Electric blinds

Abstract

To provide an electric blind capable of switching the exposure ratio and opening it by raising and lowering two vertically continuous shielding materials with an inexpensive structure.SOLUTION: An electric blind 100 includes a head box 110, a slat 120 vertically suspended from the head box 110, an intermediate bar 130 connected to a lower end of the slat 120, and a honeycomb screen 140 suspended below the slats 120 via the intermediate bar 130. The intermediate bar 130 is connected to the lower end of a lifting cord 150 that is vertically suspended from the head box 110 by driving a first motor 112. The intermediate bar 130 and the upper end or lower end of the honeycomb screen 140 are provided with connecting means 160 capable of switching between connecting and disconnecting. Therefore, it is possible to provide an electric blind that can switch the exposure ratio and open it by raising and lowering two vertically continuous shielding materials with an inexpensive structure.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric blind. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional electric blind is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2011-111763 (Patent Document 1). The electric blind disclosed in this document is capable of opening and closing a first shading material and a second shading material independently using the driving forces of a first and a second motor, respectively. When the second motor is operated to move the second shading material in the opening direction, the first motor is operated to move an end of the first shading material in conjunction with the end of the second shading material.

[0003] According to this, when the intermediate rail connecting the first shielding material and the second shielding material is raised and lowered by the drive of the first motor, the exposure ratio of the first shielding material and the second shielding material can be changed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-111763 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Incidentally, with conventional electric blinds such as those disclosed in Patent Document 1, in order to open the opening in which the electric blind is installed, it is necessary to operate a second motor to raise and lower the bottom rail located at the lower end of the second shading material. In particular, because the weight of the shading material is added when raising and lowering the intermediate bar and the bottom rail, two high-torque motors are required, which poses a problem of increasing the cost of the entire product.

[0006] The present invention was made in consideration of these problems, and its purpose is to provide an electric blind that is inexpensive and can change the exposure ratio and open the blind by raising and lowering two vertically connected shielding materials. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, there is provided an electric blind comprising a head box, a first shading material having shading material that can be raised and lowered and suspended from the head box, an intermediate bar connected to the lower end of the first shading material, and a second shading material having shading material suspended below the first shading material via the intermediate bar, wherein the intermediate bar is connected to the lower end of a lifting cord that hangs down from the head box and can be raised and lowered by driving a motor, and the electric blind is characterized in that it comprises a connecting means that can switch between connecting and disconnecting the intermediate bar and the upper or lower end of the second shading material.

[0008] According to this configuration, by switching between coupling and decoupling the upper end or lower end of the intermediate bar and the second shielding material using the coupling means, raising and lowering the intermediate bar makes it possible to switch the exposed ratio of the first shielding material to the second shielding material, or to open the opening where the blinds are installed by folding the first shielding material and the second shielding material. These operations can be performed by driving only one motor that raises and lowers the intermediate bar, making it possible to switch and open the exposed ratio by raising and lowering two shielding materials that are connected vertically with an inexpensive configuration.

[0009] Furthermore, when the intermediate bar and the lower end of the second shielding material are connected, raising and lowering the intermediate bar allows the lower end of the second shielding material to be raised and lowered as a unit, and when the intermediate bar is raised, an opening can be opened at the lower end of the second shielding material. Furthermore, when the connection between the intermediate bar and the upper end of the second shielding material is released, the second shielding material remains folded even when the intermediate bar is raised and lowered, and when the intermediate bar is raised, an opening can be opened between the intermediate bar and the upper end of the second shielding material.

[0010] The present invention can be applied in various ways. For example, the connecting means may be fixed to either the intermediate bar or the second shielding material, and a locking portion provided on the connecting means may be locked to the other, thereby connecting the intermediate bar and the second shielding material. According to this configuration, by fixing the connecting means to the intermediate bar or the second shielding material in advance, the workability of connecting the two using the locking portion is improved.

[0011] The joining means may also include a support portion that prevents the second shielding material from tilting in the front-rear direction, the support portion being fixed to a bottom rail located at the lower end of the second shielding material, and the intermediate bar being able to enter the support portion through an opening in the support portion. With this configuration, when the intermediate bar is lowered, the second shielding material is folded and can be automatically accommodated in the support portion. Furthermore, the folded second shielding material can be prevented from tilting in the front-rear direction.

[0012] The locking portion may be connected to the vicinity of the end of the opening. With this configuration, the locking operation of the intermediate bar can be performed with the second shielding material housed in the support portion.

[0013] The first shielding material may be made up of a plurality of slats, and the locking portion may be provided so as to be able to pass between the intermediate bar and the slats. With this configuration, a space is formed above the intermediate bar, allowing the locking portion to pass through the space, improving workability.

