Adjusters and blinds

Abstract

To provide an art capable of easily adjusting a length of a cord, despite having a simple configuration with a small number of components.SOLUTION: An adjusting device 140 comprises: a holder 150 attached to a bottom rail 170, and having a plurality of first regulation parts 151 provided in a longitudinal direction of the bottom rail; and an adjustment member 160 movably provided in the longitudinal direction of the bottom rail while being attached to the holder, and having a first engagement part 161 that can be engaged with the first regulation part. A lifting cord is connected to the adjustment member such that a portion thereof is pulled in the longitudinal direction, correspondingly to a movement of the adjustment member in the longitudinal direction. The adjustment member being moved in the longitudinal direction allows a hanging length of the lifting cord to be adjusted. When the movement of the adjustment member in the longitudinal direction is regulated by the first engagement part becoming engaged with any of the first regulation parts, the hanging length of the lifting cord can be maintained.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an adjusting device for adjusting the hanging length of a cord arranged along a shielding material, and to a blind. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional adjustment device and blind for adjusting the hanging length of a cord arranged along a shielding material is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2017-172176 (Patent Document 1). This document discloses an adjustment device and blind including a shielding body hanging from a head rail, a bottom rail provided at the lower end of the shielding body, a cord hanging from the head rail, and a cord length adjustment mechanism fixed within the bottom rail and to which the lower end of the cord is attached, allowing the length of the cord to be adjusted. The cord length adjustment mechanism includes a fixed member fixed within the bottom rail, the fixed member having an insertion portion through which the lower end of the cord can be inserted and a locking portion through which the lower end of the cord can be locked; a movable member movable in the longitudinal direction of the bottom rail relative to the fixed member with the lower end of the cord inserted through the insertion portion of the fixed member wound around it and fixed to the fixed member; and a locking member that locks the movable member so that it cannot move relative to the fixed member.

[0003] With this, the length of the cord can be adjusted simply by moving the moving member around which the cord is wound in the longitudinal direction of the bottom rail. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-172176 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the conventional adjustment device and blinds disclosed in Patent Document 1, in order to fix the cord length at the adjusted position, it is necessary to provide a separate locking member that locks the movable member to the fixed member so that it cannot move, which poses problems such as an increased number of parts and a complicated structure.

[0006] The present invention was made in consideration of these problems, and its purpose is to provide a technology that allows the cord length to be easily adjusted while still having a simple structure with a small number of parts. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adjustment device for adjusting the hanging length of a cord in a blind that includes a cord hanging down along a shielding material suspended from a head box and a rail material connected to the lower end of the shielding material, the adjustment device comprising: a holder that is attached to the rail material and has a plurality of first restricting portions arranged along the longitudinal direction of the rail material; and an adjustment member that is attached to the holder and is movable in the longitudinal direction of the rail material while attached to the holder, and has a first locking portion that can be engaged with the first restricting portion, wherein the cord is connected to the adjustment member such that a portion of the cord is pulled in the longitudinal direction of the rail material in response to movement of the adjustment member in the longitudinal direction of the rail material, and the hanging length of the cord can be adjusted by moving the adjustment member in the longitudinal direction of the rail material, and the hanging length of the cord can be maintained by engaging the first locking portion with any of the first restricting portions, thereby restricting movement of the adjustment member in the longitudinal direction of the rail material.

[0008] This configuration allows for easy cord length adjustment, even with a simple structure consisting of only a holder and an adjustment member, which requires a small number of parts. This allows for easy adjustment of the hanging length of the cord, making it easy to adjust the height of the blind and the tilt of the rail.

[0009] The present invention is applicable in various ways. For example, the adjustment member may be configured so that, when attached to the holder, it is movable in the longitudinal direction of the rail material and tiltable about an axis in the lateral direction of the rail material, such that when it is tilted in a release direction, which is one of the longitudinal directions of the rail material, the first locking portion is released from the first restricting portion, thereby allowing it to move in the longitudinal direction of the rail material, and when it is tilted in a locking direction, which is the other of the longitudinal directions of the rail material, the first locking portion is locked to the first restricting portion, thereby restricting movement of the rail material in the longitudinal direction. With this configuration, by tilting the adjustment member, it is possible to easily switch between a state in which the adjustment member is movable and the hanging length of the cord is adjustable, and a state in which movement of the adjustment member is restricted and the hanging length of the cord is held at an adjusted position.

[0010] Further, the first restricting portions may be provided in plurality at an upper end of the holder that opens upward and along the longitudinal direction of the rail material so as to face each other in the lateral direction of the rail material, the first locking portions may be formed as a pair at both ends of the adjusting member in the lateral direction of the rail material, the holder may further have grooves provided below the first restricting portions so as to face each other in the lateral direction of the rail material, portions of the grooves may extend in the longitudinal direction of the rail material, the adjusting member may have a pair of protrusions at both ends in the lateral direction of the rail material at positions different from the first locking portions, and the adjusting member may be attached to the holder so that the pair of protrusions can slide in the grooves, thereby making the adjusting member movable in the longitudinal direction of the rail material and tiltable about the pair of protrusions. With this configuration, by tilting the adjusting member, it is possible to easily switch between a state in which the adjusting member is movable so that the hanging length of the cord can be adjusted and a state in which the movement of the adjusting member is restricted so that the hanging length of the cord is held at an adjusted position. Furthermore, since the pair of protrusions slide in the grooves, the adjustment member can be moved smoothly, and the adjustment member can be prevented from coming off the holder during movement.

