Pleated screen

Abstract

To suppress deterioration of design property due to inclination of a bottom rail when a screen is unfolded and folded.SOLUTION: The pleated screen includes a headbox that can be installed on a predetermined surface, a screen having a plurality of pleats, the upper end of which is suspended from the headbox or a member placed below the headbox, a bottom rail connected to the lower end of the screen, and a lifting cord liftably suspended from the headbox and having one end connected to the bottom rail. The bottom rail includes a first connecting portion to which the lower end of the screen is connected and which faces upward when the screen is deployed, and a second connecting portion to which the lower end of the lifting cord is connected and which faces upward when the screen is folded.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pleated screen. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there have been pleated screens that allow the amount of light to be let in to be adjusted by raising and lowering the screen that can be folded like an accordion.

[0003] Patent Document 1 listed below discloses that pleated fabric that can be folded in a zigzag pattern is suspended from a head box, a weight bar is attached to the lower end of the pleated fabric, and the weight bar is raised and lowered using a lifting cord hanging from the head box, thereby expanding or folding the pleated fabric, allowing it to be raised and lowered; connecting pieces are provided that protrude horizontally over the entire area of ​​every other fold in the pleated fabric, and the lifting cord is inserted into an insertion hole provided in the connecting piece.

[0004] With this, the lift cord that passes through the connecting piece is not exposed to the front of the pleated fabric, preventing light from leaking through the insertion hole. Also, by providing connecting pieces at every other fold, the stiffness of the pleated fabric can be strengthened, which has the effect of keeping the spacing between the folds uniform when the fabric is unfolded, improving the aesthetic appearance. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 2606945 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, because the lifting cord is connected toward the rear of the weight bar in the fore-and-aft direction, when the weight bar is raised it tends to tilt forward; and when the pleated fabric is folded and layered on the top surface of the weight bar, the tilt of the weight bar becomes more noticeable, resulting in a problem of degraded design.

[0007] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a pleated screen that can suppress a decrease in design due to the inclination of the bottom rail when the screen is unfolded and folded. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, a pleated screen according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a head box that can be installed on a predetermined surface, a screen having a plurality of pleats and an upper end suspended from the head box or a member arranged below the head box, a bottom rail connected to the lower end of the screen, and a lifting cord that hangs down from the head box so as to be able to rise and fall and has one end connected to the bottom rail. The bottom rail has a first connection part to which the lower end of the screen is connected and which faces upward when the screen is unfolded, and a second connection part to which the lower end of the lifting cord is connected and which faces upward when the screen is folded.

[0009] According to this configuration, by switching the orientation of the bottom rail when the screen is unfolded and folded, it is possible to prevent the bottom rail from being hung at an angle, thereby improving the design. The member arranged below the head box is, for example, an intermediate bar connected to the lower end of another screen that is hung from the head box separately from the above screen so that it can be raised and lowered.

[0010] The pleated screen may further include a pitch maintaining cord on one side of the screen for maintaining the pleats at a constant interval, and a lower end of the pitch maintaining cord may be connected to the second connecting portion.

[0011] According to this configuration, by connecting the lower end of the pitch maintaining cord to the same second connecting part as the lifting / lowering cord, the pitch maintaining cord can be arranged along the lifting / lowering cord.

[0012] The bottom rail may have a first surface on which the first connecting portion is provided, a second surface on which the second connecting portion is provided, and a third surface different from the first and second surfaces and having an inclination angle that follows the inclination of the pleats when the screen is unfolded.

[0013] According to this configuration, when the screen is deployed, the third surface forms an inclined surface that follows the inclination of the pleats, thereby ensuring continuity with the deployed pleats and further enhancing the design.

[0014] The bottom rail may have the same contour shape in a front view when the screen is unfolded and when it is folded.

[0015] According to this configuration, it is possible to eliminate any change in design between when the screen is unfolded and when it is folded, thereby improving the design.

[0016] The bottom rail may have the same fabric as the screen attached to its surface.