[0014] Furthermore, the connecting means may be a bracket that detachably connects the intermediate bar and the upper end of the second shielding material. With this configuration, the intermediate bar and the upper end of the second shielding material can be connected by a bracket, which allows the use of a conventional mechanism, leading to improved workability and reduced costs.

[0015] The connecting means may include a connecting cord that hangs down from the head box, passes through the intermediate bar, and is connected to the lower end of the second shielding material, and a wedge part that fixes the connecting cord to the intermediate bar. With this configuration, the intermediate bar and the second shielding member can be connected simply by fixing the connecting cord to the intermediate bar with the wedge part, which simplifies the configuration of the connecting means, leading to improved workability and reduced costs. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electric blind that can change the exposure ratio and open the window by raising and lowering two vertically connected shielding materials with an inexpensive configuration. Other effects of the present invention will be described in the detailed description of the invention below. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of an electric blind 100 according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1A and 1B are perspective views of the lower end of the electric blind 100, in which FIG. 1A shows the uncoupled state and FIG. 1B shows the coupled state. [Figure 3] 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining the connecting means, in which (a) shows the state before the intermediate bar 130 is inserted into the connecting means 160, (b) shows the state after the intermediate bar 130 is inserted into the connecting means 160, (c) shows the state when the slat 120 is fully closed, and (d) shows the state when the connecting means 160 and the intermediate bar 130 are connected. [Figure 4] 10 is a front view showing a state in which the intermediate bar 130 and the bottom rail 142 are connected by the connecting means 160. FIG. [Figure 5]This is a diagram for explaining the operation of the electric blind 100, where (a) shows the intermediate bar 130 in the uppermost position, (b) shows the intermediate bar 130 in the middle of rising or falling, (c) shows the intermediate bar 130 in the lowermost position, (d) shows the state in which the connecting means 160 and the intermediate bar 130 are connected, (e) shows the state in which the intermediate bar 130 rises or falls together with the honeycomb screen 140, and (f) shows the state in which the intermediate bar 130 is in the uppermost position together with the honeycomb screen 140. [Figure 6] This is a diagram for explaining an example of using the electric blind 100, where (a) shows the state in the sun shading mode, (b) shows the state in the daylight utilization mode 1, (c) shows the state in the daylight utilization mode 2, (d) shows the state in the insulation mode, and (e) shows the state in the open mode. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a front view of an electric blind 200 according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are side views for explaining the bracket (connection means) 260, in which (a) shows the state in which the intermediate bar 130 is connected to the top rail 246, (b) shows the state in which the intermediate bar 130 connected to the top rail 246 is in the middle of rising and falling, and (c) shows the state in which the intermediate bar 130 is disconnected from the top rail 246 and is in the middle of rising and falling. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are schematic side views of the electric blind 300 of the third embodiment, in which (a) shows the intermediate bar 330 in the middle of rising and falling, (b) shows the intermediate bar 330 in the lowest position, (c) shows the intermediate bar 330 connected to the connecting cord 362, and (d) shows the intermediate bar 330 rising and falling together with the honeycomb screen 340. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are schematic side views of the electric blind 400 of the fourth embodiment, in which (a) shows the intermediate bar 130 in the middle of rising and falling, (b) shows the intermediate bar 130 in the lowest position, (c) shows the variable stopper 462 engaged, and (d) shows the intermediate bar 130 rising and falling together with the honeycomb screen 140. [Figure 11] 10A and 10B are front views of an electric blind 500 according to a fifth embodiment, in which (a) shows a state in which the honeycomb screen 140 is unfolded, and (b) shows a state in which the slats 120 are unfolded. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification and drawings, components having substantially the same functional configurations are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0019] (First embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, the configuration of an electric blind 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is a front view of the electric blind 100 of the first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the lower end of the electric blind 100.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the motorized blind 100 includes a head box 110, slats (first shielding material) 120 suspended from the head box 110 so as to be able to rise and fall, an intermediate bar 130 connected to the lower ends of the slats 120, and a honeycomb screen (second shielding material) 140 suspended from the intermediate bar 130. The slats 120 can be raised and lowered by a lifting cord 150 that hangs down from the head box 110 and has its lower end connected to the intermediate bar 130 when driven by a first motor (motor) 112. The motorized blind also includes a connecting means 160 that can connect and disconnect the upper and lower ends of the intermediate bar 130 and the honeycomb screen 140. When the honeycomb screen 140 is connected to the intermediate bar 130 by the connecting means 160, it rises and falls together with the intermediate bar 130, and stops rising and falling when the connection is released. Each component will be described below.

[0021] 1, the head box 110 is fixed to a window frame, ceiling, or the like (not shown) via a head box bracket BK. Inside the head box 110, there are provided, as a mechanism for raising and lowering the slats 120, a lifting drum 111 to which the upper end of the lifting cord 150 is connected so as to be capable of being wound and unwound, a first motor 112 that drives the lifting drum 111 to rotate, and a first rotating shaft 113 that transmits the driving force of the first motor 112 to the lifting drum 111.