[0011] Furthermore, when the first locking portion is locked by the first restricting portion, the adjustment member may be configured to restrict movement of the rail material in the longitudinal direction relative to the holder and to restrict tilting of the rail material about an axis in the lateral direction. With this configuration, the adjustment member can be fixed to the holder so as not to move or tilt, and therefore the adjustment position can be reliably held so as not to shift after adjusting the hanging length of the cord.

[0012] The holder may further have a plurality of second restricting portions provided at the bottom in the longitudinal direction of the rail material, and the adjustment member may further have second locking portions that protrude and can be locked with the second restricting portions by tilting in the locking direction, and the adjustment member may be fixed to the holder with the first locking portions locked with the first restricting portions and the second locking portions locked with the second restricting portions. According to this configuration, by locking the adjustment member to the holder at two locations, the first locking portions and the second locking portions, the adjustment member can be reliably held in its adjusted position so as not to shift even if strong tension is applied to the cord.

[0013] The holder may further include a first insertion hole formed in an upper end of a second wall portion perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rail material and a second insertion hole formed below the first insertion hole, and the adjustment member may further include a cord turning portion for turning the cord, the cord being routed so as to be introduced into the holder through the first insertion hole, turned at the cord turning portion, and led out of the holder through the second insertion hole, and the end of the cord may be locked so as not to be removed from the second insertion hole. With this configuration, the hanging length of the cord can be adjusted by an adjustment amount that is twice the amount of longitudinal movement of the adjustment member, so that a sufficient adjustment amount can be ensured without increasing the size of the adjustment device.

[0014] The first restricting portions may be formed on the holder at a predetermined pitch along the longitudinal direction of the rail material. With this configuration, the hanging length of the cord can be adjusted while recognizing the adjustment amount, making it easy to fine-tune the hanging length.

[0015] The adjustment member may have a base portion for tilting, and a tilt operation assist opening may be provided in a portion of the base portion. With this configuration, the adjustment member can be raised not only by inserting a finger into the tilt operation assist opening, but also by inserting a tool such as a flathead screwdriver into the tilt operation assist opening, making it easy to operate even in cases where operation with a finger is difficult.

[0016] The adjustment member may also have a base portion for controlling tilting, and a portion of the base portion may protrude longitudinally from the end of the holder when the first locking portion is locked with the first restricting portion. With this configuration, the portion of the base portion protrudes longitudinally from the end of the holder, making it easier to grasp the end of the adjustment member with fingers. Therefore, even if the adjustment member is small, it can be easily operated with fingers.

[0017] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a blind comprising the adjusting device according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0018] With this configuration, the length of the blind cord can be easily adjusted, even though the structure is simple and has a small number of parts, consisting only of a holder and an adjustment member.

[0019] The shielding member may further include a mounting plate for connecting a lower end of the shielding member to the rail member, and the adjustment member may be exposed and operable through an opening formed in a part of the mounting plate when attached to the rail member. With this configuration, the adjustment member can be easily operated. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique that allows for easy cord length adjustment while maintaining a simple structure with a small number of parts. Other effects of the present invention will be described in the detailed description of the invention below. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing the overall configuration of a pleated screen 100 according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vicinity of an adjustment device 140. [Figure 3] 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining an adjustment device 140, in which (a) is an exploded perspective view and (b) is a perspective view. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining an adjustment device 140, in which (a) is a side view and (b) is a front view. [Figure 5] FIG. 4( a ) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 4(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 4(a). [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are perspective views for explaining the operation of the adjustment device 140, in which (a) shows the state in which the adjustment member 160 is fixed to the holder 150, (b) shows the state in which the adjustment member 160 and the holder 150 are disengaged, (c) shows the state in which the adjustment member 160 is being slid, and (d) shows the state in which the adjustment member 160 is engaged with the holder 150. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views for explaining the operation of the adjustment device 140, in which (a) shows the state in which the adjustment member 160 is fixed to the holder 150, (b) shows the state in which the adjustment member 160 and the holder 150 are disengaged, (c) shows the state in which the adjustment member 160 is being slid, and (d) shows the state in which the adjustment member 160 is engaged with the holder 150. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the state before assembly of the adjustment device 140 to the bottom rail 170, illustrating the process of assembling the adjustment device 140 to the bottom rail 170. [Figure 10] 10 is a perspective view illustrating the assembled state of the adjusting device 140 and the bottom rail 170. FIG. [Figure 11] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing states in which the hanging length of the lifting / lowering cord 130 has been adjusted, where (a) shows the longest hanging length and (b) shows the shortest hanging length. [Figure 12]FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a first modified example of the adjustment device 140. [Figure 13] 4(a) shows a second modification of the adjusting device 140, and corresponds to the cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below 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. In the following description, pleated blinds will be used as an example of blinds, but the present invention can also be applied to honeycomb screens, horizontal blinds, etc.