[0017] According to this configuration, the bottom rail is integrated with the screen when viewed from the front by the user, making it as inconspicuous as possible and improving the design. Effect of the Invention

[0018] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to suppress deterioration in design caused by the inclination of the bottom rail when the screen is unfolded and folded up. However, this effect does not limit the present invention. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a front view of a pleated screen according to a first embodiment of the present invention when unfolded (lowered). [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the pleated screen of FIG. 1 when folded (raised). [Diagram 3] This is a right side view of the pleated screen. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a right side cross-sectional view of the bottom rail portion of the pleated screen. [Diagram 5] 2A and 2B are a right side view and a front view of the bottom rail portion of the above-mentioned pleated screen. [Figure 6] 11A and 11B are a right side view and a front view of a bottom rail portion of a pleated screen according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a right side cross-sectional view of a bottom rail portion of a pleated screen according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 13A and 13B are a right side view and a front view of a bottom rail portion of a pleated screen according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 13A and 13B are a right side view and a front view of a bottom rail portion of a pleated screen according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 13A and 13B are a right side view and a front view of a bottom rail portion of a pleated screen according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0021] First Embodiment First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0022] [Composition of pleated screens] Fig. 1 is a front view of the pleated screen according to this embodiment when unfolded (lowered), and Fig. 2 is a front view of the pleated screen of Fig. 1 when folded (raised). Fig. 3 is a right side view of the pleated screen, and Fig. 4 is a right side cross-sectional view of the bottom rail portion of the pleated screen.

[0023] As shown in these figures, the pleated screen 100 of this embodiment has a head box 1, a screen 2 supported by the head box 1 so that it can be raised and lowered, and a bottom rail 3 connected to the lower end of the screen 2.

[0024] The screen 2 is a pleated screen formed by folding a plurality of pleats in an accordion-like shape in the Y direction of the figure so that it can be folded and unfolded. The fabric of the screen 2 is made of, for example, a material with high light-blocking properties that does not transmit light, or a see-through material that allows light to transmit. The front-to-back width (length in the Z direction) of the screen 2 when folded is, for example, 30 to 35 mm.

[0025] 3 and 4, a protrusion 21 is formed on each pleat on the back side of the screen 2. The protrusion 21 is formed, for example, by overlapping the peaks of each pleat by a predetermined length (for example, 5 to 10 mm) from the apex 2a and joining them by welding or the like.

[0026] An insertion hole 25 is formed in the protruding portion 21. The lifting / lowering cord 4 hangs down from the head box 1 and passes through the insertion hole 25. The lower end of the lifting / lowering cord 4 is connected to the bottom rail 3.

[0027] In this way, by not exposing the lift cord 4 and the insertion hole 25 that pass through the screen 2 on the screen surface side, it is possible to improve the design and prevent light leakage from the insertion hole.

[0028] 3 and 4, a pitch maintaining cord 5 for maintaining the pleats of the screen 2 at a constant interval is provided on the back side of the screen 2 (protruding portion 21). The upper end of the pitch maintaining cord 5 is connected to the head box 1, and the lower end is connected to the bottom rail 3.

[0029] The screen 2 can be unfolded or folded by raising and lowering the bottom rail 3 by raising and lowering the lifting cord 4.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 1, the head box 1 has a horizontally elongated rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is fixed by screws or the like to a predetermined surface such as a ceiling surface or a wall surface of a window frame inside a building via a bracket 8. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the head box 1 is provided with a winding drum 9.

[0031] The winding drum 9 is disposed inside the head box 1, and is rotatably supported by a drive shaft 10 passing through it. One end of the lifting cord 4 is connected to the winding drum 9 so as to be capable of being wound and unwound.

[0032] The stopper 12 is switchable between a state in which it allows rotation of the drive shaft 10 in the unwinding direction and a state in which it restricts rotation.

[0033] The brake 11 reduces the unwinding speed of the lifting / lowering cord 4 (the rotation speed of the winding drum 9), thereby mitigating the impact force caused by the bottom rail 3 when the screen 2 is lowered.

[0034] The operation unit 13 is composed of an endless operation cord 14 (e.g., a ball chain), a pulley (not shown) around which the operation cord 14 is wound, and an operation shaft connected to the pulley so as to rotate integrally, and raises and lowers the screen 2 in response to the user's raising and lowering operation of the operation cord 14.

[0035] [Bottom rail details] Next, the bottom rail 3 in this embodiment will be described in detail.

[0036] FIG. 4A is a right side cross-sectional view of the bottom rail 3 portion when the screen 2 is unfolded (lowered), and FIG. 4B is a right side cross-sectional view of the bottom rail 3 portion when the screen 3 is folded (raised).

[0037] As shown in the figure, the bottom rail 3 has a cross section that is approximately trapezoidal (trapezoidal columnar). A first connecting portion 31 to which the lower end of the screen 2 is connected is provided on a first connecting surface 3a corresponding to the left side of the trapezoid in Fig. 4B, and a second connecting portion 32 to which the lower end of the lift cord 4 is connected is provided on a second connecting surface 3b corresponding to the upper side of the trapezoid. The surfaces other than the first connecting surface 3a and the second connecting surface 3b are non-connecting surfaces 3c.