[0022] Also provided within the head box 110 are a mechanism for opening and closing the slats 120, including a rotating drum 114 to which a ladder cord 170 for opening and closing the slats 120 is tiltably connected, a second motor 115 that drives the rotating drum 114 to rotate, and a second rotating shaft 116 that transmits the driving force of the second motor 115 to the rotating drum 114.

[0023] Furthermore, the head box 110 is provided with a drive unit 117 that drives the first motor 112 and the second motor 115, a control unit 118 that controls the drive of the drive unit 117, and a switching power supply 119 that converts AC power from a commercial power source into DC power for the motors and the control unit.

[0024] The slats 120 are shielding materials that close the opening. As shown in FIG. 2, the slats 120 are supported by ladder cords 170 that hang down from the head box 110. The slats 120 and the ladder cords 170 form a first shielding material. The slats 120 rotate as the ladder cords 170 tilt, opening and closing the opening. The slats 120 rise and fall as the lifting cords 150 rise and fall, changing the proportion of the opening that the slats 120 occupy.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1 , the intermediate bar 130 is provided below the slats 120, and the lower ends of the lifting / lowering cords 150 and ladder cords 170 are connected to it. The upper end of the honeycomb screen 140 is connected to and suspended from the intermediate bar 130. The intermediate bar 130 rises as the lifting / lowering cords 150 rise, raising the slats 120 and unfolding the honeycomb screen 140. The intermediate bar 130 descends as the lifting / lowering cords 150 fall, lowering the slats 120 and folding the honeycomb screen 140. In this way, the ratio of the slats 120 to the honeycomb screen 140 in the opening changes as the intermediate bar 130 rises and falls.

[0026] The honeycomb screen 140 is a shielding material that closes the opening. The upper end of the honeycomb screen 140 is connected to the intermediate bar 130, and a bottom rail 142 is attached to the lower end. The honeycomb screen 140 and the bottom rail 142 form a second shielding material. As shown in FIG. 2, a buffer material 144 is attached to the underside of the bottom rail 142 so as to protrude downward. The bottom rail 142 is provided with a plurality of connecting means 160 in the longitudinal direction.

[0027] Unlike common brands that use honeycomb screens, the honeycomb screen 140 of this embodiment does not have any cords that are inserted vertically through the honeycomb screen to regulate the front-to-back position of the honeycomb screen or to unfold and fold it.

[0028] The lifting cord 150 lifts and lowers the intermediate bar 130. As shown in Fig. 1, the upper end of the lifting cord 150 is connected to the lifting drum 111 so as to be capable of being wound and unwound. The lower end of the lifting cord 150 hangs down from the head box 110, passes through the slats 120, and is connected to the intermediate bar 130.

[0029] (Coupling means 160) The joining means 160 is capable of joining and releasing the intermediate bar 130 and the lower end of the honeycomb screen 140. As shown in Fig. 1, a plurality of joining means 160 are provided in the longitudinal direction of the honeycomb screen 140. The configuration of the joining means will be described below with reference to Fig. 3 in addition to Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a diagram for explaining the joining means 160.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, the connecting means 160 accommodates the honeycomb screen 140 and the bottom rail 142 therein, and is configured to include a support portion 162 fixed to the bottom rail 142, and a locking portion 164 that locks the support portion 162 to the intermediate bar 130.

[0031] As shown in Fig. 3, the support part 162 is configured in a roughly U-shape with an open top, and the honeycomb screen 140 can enter and exit through the opening 162a at the top. The support part 162 is disposed in front and behind the honeycomb screen 140 and prevents the honeycomb screen 140 from tilting in the front-to-rear direction. The bottom of the support part 162 is fixed to the bottom rail 142 by a fixture 166, as shown in Fig. 2.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 3, the rear upper end of the support part 162 protrudes rearward, and the locking part 164 is rotatably connected to it. As shown in FIG. 2, the front upper end of the support part 162 is formed with a locked part 168 into which the locking part 164 is inserted and locked. As shown in FIG. 2(a), the locked part 168 is a groove formed from one side edge of the support part 162 to the middle in the width direction, and has a narrow entrance. Therefore, the locking part 164 is unlikely to come off the locked part 168.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 2, the locking portion 164 is elongated and extends from the rear side to the front side of the support portion 162, with its tip bent downward. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 2(b), when the locking portion 164 is locked to the locked portion 168, it comes into contact with the support portion 162, restricting movement in the front-to-rear direction. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 2(a), when the locking portion 164 is released from the connection, it is positioned along the surface of the honeycomb screen 140.

