B, a large force acts on the top slat 2 toward the center in the width direction, which may prevent the slat 2 from rotating. Similarly, when the slat 2 is rotated clockwise from the horizontal state shown in Fig. 4B, it reaches the state shown in Fig. 4C. In this case, the widthwise end of the slat 2 on the left side of the page must rotate over the lift cord 5 while squeezing the lift cord 5 against which it abuts.

[0046] In this way, depending on the amount of tension applied to the lift cord 5, it may become impossible to smoothly adjust the tilt of the uppermost slat 2.

[0047] In contrast, in the above embodiment, only the uppermost slat 12 is formed so that its widthwise dimension is smaller than that of the other slats 2, thereby reducing the force applied to the uppermost slat 12 by the tension of the lifting cord 5. Furthermore, the tension generated by the load on the lifting cord 5 acts toward the widthwise center of the slats 12 is distributed between the uppermost slat 12 and the slat 2 below the top, thereby reducing the force acting on the uppermost slat 12. Therefore, tilt adjustment can be performed smoothly even if the overall slat width is large.

[0048] [First Modification] Next, a first modified example of the horizontal blind 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 is a structural diagram showing the configuration of a horizontal blind 30 in the first modified example, with Figure 5A being an enlarged view showing the upper side of the horizontal blind 30, and Figure 5B being a plan view showing the uppermost slat 32. Figure 6 is a structural diagram showing the configuration of a horizontal blind 130 in a comparative example to the first modified example, with Figure 6A being an enlarged view showing the upper side of the horizontal blind 130, and Figure 6B being a plan view showing the uppermost slat 32.

[0049] As shown in Figure 5, in the first modified example, unlike the horizontal blind 10 of the present embodiment, the width dimension of the uppermost slat 32 is the same as that of the other slats 33, but the shape of the uppermost slat 32 is different. Since the other configurations of the first modified example are the same as those of the above embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted as appropriate.

[0050] In the first modified example, as shown in Fig. 5B, the notch 38 of the uppermost slat 32 of the horizontal blind 30 is larger than the notch 8 of the uppermost slat 33 of the horizontal blind 130 in the comparative example shown in Fig. 6B. The length and width dimensions of the cutout portion of this notch 38 are larger than those of the comparative example.

[0051] This increases the depth dimension of the cutout 38, so that the ladder cord 3 and the lifting cord 5 penetrate deeply into the cutout 38 of the uppermost slat 32, as shown in Fig. 5A. In the uppermost slat 32 of Fig. 6A, which shows a comparative example, the ladder cord 3 and the lifting cord 5 also penetrate into the cutout 8, but because the depth dimension of the cutout 8 is small, they run roughly along the widthwise end of the slat 132, as shown in Fig. 6A.

[0052] In the comparative example, as shown in Fig. 6B, slat 33 does not have a notch 8 on the indoor side, but in the first modified example, slat 32 has a notch 38 on the indoor side, as shown in Fig. 5B. Furthermore, like the notch 38 on the outdoor side, this notch 38 also has a large length and width dimension at the missing portion.

[0053] In this way, in the first modified example, the uppermost slat 32 of the horizontal blind 30 has a deep notch 38, which reduces the force applied from the lift cord 5 toward the widthwise center of the slat 32.

[0054] Furthermore, as in the present embodiment, the tension generated by the load on the lift cord 5 acts toward the widthwise center of the slats 32 is distributed between the uppermost slat 32 and the slat 33 one step below the uppermost slat, thereby reducing the force acting on the uppermost slat 32. Therefore, even if the overall slat width is increased, tilt adjustment can be performed smoothly.

[0055] [Second Modification] Next, a second modified example of the horizontal blind 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 7 and 8. Fig. 7 is a structural diagram showing the configuration of a horizontal blind 50 according to the second modified example, Fig. 7A is a perspective view showing the horizontal blind 50 as viewed from diagonally above, and Fig. 7B is a cross-sectional view showing the horizontal blind 50 of Fig. 7A cut in the short direction at the position of the ladder cord 3 as viewed from the direction of arrow R. Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a part of the head box 1 of the horizontal blind 50 according to the second modified example as viewed from diagonally below.