[0038] The bottom rail 3 is formed of, for example, a synthetic resin or a metal such as aluminum. The bottom rail 3 may be formed or painted in a color similar to that of the screen 2.

[0039] 4A, the first connecting portion 31 has a first space with a flat trapezoidal cross section that is open at the top, and accommodates inside the space a screen stopper plate 33 to which the lower end of the screen 2 is wound and connected. The first connecting portion 31 has a pair of front and rear flange portions 3a1, 3a2 to accommodate the screen stopper plate 33 in the first space, and the rear flange portion 3a2 is formed at a lower position than the front flange portion 3a1.

[0040] 4B, the second connecting part 32 has a second space with a trapezoidal cross section that is open at the top, and accommodates a cord fixing plate 34 to which the lower ends of the lifting cord 4 and the pitch maintaining cord 5 are connected inside the space. By connecting the lower end of the pitch maintaining cord 5 to the same second connecting part 32 (cord fixing plate 34) as the lifting cord 4, the pitch maintaining cord 5 can be arranged along the lifting cord 4.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 4A, the bottom rail 3 has a third space below the second space, and a rod-shaped weight 36 is accommodated in the rear of the third space to compensate for the weight of the bottom rail. The weight 36 can be omitted if the weight of the bottom rail is sufficient.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 4A, the first connecting part 31 is designed to face upward (Y direction) when the screen 2 is unfolded (lowered). Also, as shown in Fig. 4B, the second connecting part 32 is designed to face upward (Y direction) when the screen 2 is folded.

[0043] [Pleated screen operation] Next, the operation of the pleated screen 100 configured as above will be described.

[0044] Fig. 5 shows a right side view and a front view of the bottom rail portion of the pleated screen. Fig. 5A shows a right side view when unfolded (lowered), Fig. 5A shows a front view when unfolded (lowered), Fig. 5B shows a right side view when folded (upward), and Fig. 5B shows a front view when folded (upward).

[0045] First, when the screen 2 is to be unfolded (lowered) from the folded state as shown in Figures 2, 4B, and 5B, the operation cord 14 is operated to release the stopper 12. This causes the bottom rail 3 and the screen 2 to lower under their own weight, and the screen 2 is unfolded (Figures 1, 3, 4A, and 5A).

[0046] During this unfolding, as shown in FIG. 4A, the bottom rail 3 has its second connecting surface 3b side (right side) supported by the lifting cord 4 connected to the second connecting portion 32 (white arrow in the figure), while its first connecting surface 3a side (left side) is supported by the spring force of the screen 2, so that the first connecting surface 3a (first connecting portion 31) faces upward (in the Y direction) and the front side of the non-connecting surface 3c is pulled up (black arrow in the figure).

[0047] 5A1 and 5A2, the non-connecting surface 3c is exposed when viewed from the front by the user. In this case, the non-connecting surface 3c has an inclination angle that follows the inclination of the pleats of the screen 2, so that visual continuity with the deployed pleats is ensured, and the design can be improved.

[0048] 1, 3, 4A, and 5A, when the screen 2 is folded (raised) from the unfolded state, the operating cord 14 extending from the head box 1 is operated to rotate the lifting cord 4 in the winding direction, causing the drive shaft 10 and the winding drum 9 to rotate together, causing the winding drum 9 to wind the lifting cord 4, and the bottom rail 3 to rise, causing the screen 2 to be folded in sequence from the lowermost pleat to the uppermost pleat. After this, when the operation of the operating cord 14 is completed, the rotation of the drive shaft 10 is restricted by the stopper 12, and the folded state of the screen 2 is maintained (FIGS. 2, 4B, and 5B).

[0049] During this folding, as shown in Fig. 4B, the bottom rail 3 is suspended by the lifting cord 4 connected at approximately the center of the second connecting surface 3b to the second connecting portion 32 (black arrow in the figure), causing the bottom rail 3 to rotate about 60 degrees around the X axis in the figure from the unfolded state in Fig. 4A, with the second connecting surface 3b (second connecting portion 32) facing upward (Y direction). At this time, as the screen 2 is stacked on the bottom rail 3, the weight is applied to the front side of the bottom rail 3, but as the weight 36 is accommodated near the rear side of the third space, the bottom rail is prevented from tilting forward.

[0050] 5B1 and 5B2, the first connecting surface 3a (first connecting portion 31) of the bottom rail 3 is exposed when viewed from the front by the user, but most of the first connecting surface 3a is covered with the fabric of the screen 2 connected to the screen stopper plate 33 of the first connecting portion 31, so the bottom rail 3 is not noticeable and the design can be improved. In addition, since the rear flange portion 3a2 is formed lower than the front flange portion 3a1, the bending angle of the screen 2 at the boundary between the first connecting surface 3a and the second connecting surface 3b becomes an obtuse angle as shown in FIG. 4B, and the screen 2 is prevented from bulging away from the first connecting surface 3a, and the design can be further improved.