[0034] The above has described the configuration of the coupling means 160. Below, the operation of coupling the intermediate bar 130 and the bottom rail 142 by the coupling means 160 will be described with reference to Fig. 4 in addition to Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is a front view showing the state in which the intermediate bar 130 and the bottom rail 142 are coupled by the coupling means 160.

[0035] When the intermediate bar 130 is in the middle of descending as shown by arrow a in Figure 3(a), the locking portion 164 is positioned along the surface of the honeycomb screen 140. When the intermediate bar 130 reaches the lowest end, the intermediate bar 130 enters the support portion 162 as shown in Figure 3(b). At this time, the lowest slat 120 is positioned above the support portion 162, and slack b occurs in the ladder cord 170 between the intermediate bar 130 and the lowest slat 120. In addition, the locking portion 164 is positioned between the intermediate bar 130 and the lowest slat 120 as shown in Figure 4.

[0036] When the slats 120 are fully closed, as shown in Figure 3(c), the slack in the ladder cords 170 between the intermediate bar 130 and the lowest slat 120 prevents the intermediate bar 130 from tilting. In addition, the support parts 162 prevent the folded honeycomb screen 140 from tilting.

[0037] When joining the intermediate bar 130 and the bottom rail 142 with the joining means 160, the slats 120 are fully opened, as shown in Figure 3(d), so that the intermediate bar 130 and the slats 120 are approximately parallel to each other. Then, the locking portion 164 is rotated 180 degrees so that it passes between the intermediate bar 130 and the lowest slat 120, and is locked to the locked portion 168. This joins the intermediate bar 130 and the bottom rail 142.

[0038] The configuration of the electric blind 100 of this embodiment has been described above. The operation of the electric blind 100 will now be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the electric blind 100.

[0039] When the intermediate bar 130 is raised to its uppermost position, the slats 120 are folded and the honeycomb screen 140 is unfolded, as shown in Figure 5(a). Therefore, the opening is closed by the honeycomb screen 140, which contributes to improving insulation at night in offices and other spaces.

[0040] When the first motor 112 is driven, the lifting drum 111 rotates and the lifting cord 150 moves up and down. When the intermediate bar 130 is moving up and down as shown by arrow c in Figure 5(b), the slats 120 and the honeycomb screen 140 are each partially deployed. The extent to which the slats 120 and the honeycomb screen 140 are deployed changes depending on the position of the intermediate bar 130. Therefore, the exposure ratio of the slats 120 and the honeycomb screen 140 in the opening can be changed.

[0041] When the intermediate bar 130 is at its lowest position, as shown in Figure 5(c), the exposed ratio of the slats 120 is at its maximum. At this time, the honeycomb screen 140 is folded and housed in the support parts 162. Therefore, in an office or the like, the angle of the slats 120 can be adjusted to control solar radiation.

[0042] When the locking portion 164 of the connecting means 160 is engaged with the locked portion 168, the intermediate bar 130 and the bottom rail 142 are connected together as shown in Figure 5(d). Therefore, the honeycomb screen 140 and the bottom rail 142 can be raised and lowered together with the intermediate bar 130.

[0043] When the first motor 112 is driven to rotate the lifting drum 111, the lifting cord 150 rises and falls, and the intermediate bar 130 rises and falls, and as shown in Figure 5(e), the honeycomb screen 140 and the bottom rail 142 connected to the intermediate bar 130 by the connecting means 160 also rise and fall together with the intermediate bar 130. Therefore, the opening at the bottom end of the honeycomb screen 140 opens and closes.

[0044] When the intermediate bar 130 is pulled up to the upper end, it is in a fully open state as shown in Fig. 5(f), so that the opening is opened to the maximum extent.

[0045] The operation of the electric blind 100 has been described above. An example of how the electric blind 100 is used will now be described with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of how the electric blind 100 is used, with (a) showing the sun shading mode, (b) showing the daylight utilization mode 1, (c) showing the daylight utilization mode 2, (d) showing the insulation mode, and (e) showing the open mode. Note that the example of use described here is not limited to this embodiment, and can basically be used in the same way in other embodiments.

[0046] Sun-shading mode: As shown in FIG. 6(a), the intermediate bar 130 is lowered to fold the honeycomb screen 140, and the slats 120 are rotated to provide sun-shading.

[0047] Daylighting mode 1: As shown in FIG. 6(b), the intermediate bar 130 is lowered, the honeycomb screen 140 is folded, and the slats 120 are angled nearly horizontally to allow daylight in and a view.

[0048] Daylight use mode 2: As shown in Figure 6(c), the intermediate bar 130 is raised to a mid-height, the lower honeycomb screen 140 blocks sunlight and outside views, and the upper slats 120 let in daylight.

[0049] Insulation mode: As shown in Figure 6(d), when sunlight cannot be utilized, such as at night or on cloudy days in winter, the intermediate bar 130 is raised, the slats 120 are folded, and the honeycomb screen 140 is deployed, thereby improving the insulation performance.