[0056] As shown in Figure 7, the second modified example differs only in the structure of the horizontal blind 10 and head box 1 of the present embodiment, and the other configurations are the same. Therefore, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted as appropriate.

[0057] In the second modified example, the position of the lift cord 5 that hangs down from the head box 1 to the outside of the room differs from that of the present embodiment. The head box 1 of the horizontal blind 50 has a bottom gate 11 on its underside from which the ladder cord 3 and the lift cord 5 hang down. As shown in Fig. 8, the bottom gate 11 has a slit 11a from which the ladder cord 3 hangs down and a lift opening 11b from which the lift cord 5 hangs down.

[0058] The slit 11a is a narrow hole that opens in the width direction so that the ladder cord 3 can move without getting caught during tilt adjustment. The access openings 11b are provided at both widthwise ends. The indoor access opening 11b is provided near the indoor end of the head box 1 in the width direction, and allows the lifting cord 5 to be raised and lowered along the ladder cord 3. The outdoor access opening 11b is provided at a position that protrudes further outside than the outdoor end of the head box 1 in the width direction, and allows the lifting cord 5 to be raised and lowered from a position away from the ladder cord 3 to the outside.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 7A, horizontal blind 50 is fixed to the window frame via two brackets 7 on both ends. Ladder cords 3 hang down from three locations along the length of slat 2. Of the locations where ladder cords 3 hang down, two are approximately below brackets 7, and the remaining location is in the center of horizontal blind 50, midway between both brackets 7. On the outside of the room, lifting cord 5 hangs down along ladder cords 3 below the two brackets 7, and on the inside of the room, it hangs down along ladder cord 3 midway between both brackets 7.

[0060] The cross sections shown in Fig. 7B are shown from the left of the page at the position where ladder cord 3 hangs down in Fig. 7A. That is, the central cross section in Fig. 7B is a cross section at the position where lift-down cord 5 hangs down inside the room in Fig. 7A, and the cross sections on both sides in Fig. 7B are cross sections at the position where lift-down cord 5 hangs down outside the room in Fig. 7A.

[0061] As a result, as shown in the central cross section of Fig. 7B, on the indoor side, the lifting cord 5 hangs down along the ladder cord 3. Also, as shown in the cross sections on both sides of Fig. 7B, the head box 1 has a pulley 51 at a position spaced away from the outdoor side, and on the outdoor side, the lifting cord 5 is looped around the pulley 51 from the ladder cord 3 and hangs down from a position spaced away from the outdoor side.

[0062] As a result, the lifting cord 5 does not come into contact with the uppermost slat 2, which has a narrow widthwise dimension, or if it does come into contact, the contact is made with a small force. Therefore, when the user pulls out the loop cord 6 and the bottom rail 4 rises while the lifting cord 5 is wound around the lifting drum, the uppermost slat 12 receives almost no force in the widthwise direction from the lifting cord 5, allowing smooth tilt adjustment even if the overall slat width is large.

[0063] [Reference example] Next, a reference example of horizontal blind 70 will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 9 is a structural diagram showing the configuration of horizontal blind 70 in the reference example, Fig. 9A is a perspective view showing horizontal blind 70 as viewed from diagonally above, and Fig. 9B is a plan view showing slats 72. Fig. 10 is a structural diagram showing the configuration of horizontal blind 170 as a comparative example to the reference example, Fig. 9A is a perspective view showing horizontal blind 170 as viewed from diagonally above, and Fig. 9B is a plan view showing slats 172.

[0064] The horizontal blind 70 in the reference example has the same basic configuration as the horizontal blind 70 according to the above embodiment, but differs in the position in which the lifting cord 5 runs. In the above embodiment, the lifting cord 5 runs along the ladder cord 3 hanging down the side of the slat 2, but the reference example differs in that the lifting cord 5 runs through a slat hole 72a formed in the slat 72. Note that the same components as those in the above embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted where appropriate.