[0023] (First embodiment) The overall configuration of a pleated screen 100 (blind) according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 is a front view showing the overall configuration of the pleated screen 100 according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the vicinity of an adjustment device 140. The pleated screen 100 is equipped with an adjustment device 140 that adjusts the hanging length of a lifting / lowering cord 130 (cord) hanging from a head box 120 in order to raise and lower a suspended screen 110 (shielding material). Each component of this embodiment will be described in detail below.

[0024] (Screen 110) The screen 110 (shielding material) is a shielding material that closes and opens an opening. As shown in FIG. 1, the upper end of the screen 110 is connected to a head box 120 and hung down. The screen 110 has a plurality of pleats formed in the vertical direction that can be folded and unfolded, and each pleat has an insertion hole 112 through which a lifting cord 130 is inserted. The lower end of the screen 110 is connected to a bottom rail 170.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 1, the head box 120 is configured in a long box shape, and inside it, a lifting / lowering cord 130 is wound around it, and turning members 122 that turn the routing direction of the cord are provided at two positions in the longitudinal direction. Also, a stopper 124 that restricts movement of the lifting / lowering cord 130 is provided at one end of the head box 120. The head box 120 is fixed to a window frame or wall (not shown) by a bracket 126.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1 , one end of the lifting / lowering cord 130 is connected to the bottom rail 170, and the other end is inserted through the insertion holes 112 of the screen 110 and introduced into the head box 120. The lifting / lowering cord 130 introduced into the head box 120 is then turned by the turning member 122. The turned lifting / lowering cord 130 is routed along the longitudinal direction of the head box 120 and led out to the outside at one end of the head box 120 via a stopper 124 and connected to each knob 132. Auxiliary cords 134 hang down from the knob 132. The lower ends of the auxiliary cords 134 are connected to the bottom rail 170 via a joint 136.

[0027] As shown in Figure 2, the bottom rail 170 has a long, box-like shape with an opening 172 formed at the top. Fittings 174 into which the adjustment device 140 is fitted are formed in the bottom rail 170 over the entire length in the longitudinal direction at the front, rear, and lower portions. A mounting plate 176 is provided for attaching the lower end of the screen 110 to the bottom rail 170. The lower end of the screen 110 is placed on the underside of the mounting plate 176, and the screen 110 is joined by staples (not shown).

[0028] The mounting plate 176 is inserted into the bottom rail 170 together with the lower end of the screen 110, and is positioned so that both shorter edge portions abut against the inner upper surface of the bottom rail 170. This engages the upper portion of the bottom rail 170 with the mounting plate 176, and the lower end of the screen 110 is connected to the bottom rail 170. This also causes the mounting plate 176 to close the opening 172. The mounting plate 176 has an exposure opening 176a (opening) formed in a position corresponding to the adjustment device 140 attached to the bottom rail, which exposes the upper surface of the adjustment device 140. The adjustment device 140 can be operated via the exposure opening 176a.

[0029] (Adjustment device 140) The adjusting device 140, which is a characteristic feature of this embodiment, will be described with reference to Figs. 3 to 6. Fig. 3 is a diagram for explaining the adjusting device 140, where (a) is an exploded perspective view and (b) is a perspective view. Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining the adjusting device 140, where (a) is a side view and (b) is a front view. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 4(a). Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Fig. 4(a).

[0030] Adjustment device 140 is a device for adjusting the hanging length of lifting / lowering cord 130. As shown in Fig. 2, adjustment device 140 includes holder 150 attached to bottom rail 170 and having a plurality of first restriction portions 151 provided along the longitudinal direction of bottom rail 170, and adjustment member 160 attached to holder 150 and movable in the longitudinal direction of bottom rail 170, and having first locking portions 161 that can be locked to first restriction portions 151. The lifting / lowering cord 130 is connected to the adjustment member 160 so that a portion of it is pulled in the longitudinal direction of the bottom rail 170 in response to the movement of the adjustment member 160 in the longitudinal direction of the bottom rail 170, and the hanging length of the lifting / lowering cord 130 can be adjusted by moving the adjustment member 160 in the longitudinal direction of the bottom rail 170, and the first locking portion 161 is locked to one of the first regulating portions 151, thereby restricting the movement of the adjustment member 160 in the longitudinal direction, thereby maintaining the hanging length.

[0031] (Holder 150) As shown in FIG. 3, the holder 150 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape that opens upward, and a pair of first walls 152 that are arranged opposite each other across the opening are arranged within the bottom rail 170 so as to extend along the longitudinal direction of the bottom rail 170. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the pair of first walls 152 are formed with a pair of protruding portions 152a that protrude in the front-rear and upward directions. The protruding portions 152a protrude upward from the first wall portions 152 by a height that is generally the same as the height of a base portion 165 of an adjustment member 160, which will be described later. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3(b), when the adjustment member 160 is fixed to the holder 150 and the base portion 165 is placed on the first wall portions 152, they are configured to be flush with each other.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 3, a plurality of first restricting portions 151 are provided on the pair of overhanging portions 152a along the longitudinal direction so as to face each other at the upper end portions of the pair of overhanging portions 152a. As shown in Fig. 4(b), the first restricting portion 151 is composed of a recess 151a that engages the first locking portion 161 of the adjustment member 160, and a guide portion 151b that guides the first locking portion 161 into the recess 151a. The recess 151a is formed in a fan shape with a central angle greater than 180 degrees. The guide portion 151b is formed in a sloped shape with a spacing that widens from the recess 151a toward the upper end.