[0050] Open mode: As shown in Figure 6(e), if you want a more open feel or if maintenance such as cleaning of the glass surface is required, connect the slats using the connecting means 160 and then raise the intermediate bar 130. This causes the slats 120 to fold, and the honeycomb screen 140 to rise together with the intermediate bar 130 while still in the folded state. This opens up the area below the bottom rail 142, allowing the opening to be opened to its fullest extent.

[0051] (Effects of the first embodiment) As described above, according to this embodiment, by switching between coupling and decoupling the upper or lower end of the intermediate bar 130 and the honeycomb screen 140 using a coupling means, raising and lowering the intermediate bar 130 makes it possible to change the exposure ratio of the slats 120 and the honeycomb screen 140, or to open the opening in which the electric blind 100 is installed by folding the slats 120 and the honeycomb screen 140. These operations can be performed by driving only the single first motor 112 that raises and lowers the intermediate bar 130, making it possible to switch and open the two shielding materials, the slats 120 and the honeycomb screen 140, which are connected vertically, by raising and lowering them, with an inexpensive configuration.

[0052] Furthermore, when the intermediate bar 130 and the lower end of the honeycomb screen 140 are connected, raising and lowering the intermediate bar 130 allows the lower end of the honeycomb screen 140 to be raised and lowered as a unit, and when raised, an opening can be opened at the lower end of the honeycomb screen 140.

[0053] Furthermore, when the intermediate bar 130 is lowered, the honeycomb screen 140 is folded and automatically accommodated in the support portion 162. This prevents the folded honeycomb screen 140 from tilting in the front-rear direction.

[0054] In addition, since the locking portion 164 is arranged to be able to pass between the intermediate bar 130 and the slat 120 adjacent to the intermediate bar 130, the locking portion 164 can pass through the space formed above the intermediate bar 130, improving workability.

[0055] (Second embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, an electric blind 200 will be described with reference to Figs. 7 and 8. Fig. 7 is a front view of the electric blind 200 of this embodiment. Fig. 8 is a side view for explaining the connecting means 260. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the configurations of the honeycomb screen 240 and the connecting means 260. In this embodiment, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0056] As shown in Figure 7, the upper end of the honeycomb screen 240 is connected to a top rail 246. A guide wire 248 that restricts the tilting of the honeycomb screen 240 hangs down from the head box 110. As shown in Figure 8, the lower end of the guide wire 248 is inserted through the slats 120, the intermediate bar 130, the top rail 246, and the honeycomb screen 240 and connected to a bottom rail 242 or a fixed surface such as the floor.

[0057] The coupling means 260 is a bracket 260 provided on the underside of the intermediate bar 130. The bracket 260 can be coupled to and released from the top rail 246 by using a claw or magnetic engagement. When the intermediate bar 130 is at the lowest position, as shown in FIG. 8(a), the bracket 260 and the top rail 246 are coupled together, allowing the intermediate bar 130 and the top rail 246 to move up and down together.

[0058] When the lifting drum 111 is rotated by the driving of the first motor 112 and the lifting cord 150 is raised and lowered as shown by the arrow d in Figure 8(b), the middle bar 130 is also raised and lowered as shown by the arrow d. Then, the top rail 246 is raised and lowered together with the middle bar 130, and the exposed ratio of the slats 120 and the honeycomb screen 240 changes.

[0059] The bracket 260 and the top rail 246 are released from the connection, and the first motor 112 is driven in the same manner as above to raise and lower the lifting cord 150 as shown by arrow e in Figure 8(c), thereby raising and lowering the intermediate bar 130. Then, only the intermediate bar 130 rises and lowers, while the honeycomb screen 240 remains folded. This opens up the gap between the intermediate bar 130 and the top rail 246, and by changing this gap, the opening can be opened to the desired size. At this time, the guide wires 248 restrict the movement of the honeycomb screen 240 and the top rail 246 in the forward, backward, leftward, and rightward directions, preventing them from tilting.

[0060] (Effects of the second embodiment) As described above, according to this embodiment, the intermediate bar 130 and the top rail 246 at the upper end of the honeycomb screen 240 can be connected with the bracket 260, so that a conventional mechanism can be reused, leading to improved workability and reduced costs.

[0061] When the connection between the intermediate bar 130 and the top rail 246 is released, the honeycomb screen 240 remains folded even if the intermediate bar 130 is raised or lowered. Therefore, when the intermediate bar 130 is raised, an opening can be opened between the intermediate bar 130 and the top rail 246 at the upper end of the honeycomb screen 240.