[0051] [summary] As described above, according to this embodiment, the bottom rail 2 is separately provided with a first connecting portion 31 to which the screen 2 is connected and a second connecting portion 32 to which the lifting cord 4 is connected, and by switching the orientation of the bottom rail 3 when the screen 2 is unfolded and folded, it is possible to prevent the bottom rail 2 (its upper surface) from being hung at an angle, thereby improving the design.

[0052] <Second embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this and the following embodiments, parts having the same functions as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals.

[0053] 6 is a right side view and a front view of the bottom rail 3 portion of the pleated screen 100 according to this embodiment. A1 in FIG. 6 shows the right side view when unfolded (lowered), A2 in FIG. 6 shows the front view when unfolded (lowered), B1 in FIG. 6 shows the right side view when folded (upward), and B2 in FIG. 6 shows the front view when folded (upward).

[0054] As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, the same fabric 35 as that of the screen 2 is attached to the non-connecting surface 3c of the bottom rail 3 other than the first connecting surface 3a and the second connecting surface 3b. Also, instead of attaching the fabric 35 separately from the screen 2, the lower end portion of the screen 2 may be attached to the bottom rail 3 after being connected to the screen stopper plate 33, or may be attached to the bottom rail 3 without using the screen stopper plate 33. Also, the fabric 35 may be a different color tone from the screen 2.

[0055] As a result, when viewed from the front by a user, the exposed surface of the bottom rail 3 is covered by the fabric 35 or the screen 2, whether the screen 2 is unfolded or folded, so that the bottom rail 3 is integrated with the screen 2 to make it as inconspicuous as possible, improving the design.

[0056] <Third embodiment> Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0057] Fig. 7 is a right side cross-sectional view of the bottom rail 3 portion of the pleated screen 100 according to this embodiment. Fig. 8 is a right side view and a front view of the bottom rail 3 portion of the pleated screen 100 according to this embodiment. Fig. A1 shows a right side view when unfolded (lowered), Fig. A2 shows a front view when unfolded (lowered), Fig. B1 shows a right side view when folded (upward), and Fig. B2 shows a front view when folded (upward).

[0058] As shown in these figures, in this embodiment, the bottom rail 3 has a generally regular hexagonal cross section (hexagonal columnar shape), one side of which is the first connecting surface 3a, and the other side adjacent thereto is the second connecting surface 3b. The configurations of the first connecting portion 31 provided on the first connecting surface 3a and the second connecting portion 32 provided on the second connecting surface 3b are the same as those in the first embodiment described above.

[0059] Even in this embodiment, when the screen 2 is unfolded, as shown in FIG. 7A, the bottom rail 3 is supported on the second connecting surface 3b side (right side of the figure) by the lifting cord 4 connected to the second connecting portion 32 (white arrow in the figure), while the first connecting surface 3a side (left side of the figure) is supported by the spring force of the screen 2, so that the first connecting surface 3a (first connecting portion 31) is pulled up so that it faces upward (in the Y direction) (black arrow in the figure).

[0060] As a result, as shown in Figures 8A1 and A2, non-connecting surface 3c is exposed when viewed from the front by a user. However, since non-connecting surface 3c is inclined at an angle that follows the inclination of the pleats of screen 2, visual continuity with the unfolded pleats is ensured, thereby improving the design.

[0061] Furthermore, when folding the screen 2, as shown in FIG. 7B, the bottom rail 3 is suspended by a lifting cord 4 connected at approximately the center of the second connecting surface 3b to the second connecting portion 32 (black arrow in the same figure), so that the bottom rail 3 rotates approximately 60 degrees around the X-axis in the same figure from the unfolded state in FIG. 7A, with the second connecting surface 3b (second connecting portion 32) facing upward (in the Y direction).

[0062] As a result, as shown in Figures 8B1 and B2, when viewed from the front by a user, the first connecting surface 3a (first connecting portion 31) and the non-connecting surface 3c of the bottom rail 3 are exposed. However, since the majority of the first connecting surface 3a (almost half of the exposed surface) is covered with the fabric of the screen 2 connected to the screen stop plate 33 of the first connecting portion 31, the bottom rail 3 does not stand out, and a decrease in design is prevented.

[0063] In this embodiment, the bottom rail 3 has the same contour shape as seen from the front when the screen 2 is unfolded and folded. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate any change in design between the unfolded and folded states, and it is possible to improve the design.