[0033] 3(a), below the first restricting portion 151 of the pair of first wall portions 152, a pair of groove portions 153 that guide the movement of the adjustment member 160 are formed to face each other. The pair of groove portions 153 are substantially L-shaped, with one side (a part) extending in the longitudinal direction below the first restricting portion 151 and the other side extending to the upper end of the first wall portion 152, forming an insertion portion 153a that is open at the top.

[0034] 3(a), the holder 150 further has a plurality of second restriction portions 155 provided on the bottom 154 in the longitudinal direction of the bottom rail 170. The second restriction portions 155 are composed of a plurality of projections and depressions formed in the longitudinal direction of the bottom 154. As shown in FIG. 5, the second restriction portions 155 are composed of an inclined surface 155a inclined in the longitudinal direction of the bottom 154, a vertical surface 155b from the apex of the inclined surface 155a to the bottom 154, and the bottom 154.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 3( a), the holder 150 further has a second wall portion 156 that is perpendicular to the first wall portion 152 (the longitudinal direction of the bottom rail 170), and has a first insertion hole 157 and a second insertion hole 158 through which the lifting cord 130 is inserted. The second wall portion 156 is formed at the same height as the protruding portion 152a. As shown in FIG. 6, the first insertion hole 157 is a substantially L-shaped hole that extends downward from the upper end of the second wall portion 156 and penetrates all the way to the inside of the holder 150. Therefore, the lifting cord 130 is inserted into the first insertion hole 157 in the downward direction, and is naturally redirected toward the inside of the holder 150 at the bent portion of the first insertion hole 157, allowing it to be inserted all the way into the holder 150.

[0036] 6, the second insertion hole 158 is an elongated hole that penetrates below the first insertion hole 157 to the inside of the holder 150. The second insertion hole 158 is larger than the thickness of the lifting / lowering cord 130 but smaller than the knot 130a formed by the lifting / lowering cord 130.

[0037] 3(a), the holder 150 has a third wall portion 159 at the end of the first wall portion 152 opposite to the second wall portion 156. The third wall portion 159 is formed at the same height as the first wall portion 152. A base portion 165 of the adjustment member 160, which will be described later, can be placed on the third wall portion 159.

[0038] 3, a pair of protrusions 154a protruding in the front-rear direction are formed on the bottom 154, and these protrusions 154a are fitted into fitting portions 174 of the bottom rail 170. Therefore, the holder 150 is free to move in the longitudinal direction of the bottom rail 170, but movement in the up-down and front-rear directions is restricted.

[0039] (Adjustment member 160) Adjustment member 160 is fixed to holder 150, and allows the hanging length of lifting / lowering cord 130 to be adjusted by pulling in a portion of lifting / lowering cord 130 in the longitudinal direction of bottom rail 170. When adjustment member 160 is tilted in an unlocking direction, which is one of the longitudinal directions of bottom rail 170, the first locking portion 161 is released from the first restricting portion 151, allowing movement in the longitudinal direction of bottom rail 170, and when adjustment member 160 is tilted in an locking direction, which is the other of the longitudinal directions of bottom rail 170, the first locking portion 161 is locked to the first restricting portion 151, restricting movement of bottom rail 170 in the longitudinal direction.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 3(a), the adjustment member 160 is movable relative to the holder 150 along the multiple first restriction portions 151 and has a pair of first locking portions 161 that can be locked to the first restriction portions 151. The first locking portions 161 are a pair of cylindrical protrusions that protrude respectively in the direction of the first restriction portions 151 from a pair of generally inverted L-shaped pieces 160a that are spaced apart. As shown in FIG. 4(b), the first locking portions 161 are detachably fitted into the recesses 151a of the first restriction portions 151.

[0041] 3(a), the adjustment member 160 is provided with a pair of protrusions 162 that are slidable along the pair of grooves 153. The protrusions 162 are a pair of cylindrical convex portions that protrude downwardly from the first locking portions 161 of the pair of pieces 160a toward the grooves 153. The pair of protrusions 162 are inserted into the pair of grooves 153 from insertion portions 153a that are open at the top, and as shown in FIG. 4(b), are movable in the longitudinal direction of the pair of grooves 153, and the adjustment member 160 is tiltable around the pair of protrusions 162 as an axis.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 3(a), the adjustment member 160 has a second locking portion 163 that protrudes and can be locked with the second restricting portion 155 of the holder 150. The second locking portion 163 is provided on each lower end of the pair of pieces 160a. As shown in FIG. 5, when the movement of the adjustment member 160 is restricted relative to the holder 150, the second locking portion 163 has a vertical portion 163a that faces the vertical surface 155b of the second restricting portion 155, a bottom surface 163b that faces the bottom portion 154, and an inclined portion 163c that faces the inclined surface 155a. The second locking portion 163 is configured to move relatively without coming into contact with the second restricting portion 155 when the adjustment member 160 tilts about the protrusion 162 as an axis in a direction to release the engagement.