[0062] (Third embodiment) A third embodiment of the present invention will now be described. First, an electric blind 300 will be described with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of the present embodiment 300. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the configurations of the intermediate bar 330, honeycomb screen 340, and connecting means 360. In this embodiment, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0063] 9, the connecting means 360 includes a connecting cord 362 that hangs down from the head box 110, passes through the intermediate bar 330 and the honeycomb screen 340, and is connected at one end to the bottom rail 342, and a wedge part 364 that secures the connecting cord 362 to the intermediate bar 330. The other end of the connecting cord 362 hangs down from the back surface of the head box 110 and is provided with a weight 366. Therefore, when the bottom rail 342 is raised, the other end of the connecting cord 362 is pulled down by the weight 366, preventing slack.

[0064] Wedge part 364 has an inverted triangular cross section, and has an insertion hole 368, through which connecting cord 362 passes, extending from the apex to the base. Wedge part 364 is inserted into groove 332, which has an inverted triangular cross section and is formed in intermediate bar 330, so as to be movable up and down. When wedge part 364 rises relative to groove 332 and becomes loose, insertion hole 368 opens, allowing connecting cord 362 to move freely. When wedge part 364 descends relative to groove 332 and fits into it, insertion hole 368 closes, connecting intermediate bar 330 and connecting cord 362.

[0065] The configuration of the electric blind 300 has been described above. The operation of the electric blind 300 will now be described with reference to FIG. 9. To change the exposure ratio of the slats 120 and honeycomb screen 340 in the opening, as shown in FIG. 9(a), the wedge parts 364 are raised and loosened, the insertion holes 368 are opened, and the connecting cord 362 is made movable. Then, the first motor 112 is driven to rotate the lifting drum 111, which raises and lowers the lifting cord 150 and raises and lowers the intermediate bar 330 as shown by arrow f in FIG. 9(a). This raises and lowers the slats 120 and honeycomb screen 340, allowing the exposure ratio of the slats 120 and honeycomb screen 340 to be changed.

[0066] To open the opening, first, the first motor 112 rotates the lifting drum 111, lowering the lifting cord 150 and lowering the intermediate bar 330 to its lowest position as shown in FIG. 9(b). Next, as shown in FIG. 9(c), the wedge part 364 is fitted into the groove 332 to secure the intermediate bar 330 to the connecting cord 362. Then, the first motor 112 rotates the lifting drum 111, raising and lowering the lifting cord 150 and raising and lowering the intermediate bar 330 as shown by arrow g in FIG. 9(d). This raises and lowers the honeycomb screen 340 and bottom rail 342, which are folded integrally with the intermediate bar 330. Thus, the opening at the bottom of the honeycomb screen 340 is opened to the desired size.

[0067] When the honeycomb screen 340 and the bottom rail 342 move up and down, the weight 366 also moves up and down together with the connecting cord 362 as shown by the arrow h. When the bottom rail 342 moves up, the upper end of the connecting cord 362 becomes loose, but the action of the weight 366 pulls down the connecting cord 362, preventing the connecting cord 362 from becoming loose.

[0068] (Effects of the third embodiment) As described above, according to this embodiment, the intermediate bar 330 and the honeycomb screen 340 can be connected simply by fixing the connecting cord 362 to the intermediate bar 330 with the wedge part 364, so the connecting means 360 can be made simple in configuration, which leads to improved workability and reduced costs.

[0069] (Fourth embodiment) A fourth embodiment of the present invention will now be described. First, an electric blind 400 will be described with reference to Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a schematic side view of the electric blind 400 of this embodiment. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the configuration of the connecting means 460. In this embodiment, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0070] The coupling means 460 is capable of coupling and decoupling the intermediate bar 130 and the bottom rail 142. As shown in FIG. 10 , the coupling means 460 is made up of a variable stopper 462 attached to the bottom rail 142 and a stopper receiver 464 attached to the intermediate bar 130.

[0071] As shown in Figure 10, one end of the variable stopper 462 is bent into a roughly U-shape and can be engaged with a stopper receiver 464. The other end of the variable stopper 462 is rotatably connected to the upper end of a mounting member 466. The mounting member 466 is roughly L-shaped, with one end fixed to the bottom surface of the bottom rail 142 and the other end extending upward on the back side of the honeycomb screen 140, and the variable stopper 462 is rotatably connected to the upper end. When no connection is required, the variable stopper 462 is laid horizontally as shown in Figure 10(a), and when connection is required, it is raised as shown in Figure 10(c).

[0072] As shown in FIG. 10, the stopper receiver 464 is substantially L-shaped and is attached to the rear end of the upper surface of the intermediate bar 130.

[0073] The configuration of the electric blind 400 has been described above. The operation of the electric blind 400 will now be described with reference to FIG. 10. When changing the exposure ratio of the slats 120 and honeycomb screen 140 in the opening, the connection between the variable stopper 462 and the stopper receiver 464 is released, as shown in FIG. 10(a). Then, the first motor 112 is driven to rotate the lifting drum 111, which raises and lowers the lifting cord 150 and raises and lowers the intermediate bar 130 as shown by arrow i, thereby unfolding or folding the slats 120 and the honeycomb screen 140. In this way, the exposure ratio of the slats 120 and the honeycomb screen 140 in the opening can be changed.