[0065] As shown in Fig. 9B, all slats 72 have the same width and have slat holes 72a at two positions spaced apart from the center toward both ends along the length direction. Slat holes 72a have an elliptical shape that is elongated in the width direction and has a hole width that is sufficiently larger than the diameter of lift cord 5. Furthermore, slat holes 72a are formed slightly toward the interior of the room from the center of slat 72 in the width direction.

[0066] Here, differences between the horizontal blind 170 in the comparative example will be described with reference to Figure 10. As shown in Figure 10A, in the comparative example, the lift cord 5 runs through the center of the slat 172. As shown in Figure 10B, the position of the slat hole 172a in the length direction of the slat 172 is the same as in the reference example, but the position in the width direction is different from the reference example and is formed approximately in the center in the width direction. The shape and size of the slat hole 172a are the same as in the reference example.

[0067] In the reference example, the effect of distributing the slat holes 72a on the slats 72 toward the room side will be described. Fig. 11 is a comparison diagram showing the change in the position of the slats 72 in the reference example and a comparative example for the reference example, with Fig. 11A being the reference example and Fig. 11B being the comparative example.

[0068] When the slats 72 are at a substantially horizontal angle, the slats 72 swing freely within the range in which the lifting cords 5 can move within the slat holes 72a. The angle of the slats 72 is determined according to the relative positions in the lifting direction of the contact points with the ladder cords 3 at both ends in the width direction.

[0069] 11B, when the slat 172 is tilted to a predetermined angle counterclockwise from the horizontal, the contact portion of the slat 172 with the ladder cord 3 slides downward in the vertical direction due to its own weight. When the lifting cord 5 abuts against the end of the slat hole 172a, the slat 172 is prevented from sliding downward. At this time, because the slat hole 172a is formed in approximately the center of the width of the slat 172, the lifting cord 5 abuts against the outermost end 72b of the slat hole 172a.

[0070] 11A, in the reference example, the slat holes 72a are biased toward the indoor side of the horizontal slats 72, so when the slats 72 are tilted to a predetermined angle equivalent to that of the comparative example and the lift-up cord 5 abuts against the end 72b of the slat holes 72a, the abutment position is shifted toward the indoor side in the width direction of the slats 72. At this time, because the slat holes 72a are formed slightly biased toward the indoor side from the center of the slats 72 in the width direction, the lift-up cord 5 abuts against the end 72b of the slat holes 72a that is located furthest outside the room.

[0071] Comparing the Reference Example and the Comparative Example, in the Reference Example, the slat holes 72a are formed biased toward the indoor side, so that the end 72b of the lift-up cord 5 that abuts against the slat holes 72a is biased toward the indoor side on the slat 72. As a result, the position of the slat 72 as a whole protrudes toward the outdoor side beyond the lift-up cord 5.

[0072] As described above, a horizontal blind 70 in which the slats 72 are unevenly positioned on the outdoor side will now be described. Fig. 12 is a side view showing how the slats 72 are stacked as the bottom rail 4 is raised in a horizontal blind 70 in a reference example, with Fig. 12A showing how the slats 72 are being stored and Fig. 12B showing the state when all the slats 72 are stored. Fig. 13 is a side view showing how the slats 172 are stacked as the bottom rail 4 is raised in a horizontal blind 170 in a comparative example to the reference example, with Fig. 12A showing how the slats 172 are being stored and Fig. 12B showing the state when all the slats 172 are stored.

[0073] As shown in Figure 12A, when the lifting cord 5 is wound by the winding drum and the bottom rail 4 is raised, the slats 72 are stacked above the bottom rail 4, starting with the lowermost slats 72. After that, when all the slats 72 are stacked, the slats 72 are held in a stacked state between the head box 1 and the bottom rail 4, as shown in Figure 12B. This state is the horizontal blind 70 fully stored state.

[0074] Here, a comparison will be made between a reference example in which the slat holes 72a are unevenly distributed and a comparative example in which the slat holes 172a are not unevenly distributed.