[0043] 5, the second locking portion 163 engages with the second restricting portion 155 when the adjustment member 160 is tilted in the engagement direction. With the first locking portion 161 locked to the first restricting portion 151 and the second locking portion 163 locked to the second restricting portion 155, the adjustment member 160 is fixed to the holder 150.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 3( a), the adjustment member 160 further includes a cord turning portion 164 for turning the lifting / lowering cord 130. The cord turning portion 164 is formed to connect the pair of pieces 160a at a position between the first locking portion 161 and the second locking portion 163. As shown in FIG. 6, the cord turning portion 164 has a curved surface perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bottom rail 170, making it easy for the lifting / lowering cord 130 to turn. The lifting / lowering cord 130 is routed so that it is introduced into the holder 150 through the first insertion hole 157, turned at the cord turning portion 164, and led out of the holder 150 through the second insertion hole 158. Then, a knot 130a is formed at the end of the lifting / lowering cord outside the holder 150, thereby locking it so that it cannot be removed from the second insertion hole 158. By changing the position of the knot 130 relative to the lifting cord 130, the length of the lifting cord 130 can be adjusted in advance.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 3 , the adjustment member 160 has a base portion 165 for tilting. The base portion 165 is formed to connect the upper tips of the pair of pieces 160 a. A tilting operation assist opening 166 is formed in a part of the base portion 165, into which a jig such as a flathead screwdriver or a coin can be inserted. The base portion 165 is tilted in the unlocking direction by inserting a finger into the tilting operation assist opening 166 to perform a tilting operation, or by inserting a flathead screwdriver, coin, or the like into the tilting operation assist opening 166 to perform a tilting operation, thereby releasing the lock between the adjustment member 160 and the holder 150. Inserting a flathead screwdriver, coin, or the like into the tilting operation assist opening 166 to perform a tilting operation allows for easier operation than tilting with a finger.

[0046] The configuration of adjustment device 140 has been described above. The operation of adjustment device 140 will now be described with reference to Figs. 7 and 8. Fig. 7 is a perspective view for explaining the operation of adjustment device 140. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of adjustment device 140.

[0047] 7(a) and 8(a), when the adjustment member 160 is fixed to the holder 150, the first locking portion 161 of the adjustment member 160 locks with the first restricting portion 151 of the holder 150, and the second locking portion 163 of the adjustment member 160 locks with the second restricting portion 155 of the holder 150. The base portion 165 is placed on the first wall portion 152, and the protruding portion 152a and the base portion 165 are configured to be flush with each other. In this way, the base portion 165 does not protrude from the holder 150, preventing anything from getting caught on the base portion 165 and preventing the adjustment member 160 from tilting unintentionally.

[0048] When changing the position of adjustment member 160 to adjust the hanging length of lifting cord 130, first, the holder 150 and adjustment member 160 are released from their fixed position. As shown in FIGS. 7(b) and 8(b), adjustment member 160 is tilted by inserting a finger into tilting operation assist opening 166 or by inserting a flathead screwdriver, coin, or the like into tilting operation assist opening 166, causing it to tilt about protrusion 162 in the unlocking direction as indicated by arrow a in the figure. As a result, first locking portion 161 of adjustment member 160 is released from locking with first restricting portion 151 of holder 150 and moves above protrusion 152a. Furthermore, second locking portion 163 of adjustment member 160 is released from locking with second restricting portion 155 of holder 150 and moves to the height of groove 153.

[0049] 7(c) and 8(c), the base portion 165 is grasped with the fingers and the adjustment member 160 is moved in the direction of the arrow b. At this time, the protrusion 162 of the adjustment member 160 slides along the groove portion 153 of the holder, so that the adjustment member 160 can be moved smoothly.

[0050] After moving the adjustment member 160 to the desired position, as shown in FIGS. 7(d) and 8(d), the base portion 165 is tilted with a finger. The adjustment member 160 tilts in the locking direction, as indicated by arrow c in the figure, around the protrusion 162 as its axis. At this time, the first locking portion 161 of the adjustment member 160 is guided by the guide portion 151b of the holder 150 and fits into the recess 151a. Therefore, the first locking portion 161 is locked to the first restricting portion 151. Furthermore, the vertical portion 163a of the second locking portion 163 of the adjustment member 160 abuts against the vertical surface 155b of the holder 150, restricting its movement. Therefore, the second locking portion 163 is locked to the second restricting portion 155. In this manner, the adjustment member 160 is fixed to the holder 150.

[0051] Even when the adjustment member 160 is fixed at the position where the lift cord 130 is most retracted, as shown in Fig. 8(d), the tip of the base portion 165 is configured to be flush with the third wall portion 159. This prevents the base portion 165 from getting caught on anything and prevents it from tilting accidentally.