[0074] To open the opening, first, the lifting drum 111 is rotated by driving the first motor 112 to lower the lifting cord 150, and the intermediate bar 130 is lowered to its lowest position as shown in FIG. 10(b). Then, as shown in FIG. 10(c), the variable stopper 462 is rotated 90 degrees to stand up and engage with the stopper receiver 464. Then, the lifting drum 111 is rotated by driving the first motor 112 to raise and lower the lifting cord 150, and the intermediate bar 130 is raised and lowered as shown by arrow j in FIG. 10(d). Then, the folded honeycomb screen 140 and the bottom rail 142 are raised and lowered together with the intermediate bar 130. Thus, the opening at the bottom end of the honeycomb screen 140 is opened to the desired size.

[0075] (Effects of the fourth embodiment) As described above, according to this embodiment, the connecting means 460 is disposed on the rear side of the slats 120 and the honeycomb screen 140, thereby improving the design.

[0076] (Fifth embodiment) A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, an electric blind 500 will be described with reference to FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a front view of the electric blind 500 of this embodiment. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that frames 580 are provided on both sides of the slats 120 and the honeycomb screen 140. This embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment. Furthermore, the connecting means in this embodiment is the same as that of the first to fourth embodiments, and further description will be omitted.

[0077] As shown in Fig. 11, frames 580 are provided on both sides of the slats 120 and the honeycomb screen 140 to improve thermal insulation over the entire height. The frames 580 have a U-shaped cross section and cover the front and rear surfaces of both sides of the slats 120 and the honeycomb screen 140. Therefore, the frames 580 also restrict movement of the slats 120 and the honeycomb screen 140 in the front-to-rear direction.

[0078] As shown in Figure 11(a), when the intermediate bar 130 is raised to the upper limit position and the honeycomb screen 140 is unfolded, the insulating properties of the frame 580 are added to the insulating properties of the honeycomb screen 140, improving the insulating properties.

[0079] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11(b), when the intermediate bar 130 is lowered to the lowest position and the honeycomb screen 140 is folded up, the honeycomb screen 140 tends to collapse, but the frame 580 prevents this from happening.

[0080] (Effects of the fifth embodiment) As described above, according to this embodiment, by providing frames 580 on both sides of the slats 120 and the honeycomb screen 140, it is possible to improve the thermal insulation properties and prevent the folded honeycomb screen 140 from collapsing.

[0081] While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is clear that those skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications and alterations within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these modifications and alterations also fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0082] For example, in the above embodiment, the first shielding material is described as a slat and the second shielding material is described as a honeycomb screen, but the present invention is not limited to this example. The first shielding material and the second shielding material can be designed arbitrarily. For example, pleated screens, roller blinds, etc. can also be used as shielding materials.

[0083] In the above embodiment, the connecting means is fixed to either the intermediate bar or the second shielding material, and the intermediate bar and the second shielding material are connected by locking the locking portion provided on the connecting means with the other, but the present invention is not limited to this example. Any design is possible as long as the intermediate bar and the second shielding material are connected. For example, the connecting means may be separate from the intermediate bar and the second shielding material and connect them when in use.

[0084] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the joining means 160 is configured to include support parts 162 that prevent the honeycomb screen 140 from tilting in the front-to-rear direction, the support parts 162 are fixed to the bottom rail 142 provided at the lower end of the honeycomb screen 140, and the intermediate bar 130 can enter the support parts 162 through the openings 162a of the support parts 162, but the present invention is not limited to this example. Any design can be used as long as the configuration allows the intermediate bar and the second shielding material to be joined.

[0085] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the locking portion 164 is configured to be connected near the end of the opening 162a, but the present invention is not limited to this example. Any design is possible as long as the intermediate bar and the second shielding material are connected. For example, the locking portion may not be connected near the end of the opening, but may be attached separately during the locking operation.

[0086] In the first embodiment, the first shielding material is made up of a plurality of slats 120, and the locking portion 164 is configured to be able to pass between the intermediate bar 130 and the slats 120, but the present invention is not limited to this example. Any design is possible as long as the configuration allows the intermediate bar and the second shielding material to be connected.

[0087] In the second embodiment, the connecting means 260 is a bracket 260 that detachably connects the intermediate bar 130 and the top rail 246 at the upper end of the honeycomb screen 240, but the present invention is not limited to this example. Any design can be used as long as the intermediate bar and the second shielding material can be connected.