[0064] <Fourth embodiment> Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0065] 9 is a right side view and a front view of the bottom rail portion of the pleated screen 100 according to this embodiment. A1 in FIG. 9 shows the right side view when unfolded (lowered), A2 in FIG. 9 shows the front view when unfolded (lowered), B1 in FIG. 9 shows the right side view when folded (upward), and B2 in FIG. 9 shows the front view when folded (upward).

[0066] As shown in these figures, in this embodiment, the non-connecting surface 3c of the bottom rail 3 is formed as a curved surface. That is, the bottom rail 3 has a shape in which the first connecting surface 3a and the second connecting surface 3b, similar to those of each of the above-mentioned embodiments, are cut out from a cylindrical shape.

[0067] The configurations and operations of the first connecting portion 31 provided on the first connecting surface 3a and the second connecting portion 3b provided on the second connecting surface 3b are similar to those in the above-described first embodiment.

[0068] In this embodiment, since the non-connecting surface 3c is curved, similarly to the third embodiment described above, the bottom rail 3 has the same contour shape when viewed from the front when the screen 2 is unfolded and when it is folded, eliminating any change in design between the unfolded and folded states and improving the design.

[0069] <Fifth embodiment> Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0070] 10 is a right side view and a front view of the bottom rail 3 portion of the pleated screen 100 according to this embodiment. Fig. 10 shows A1, A2, and B1, respectively, a right side view when folded (raised), and B2, respectively, a front view when folded (raised).

[0071] As shown in both figures, in this embodiment, the bottom rail 3 is formed in a cylindrical shape (circular cross section), and the first connecting portion 31 and the second connecting portion 32 are formed adjacent to the curved surface of the cylinder.

[0072] The configuration and operation of the first connecting portion 31 provided on the first connecting surface 3a and the second connecting portion 3b provided on the second connecting surface 3b are the same as those of the first embodiment described above, except that the entire surface including the screen fixing plate 33 and the cord fixing plate 34 is formed in a curved shape (arcuate cross section) rather than a flat shape.

[0073] In this embodiment, the bottom rail 3 is formed in a cylindrical shape, so that, similar to the third and fourth embodiments, the clean 2 has the same contour shape when viewed from the front when unfolded and when folded, eliminating any change in design between the unfolded and folded states and improving the design.

[0074] [Variations] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present technology.

[0075] The shape of the bottom rail 3 is not limited to those shown in the above-mentioned embodiments, and may be any shape as long as the first connecting portion 31 faces upward when the screen 2 is unfolded, and the second connecting portion 32 faces upward when the screen 2 is folded.

[0076] In the second embodiment described above, the same fabric 35 as the screen 2 was attached to the bottom rail 3 in the first embodiment described above, but the fabric 35 may be similarly attached to the bottom rail 3 in the third to fifth embodiments described above.

[0077] In each of the above-described embodiments, the upper end of the screen 2 is described as being suspended from the head box 1, but it is also possible to suspend a screen other than the screen 2 from the head box 1 in a manner that allows it to be raised and lowered, and to suspend the screen 2 from an intermediate bar connected to the lower end of the other screen. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 1. Head box 2. Screen 3. Bottom rail 3a...First connecting surface 3b……Second connection surface 3c……Unconnected surface 4. Lifting cord 5: Pitch retention code 9....Winding drum 21……Protrusion 25...Through hole 31...1st connection part 32...Second connection part 100...Pleated screen

Claims

1. A head box that can be installed on a predetermined surface; a screen having a plurality of pleats and an upper end suspended from the head box or a member disposed below the head box; A bottom rail connected to a lower end of the screen; A lift cord that hangs down from the head box so as to be liftable and has one end connected to the bottom rail; A pleated screen comprising: The bottom rail has a first surface that is provided with a first connecting portion to which the lower end of the screen is connected and faces upward when the screen is unfolded, and a second surface that is provided with a second connecting portion to which the lower end of the lift cord is connected and faces upward when the screen is folded. Pleated screen.

2. 2. The pleated screen according to claim 1, The screen further includes a pitch maintaining cord for maintaining the pleats at a constant interval on one side of the screen, and the lower end of the pitch maintaining cord is connected to the second connecting portion. Pleated screen.

3. The pleated screen according to claim 1 or 2, The bottom rail has a third surface that is different from the first surface and the second surface and has an inclination angle that follows the inclination of the pleats when the screen is deployed. Pleated screen.

4. A pleated screen according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The bottom rail has an outline shape that is the same when viewed from the front when the screen is unfolded and when it is folded. Pleated screen.

5. A pleated screen according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The bottom rail has the same fabric as the screen attached to its surface. Pleated screen.

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