[0052] The operation of the adjustment device 140 has been described above. The process of assembling the adjustment device 140 to the bottom rail 170 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the process of assembling the adjustment device 140 to the bottom rail 170, and is a perspective view showing the state before assembly. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the process of assembling the adjustment device 140 to the bottom rail 170, and is a perspective view showing the assembled state.

[0053] 9, the adjustment device 140 is inserted into the bottom rail 170 (from the third wall portion 159 side in the example of FIG. 9) with the adjustment member 160 facing up and the protrusion 154a of the holder 150 positioned to fit into the fitting portion 174 of the bottom rail 170. Then, the adjustment device 140 is moved to the desired position through the opening 172 of the bottom rail 170.

[0054] 10, the adjustment device 140 is moved to a desired position, and then the hanging lifting cord 130 is connected to the adjustment member 160 through the exposed opening 176a of the mounting plate 176. Then, the position of the exposed opening 176a is aligned with the position of the adjustment device 140, and the mounting plate 176 is attached to the opening 172 of the bottom rail 170.

[0055] The above describes the process of assembling adjustment device 140 to bottom rail 170. A method for adjusting the hanging length of lift-up cord 130 will now be described with reference to Fig. 11. Fig. 11 shows the state after adjusting the hanging length of lift-up cord 130, with (a) showing the longest hanging length and (b) showing the shortest hanging length.

[0056] As shown in Figure 11(a), the hanging length of the lift-up cord 130 is longest when the cord turn portion 164 of the adjustment member 160 is closest to the second wall portion 156 of the holder 150. As the cord turn portion 164 approaches the third wall portion 159 of the holder 150, the lift-up cord 130 is pulled into the bottom rail 170, and the hanging length becomes shorter. As shown in Figure 11(b), the hanging length of the lift-up cord 130 is shortest when the cord turn portion 164 is closest to the third wall portion 159.

[0057] For example, if the pitch between adjacent first restricting portions 151 of the holder 150 is 3 mm, the maximum adjustment amount A of the hanging length of the lifting / lowering cord 130 is 24 mm. By adjusting the hanging length of the lifting / lowering cord 130 in this way, the height of the pleated screen 100 can be adjusted. Furthermore, because each lifting / lowering cord 130 is provided with its own adjustment device 140, the hanging length of each cord can be adjusted separately. This also makes it possible to adjust the inclination of the bottom rail 170. Furthermore, by changing the position of the knot 130a of the lifting / lowering cord 130, even finer adjustments can be made.

[0058] (Effects of the first embodiment) As described above, according to this embodiment, the length of the lift-down cord 130 can be easily adjusted, even with a simple structure with a small number of parts, consisting of only the holder 150 and the adjustment member 160. Therefore, the hanging length of the lift-down cord 130 can be easily adjusted and maintained, making it easy to adjust the height of the pleated screen 100 and the tilt of the bottom rail 170.

[0059] Furthermore, by tilting the adjustment member 160, it is possible to easily switch between a state in which the adjustment member 160 is movable and the hanging length of the lifting / lowering cord 130 can be adjusted, and a state in which the movement of the adjustment member 160 is restricted and the hanging length of the lifting / lowering cord 130 is held at the adjusted position.

[0060] Furthermore, the pair of protrusions 162 slide in the grooves 153, allowing smooth movement of the adjustment member 160. Furthermore, the adjustment member 160 can be prevented from coming off the holder 150 during movement.

[0061] Furthermore, by engaging the first locking portion 161 with the first regulating portion 151, the adjustment member 160 can be fixed to the holder 150 so as not to move or tilt, and therefore the adjustment position can be reliably held so as not to shift after adjusting the hanging length of the lifting cord 130.

[0062] Furthermore, by engaging the adjustment member 160 with the holder 150 at two points, the first engaging portion 161 and the second engaging portion 163, the adjustment position can be reliably held so as not to shift even if strong tension is generated in the lifting / lowering cord 130.

[0063] Furthermore, lifting / lowering cord 130 is routed so that it is introduced into holder 150 through first insertion hole 157, turned at cord turning portion 164, and led out of holder 150 through second insertion hole 158. This allows the hanging length of lifting / lowering cord 130 to be adjusted by an amount of adjustment that is twice the amount of longitudinal movement of adjustment member 160. This ensures a sufficient amount of adjustment without increasing the size of adjustment device 140.

[0064] Furthermore, first restriction portions 151 are formed on holder 150 at a predetermined pitch along the longitudinal direction of bottom rail 170, so that the hanging length of lift-down cord 130 can be adjusted while recognizing the amount of adjustment, facilitating fine adjustment of the hanging length.

[0065] Furthermore, since the adjustment member 160 has a tilt operation assist opening 166 in a part of the base portion 165, it is possible not only to insert a finger into the tilt operation assist opening 166 to raise the adjustment member, but also to insert a tool such as a flathead screwdriver into the tilt operation assist opening 166 to raise the adjustment member 160. Therefore, even in cases where operation with a finger is difficult, the adjustment member 160 can be easily operated.

[0066] Furthermore, when the adjustment member 160 is attached to the bottom rail 170, it is exposed and operable through an exposure opening 176a formed in a part of the mounting plate 176, so that the adjustment member 160 can be easily operated.