[0088] Furthermore, in the third embodiment, the connecting means 360 is configured to include a connecting cord 362 that hangs down from the head box 110 and is connected to the lower end of the honeycomb screen 340 by passing through the intermediate bar 330, and a wedge part 364 that fixes the connecting cord 362 to the intermediate bar 330, but the present invention is not limited to this example. Any design may be used as long as the intermediate bar and the second shielding material are connected to each other.

[0089] The above-described embodiments, applications, modifications, etc. can be implemented in appropriate combinations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0090] 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 blinds 110 Headbox 111 Lifting drum 112 First Motor (Motor) 113 First rotation axis 114 Rotating Drum 115 Second Motor 116 Second rotation axis 117 Drive Unit 118 Control Unit 119 Switching Power Supply 120 slats (first shielding material) 130, 330 intermediate bar 140, 240, 340 Honeycomb screen (secondary shielding material) 142, 242, 342 Bottom rail (second shielding material) 144 Cushioning material 150 Lifting cord 160, 360, 460 coupling means 162 Support part 162a opening 164 Locking part 166 Fixtures 168 Locked part 170 Ladder cord (first shielding material) 246 Top Rail 248 Guidewire 260 Bracket (connection means) 332 Groove 362 Connecting Code 364 Wedge Parts 366 Weight 462 Variable Stopper 464 Stopper holder 466 Mounting parts 580 frames BK Headbox Bracket

Claims

1. The head box and a first shielding material having a shielding material suspended from the head box in a manner that allows it to be raised and lowered; an intermediate bar connected to a lower end of the first shielding material; a second shielding material having a shielding material suspended below the first shielding material via the intermediate bar; An electric blind comprising: a lifting cord for operating the first shielding material and the second shielding material is provided only between the head box and the intermediate bar, hangs down from the head box by driving a motor so as to be able to lift and lower, and has a lower end connected to the intermediate bar; a coupling means capable of switching between coupling and decoupling between the intermediate bar and the upper end of the second shielding material, or a coupling means capable of switching between coupling and decoupling between the intermediate bar and the lower end of the second shielding material, The second shielding material is folded or unfolded by raising or lowering the intermediate bar, The second shielding material folded by the lowering of the intermediate bar is When the connecting means is capable of switching between connecting and disconnecting the intermediate bar and the upper end of the second shielding material, when the connection between the upper end of the second shielding material and the intermediate bar is released by the connecting means, the space between the intermediate bar and the upper end of the second shielding material opens and closes as the intermediate bar moves up and down, An electric blind characterized in that, when the connecting means is capable of switching between connecting and disconnecting the intermediate bar and the lower end of the second shading material, when the lower end of the second shading material and the intermediate bar are connected by the connecting means, the electric blind rises and falls together with the intermediate bar.

2. The electric blind as described in claim 1, characterized in that the connecting means is fixed to either the intermediate bar or the second shading material, and the intermediate bar and the second shading material are connected by the locking portion provided on the connecting means being locked to the other.

3. A head box; a first shielding material having a shielding material suspended from the head box in a manner that allows it to be raised and lowered; an intermediate bar connected to a lower end of the first shielding material; a second shielding material having a shielding material suspended below the first shielding material via the intermediate bar; An electric blind comprising: The intermediate bar is connected to a lower end of a lift cord that hangs down from the head box by driving a motor so as to be liftable and lowerable, a coupling means for coupling and uncoupling the intermediate bar and the upper end or the lower end of the second shielding material; the coupling means is fixed to either the intermediate bar or the second shielding material, and a locking portion provided on the coupling means is locked to the other, thereby coupling the intermediate bar and the second shielding material, the connecting means includes a support portion that prevents the second shielding material from tilting in the front-rear direction, the support portion is fixed to a bottom rail located at a lower end of the second shielding material, An electric blind, characterized in that the intermediate bar can enter the support part through an opening in the support part.

4. The electric blind according to claim 3, wherein the locking portion is connected to a portion near an end of the opening.

5. An electric blind as described in any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the first shielding material is composed of a plurality of slats, and the engaging portion is arranged to be able to pass between the intermediate bar and the slats.

6. 3. The electric blind according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means is a bracket that detachably connects the intermediate bar and the upper end of the second shielding material.

7. A head box; a first shielding material having a shielding material suspended from the head box in a manner that allows it to be raised and lowered; an intermediate bar connected to a lower end of the first shielding material; a second shielding material having a shielding material suspended below the first shielding material via the intermediate bar; An electric blind comprising: The intermediate bar is connected to a lower end of a lift cord that hangs down from the head box by driving a motor so as to be liftable and lowerable, a coupling means for coupling and uncoupling the intermediate bar and the upper end or the lower end of the second shielding material; An electric blind, characterized in that the connecting means comprises a connecting cord hanging from the head box, passing through the intermediate bar and connected to the lower end of the second shading material, and a wedge part that secures the connecting cord to the intermediate bar.

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