[0075] In the comparative example, as shown in Fig. 11B, the slat hole 72a is formed at approximately the widthwise center of the slat 172, so when the bottom rail 4 on which other slats 172 are stacked is raised from below in this state, the slats 172 gradually return to horizontal and are stacked on top of the other slats 172, as shown in Fig. 13A. At this time, the contact position between the lift cord 5 and the slat hole 172a is close to the widthwise center of the slat 172, so the slats 172 are stacked near the widthwise center of the head box 1, as shown in Fig. 13B.

[0076] In the reference example, as shown in Fig. 11A, the slat holes 72a are formed so as to be biased toward the interior of the slat 72. When the bottom rail 4, on which other slats 72 are stacked, is raised from below in this state, the slats 72 gradually return to horizontal and are stacked on top of the other slats 72, as shown in Fig. 12A. At this time, the contact position between the lift cord 5 and the slat holes 72a is biased toward the interior from the center of the width of the slat 72, so as shown in Fig. 12B, the slat 72 is stacked on the exterior side of the head box 1 in the width direction, just like the other slats 72 stacked on the lower level.

[0077] As described above, in the horizontal blind 70 of the reference example, the slat holes 72a are positioned toward the indoor side, so that when the slats 72 are stored, the stacked slats 72 can be shifted toward the outdoor side relative to the head box 1. This reduces interference between the loop cord 6 and the stacked slats 72. Therefore, particularly in a horizontal blind 70 using wide slats 72, it is possible to prevent noise and damage to the slats 72 due to interference between the loop cord 6 and the slats 72, and to prevent a decrease in the ease of use of the loop cord 6 by the user.

[0078] [Supplementary explanation of the embodiment] The above-described embodiments each show a preferred specific example of the present invention. The numerical values, components, arrangement positions of the components, order of connection, etc. shown in the above-described embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. Furthermore, the drawings are not necessarily strict illustrations.

[0079] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above embodiments merely illustrate some of the application examples of the present invention, and it is not intended that the technical scope of the present invention be limited to the specific configurations of the above embodiments.

[0080] [Note] The contents of the above-described embodiments can be understood, for example, as follows.

[0081] (1) Horizontal blinds 10 and 30 are A long box-shaped head box 1, A plurality of slats 2, 33 formed in a thin plate shape along the lower surface of the head box 1 and aligned in the lifting direction; ladder cords 3 that hang down from the head box 1 to both sides of the slats 2, 33 in the short-side direction, suspend and support the slats 2, 33 at a predetermined pitch in the elevation direction, and adjust the tilt of the slats 2, 33 by changing the relative positions of both sides of the slats 2, 33 in the elevation direction; A bottom rail 4 disposed below the lowest slats 2, 33; a lifting cord 5 that hangs down from the head box 1 in contact with the short-side ends of the uppermost slats 12, 32 and lifts and lowers the bottom rail 4; Equipped with The distance between the contact point between the short-side end of the top slat 12, 32 and the lifting cord 5 and the short-side center of the top slat 12, 32 is shorter than the distance between the short-side end and the short-side center of the other slats 2, 33.

[0082] As a result, even if the slat width of horizontal blinds 10, 30 is increased, the distance between the contact point between the short-side end of the slat and the lift-down cord 5 and the short-side center of the topmost slat will be narrower than that of the other slats. Force is applied in the width direction to the widthwise end of the topmost slats 12, 32 in accordance with the tension of the lift-down cord 5, but by narrowing this distance for the topmost slat, the force applied to the topmost slats 12, 32 can be reduced.

[0083] Therefore, for example, even when the bottom rail 4 is raised partway and a large tension is applied to the lifting cord 5, the widthwise ends of the slats 12, 32 come into contact with the lifting cord 5 and squeeze the lifting cord 5, allowing the slats 12, 32 to swing in the inclined direction, so that the tilt of the uppermost slats 12, 32 can be smoothly adjusted.

[0084] Furthermore, by narrowing the distance between the contact point between the widthwise end of the uppermost slats 12, 32 and the lift-down cord 5 and the widthwise center, the force applied by the tension of the lift-down cord 5 from the widthwise end of the slats 2, 33 one step below the uppermost slats 12, 32 toward the head box 1 is distributed to the uppermost slats 12, 32 and the slats 2, 33 one step below, making it easier for the uppermost slats 12, 32 to change the tilt angle while in contact with the lift-down cord 5. This allows for smooth tilt adjustment of the uppermost slats 12, 32.