[0067] (Variation 1) In Modification 1, the shape of base portion 165 of adjustment member 160 of the first embodiment is changed. The configuration of base portion 265 of this modification will be described with reference to FIG. 12. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing Modification 1 of adjustment device 140. As shown in FIG. 12, base portion 265 is configured such that a portion of base portion 265 protrudes in the longitudinal direction from third wall portion 159 when first locking portion 161 of adjustment member 160 is locked to first restricting portion 151 closest to second wall portion 156.

[0068] In this way, a part of the base portion 265 protrudes longitudinally from the end of the holder 150, making it easy to grasp the end of the base portion 265 with fingers. Therefore, even if the adjustment member 160 is small, it can be easily operated with fingers. Also, since there is no need to provide the tilting operation assist opening 166 in the base portion 265 as in the first embodiment, the purpose can be achieved with a simple structure.

[0069] (Variation 2) In the second modification, the adjustment device 140 is configured so as not to rotate the lift-down cord 130. The adjustment device 140 of this modification will be described with reference to FIG. 13. FIG. 13 shows the second modification of the adjustment device 140 and is a view corresponding to the cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 4(a). As shown in FIG. 13, the holder 150 is provided with only a first insertion hole 157 for introducing the lift-down cord 130 into the holder 150, and is not provided with a second insertion hole 158 for leading the lift-down cord 130 out of the holder 150.

[0070] Furthermore, adjustment member 160 is provided with a cord locking portion 364 that locks lifting cord 130 within the holder 150, instead of cord turning portion 164 that turns lifting cord 130 within holder 150. Cord locking portion 364 has a through-hole 364a that penetrates bottom rail 170 in the longitudinal direction, and lifting cord 130 introduced into holder 150 from first insertion hole 157 passes through through-hole 364a of cord locking portion 364 and forms knot 130a at the tip, thereby being locked by cord locking portion 364.

[0071] By configuring the lift cord 130 so that it does not rotate, the maximum movement of the lift cord 130 is smaller than that of the adjustment device 140 of the first embodiment, but the configuration of the holder 150 can be simplified and the manufacturing process can be reduced. Also, because the lift cord 130 does not rotate within the holder 150, the task of connecting the lift cord 130 to the adjustment device 140 is also easier.

[0072] 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.

[0073] For example, in the first embodiment, the rail material is the bottom rail 170, but the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the rail material may be the middle bar of a blind that has two screens, one above the other.

[0074] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the holder 150 and the adjustment member 160 are locked and unlocked by tilting the adjustment member 160, but the present invention is not limited to this example. The locking and unlocking of the holder and the adjustment member can be designed as desired. For example, the locking and unlocking may be performed by moving the adjustment member in the vertical direction of the holder.

[0075] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the adjustment member 160 is attached to the holder 150 so that the protrusion 162 can slide in the groove 153 of the holder 150, thereby allowing the adjustment member 160 to move in the longitudinal direction of the bottom rail 170 and tilt around the protrusion 162 as an axis, but the present invention is not limited to this example. Any design is possible as long as the adjustment member can move and be engaged and disengaged with the holder. For example, the adjustment member does not need to have a protrusion, and the holder does not need to have a groove.

[0076] In the first embodiment, adjustment member 160 is configured such that, when first locking portion 161 is locked by first restricting portion 151, movement of bottom rail 170 relative to holder 150 in the longitudinal direction and tilting of bottom rail 170 around an axis in the lateral direction are restricted, but the present invention is not limited to this example. Any design is possible as long as the first locking portion is locked by the first restricting portion and movement of the adjustment member in the longitudinal direction is restricted.

[0077] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the adjustment member 160 is fixed to the holder 150 with the first locking portion 161 locked to the first restricting portion 151 and the second locking portion 163 locked to the second restricting portion 155, but the present invention is not limited to this example. Any design is possible as long as the first locking portion is locked to the first restricting portion and longitudinal movement of the adjustment member is restricted. For example, the adjustment member does not need to be provided with the second locking portion, and the holder does not need to be provided with the second restricting portion.

[0078] In the first embodiment, the cord is the lifting cord 130, one end of which is connected to the bottom rail 170, but the present invention is not limited to this example. The cord may be applied to a lifting tape or a ladder cord or ladder tape that tilts (opens and closes) the slats of horizontal blinds, or even to a pitch cord that keeps each pleat of a pleated screen at a constant width.