[0085] (2) Furthermore, the width of the uppermost slats 12, 32 in the short direction can be made smaller than the width of the other slats 2, 33.

[0086] This makes it easy to narrow the distance between the contact point between the slat's short-side end and the lift cord 5 and its short-side center, allowing for smooth tilt adjustment of the topmost slats 12, 32. Furthermore, simply reducing the width dimension of the topmost slats 12, 32 is sufficient, preventing a decrease in workability during manufacturing. Furthermore, because the topmost slats 12, 32 are positioned in an inconspicuous location within the horizontal blinds 10, 30, the aesthetic appeal of the horizontal blinds 10, 30 is not impaired.

[0087] (3) When the width of the slats 2, 33 in the short direction is larger than the width of the head box 1 in the short direction, the width of the uppermost slats 12, 32 in the short direction can be smaller than the width of the head box 1 in the short direction.

[0088] As a result, the lifting cord 5 is wound onto the internal lifting drum through the slit 11a on the underside of the head box 1, so in the case of horizontal blinds 10, 30 whose slat width is wider than the head box 1, by making the width of the topmost slat less than or equal to the width dimension of the head box 1, it is possible to reduce the widthwise force that the topmost slats 12, 32 receive from the lifting cord 5, which flows from the slats 2, 33 one step below the topmost slat, toward the inside of the head box 1. Therefore, even if the slat width is wider than the head box 1, the tilt of the topmost slats 12, 32 can be smoothly adjusted.

[0089] (4) Furthermore, the slats 2, 33 have a notch 8 at the contact point with the lift cord 5, and the short-side length of the notch 38 in the top slats 12, 32 can be longer than the short-side length of the notch 8 in the other slats 2, 33.

[0090] This makes it easy to narrow the distance between the contact point between the short-side end of the slats 12, 32 and the lift cord 5 and the short-side center, thereby reducing the widthwise force that the uppermost slats 12, 32 receive from the lift cord 5, allowing for smooth tilt adjustment of the uppermost slats 12, 32. Furthermore, because it is only necessary to deepen the existing cutouts 8, it is possible to prevent a decrease in workability during manufacturing. Furthermore, because it is only necessary to deepen the cutouts 8 for the uppermost slats 12, 32, it is possible to prevent the aesthetic appearance of the horizontal blinds 10, 30 from being impaired. [Explanation of symbols]

[0091] 1 head box 2, 33 slats 3 Ladder Code 4 Bottom Rail 5 Lifting cord 8, 38 notch 10, 30 Horizontal blinds 12, 32 Top slats

Claims

1. A long box-shaped head box, A plurality of slats formed in a thin plate shape along the lower surface of the head box and aligned in the lifting direction; ladder cords that hang down from the head box to both sides of the slats in the short-side direction, suspending and supporting the slats at a predetermined pitch in the elevation direction, and adjust the tilt of the slats by changing the relative positions of both sides of the slats in the short-side direction in the elevation direction; a bottom rail disposed below the lowest slat; a lifting cord that hangs down from the head box in contact with the short-side end of the uppermost slat and lifts and lowers the bottom rail; Equipped with a distance between a contact portion between a short-side end of the uppermost slat and the lift cord and a short-side center of the uppermost slat is shorter than a distance between a short-side end and a short-side center of the other slats; Horizontal blinds feature:

2. The horizontal blind according to claim 1, The width of the uppermost slat in the short side direction is smaller than the width of the other slats, Horizontal blinds feature:

3. The horizontal blind according to claim 2, When the width of the slat in the short side direction is larger than the width of the head box in the short side direction, the width of the uppermost slat in the short side direction is smaller than the width of the head box in the short side direction. Horizontal blinds feature:

4. The horizontal blind according to claim 1, The slat has a notch at the contact portion with the lift cord, The short-side length of the notch in the uppermost slat is longer than the short-side length of the notch in the other slats. Horizontal blinds feature:

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