[0079] The above-described embodiments, applications, modifications, etc. can be implemented in appropriate combinations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 100 Pleated Screen 110 Screen (shielding material) 120 headbox 130 Lifting cord (cord) 140 Adjustment device 150 holder 151 First Regulatory Department 152 1st wall section 153 Groove 154 Bottom 155 Second Regulatory Department 156 2nd wall section 157 First insertion hole 158 Second insertion hole 160 Adjustment member 161 First locking part 162 protrusion 163 Second locking part 164 Cord Turning Section 165, 265 base 166 Tilt operation auxiliary opening 170 Bottom rail (rail material) 172 Opening 176 Mounting Plate 176a Exposure port (opening) 364 Cord locking part 364a through hole

Claims

1. An adjustment device for adjusting the hanging length of a cord in a blind that includes a cord hanging along a shielding material suspended from a head box and a rail material connected to a lower end of the shielding material, a holder attached to the rail member and having a plurality of first restriction portions provided along the longitudinal direction of the rail member; an adjustment member that is attached to the holder and is movable in the longitudinal direction of the rail material, and has a first locking portion that can be locked to the first restricting portion; Equipped with the cord is connected to the adjustment member or the holder so that a portion of the cord is pulled in the longitudinal direction of the rail material in response to movement of the adjustment member in the longitudinal direction of the rail material; the adjustment member is moved in the longitudinal direction of the rail material, thereby adjusting the hanging length of the cord; and the first locking portion is locked to any one of the first restricting portions to restrict movement of the adjustment member in the longitudinal direction of the rail material, thereby maintaining the hanging length of the cord, An adjustment device characterized in that the adjustment member is able to move in the longitudinal direction of the rail material when the engagement between the first locking portion and the first regulating portion is released, and is fixed to the holder so as not to move in the longitudinal direction of the rail material when the first locking portion and the first regulating portion are engaged.

2. An adjustment device for adjusting the hanging length of a cord in a blind that includes a cord hanging down along a shielding material suspended from a head box and a rail material connected to the lower end of the shielding material, a holder attached to the rail member and having a plurality of first restriction portions provided along the longitudinal direction of the rail member; an adjustment member that is attached to the holder and is movable in the longitudinal direction of the rail material, and has a first locking portion that can be locked to the first restricting portion; Equipped with the cord is connected to the adjustment member or the holder so that a portion of the cord is pulled in the longitudinal direction of the rail material in response to movement of the adjustment member in the longitudinal direction of the rail material; the adjustment member is moved in the longitudinal direction of the rail material, thereby adjusting the hanging length of the cord; and the first locking portion is locked to any one of the first restricting portions to restrict movement of the adjustment member in the longitudinal direction of the rail material, thereby maintaining the hanging length of the cord, the adjustment member is movable in the longitudinal direction of the rail material while attached to the holder, and tiltable about an axis in the lateral direction of the rail material, An adjustment device characterized in that the rail material is tilted in a release direction, which is one of the longitudinal directions of the rail material, thereby releasing the engagement of the first engagement portion with the first regulating portion, thereby allowing movement in the longitudinal direction of the rail material, and is tilted in a locking direction, which is the other of the longitudinal directions of the rail material, thereby engaging the first engagement portion with the first regulating portion, thereby restricting movement of the rail material in the longitudinal direction.

3. a plurality of first restricting portions are provided along the longitudinal direction of the rail material at an upper end portion of the holder that is open upward and are opposed to each other in the lateral direction of the rail material; The first locking portions are formed as a pair at both ends of the adjustment member in the short direction of the rail material, The holder further has grooves provided below the first restricting portion so as to face each other in a short-side direction of the rail material, and a portion of the grooves extends in a long-side direction of the rail material, The adjustment device described in claim 2, characterized in that the adjustment member has a pair of protrusions at both ends in the short direction of the rail material at a position different from the first engaging portion, and is attached to the holder so that the pair of protrusions can slide in the groove portion, thereby making it possible to move in the longitudinal direction of the rail material and tilt around the pair of protrusions as an axis.

4. The adjustment device described in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that when the first engaging portion is engaged with the first regulating portion, the adjustment member restricts the movement of the rail material in the longitudinal direction relative to the holder and restricts the tilting of the rail material around an axis in the short direction.

5. The holder further includes a plurality of second restricting portions provided at a bottom portion in a longitudinal direction of the rail material, The adjustment device described in claim 4, characterized in that the adjustment member further has a second locking portion that protrudes so as to be able to lock with the second regulating portion when tilted in the locking direction, and is fixed to the holder when the first locking portion is locked with the first regulating portion and the second locking portion is locked with the second regulating portion.

6. the holder further includes a first insertion hole formed in an upper end of a second wall portion perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rail material, and a second insertion hole formed below the first insertion hole, The adjustment member further includes a cord turning portion that turns the cord, 2. The adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the cord is routed so that it is introduced into the holder through the first insertion hole, turned at the cord turning portion, and led out of the holder through the second insertion hole, and the end is locked in place so that it cannot be removed from the second insertion hole.

7. 7. The adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the first restricting portions are formed on the holder at a predetermined pitch along the longitudinal direction of the rail material.

8. 3. The adjusting device according to claim 2, wherein the adjusting member has a base portion for tilting, and a tilting operation assist opening is provided in a part of the base portion.

9. The adjustment device described in claim 2, characterized in that the adjustment member has a base portion for operating tilting, and when the first engagement portion is engaged with the first regulating portion, a portion of the base portion protrudes longitudinally from the end of the holder.

10. A blind, characterized in that it comprises an adjusting device according to claim 1 or 2.

11. Further provided is a mounting plate for connecting a lower end of the shielding material to the rail material, 11. The blind according to claim 10, wherein the adjustment member is operably exposed through an opening formed in a part of the mounting plate when attached to the rail material.

Images