BLIND

Abstract

It has excellent thermal insulation and heating performance, and suppresses condensation on windows in cold weather. [Solution] The invention is characterized by a plurality of foldable cylindrical cells 10 having a honeycomb structure, a string-like member 12 for pulling up the cells, a lower rail provided below the lowest cell to which the lower end of the string-like member is connected, a lifting mechanism 3 provided above the uppermost cell for winding up the string-like member, a heating element 22 provided inside the lower rail that generates heat when powered by a power supply 4, a rail opening 21 that communicates with the internal space of the cells provided on the upper surface of the lower rail, and cell openings 11 that connect the internal spaces of cells connected vertically to each other.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a blind, and more specifically, to a blind having a heat generation function. BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Conventionally, blinds having a structure in which a plurality of honeycomb-structured cells are connected have been proposed (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2). The blind of Patent Document 1 aims to provide a novel method and apparatus for mounting a movable honeycomb-shaped insulating panel on a window, and the blind of Patent Document 2 is formed with notches over the entire length of the screen so as to straddle the folds, and by inserting a part of the frame, it is said that light leakage and heat inflow / outflow from between the edge of the screen and the opening can be prevented.

[0003] The above-described blind provided with honeycomb-structured cells can retain air inside the cells, and thus has superior heat insulation effect compared to ordinary blinds, but for example, it has not yet actively exhibited effects such as blocking outdoor cold air in cold winter seasons and suppressing dew condensation on window glass. PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS PATENT DOCUMENTS

[0004] PATENT DOCUMENT 1 Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 6-89624 PATENT DOCUMENT 2 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2020-105737 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a blind that has excellent heat insulation performance and heating performance, and is capable of suppressing dew condensation and the like on windows during cold weather. MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0006] To solve the above problems, the present invention is characterized by the following:

[0007] Firstly, a foldable blind, Multiple foldable cylindrical cells having a honeycomb structure, A string-like member for pulling up the cell, A lower rail is provided below the lowest cell, to which the lower end of the string-like member is connected, A lifting mechanism is provided on the uppermost cell to wind up the string-like member, A heating element that generates heat when power is supplied from the power supply unit is provided inside the lower rail. A rail opening is provided on the upper surface of the lower rail, which communicates with the internal space of the cell. The aforementioned cell is characterized by having cell openings that connect the internal spaces of the cells that are connected vertically to each other. Secondly, in the blind of the first invention described above, a fan driven by power supplied from the power supply device is provided on the lower rail, It is preferable that the fan supplies air into the lower rail, and the air heated by the heating element circulates within the internal space of the cell. Thirdly, in the blind of the first or second invention described above, it is preferable that the heating element is at least one selected from the group consisting of a PTC heater, a carbon-based heater, a film heater, and a silicone rubber heater. Fourth, in the blinds of the first to third inventions described above, the power supply device comprises a solar power generation unit having a solar panel, a control unit, and a storage battery, It is preferable to generate heat in the heating element by supplying power from the aforementioned solar power generation unit. Fifth, it is preferable that the lifting mechanism is electrically driven by power supplied from the power supply device. Sixth, in the blinds of the first to fifth inventions described above, it is preferable that a lid portion that can deform in accordance with the folding of the cell is provided at the end opening of the longitudinal end of the cell. Seventh, in the blind of the sixth invention described above, the lid portion is Having a roughly hexagonal shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the cell, The upper connection portion is formed by connecting the upper side of the roughly hexagonal shape with the upper side of the cell, The lower connection portion is where the lower side of the roughly hexagon and the lower side of the cell are connected, It has a horizontally extending bend formed in the center of the aforementioned roughly hexagonal shape, It is preferable that, as the cell is folded, the lid portion folds inward through the fold portion. Eighth, the above The 6th or 7th In the blind of the invention, it is preferable that at least one of the insulating material and the heat storage material is provided in at least one of the cells or the lid. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the blinds of the present invention described above, by providing a heating element at a specific position in the blinds having a honeycomb structure, it is possible to achieve excellent heat insulation and heating performance, as well as suppress condensation on windows in cold weather. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of the blind of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a magnified view of one side of the blind shown. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram showing the state of a folded cell. [Figure 4] This is a schematic front view showing an embodiment in which a motor unit and power supply are provided in the lifting mechanism. [Figure 5] This is a magnified view of one side of a blind with a cover. [Figure 6]This is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the operation of the lid part in a state where the cells are folded. [Figure 7] This is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a blind in which two rows of cells are provided in the front-rear direction. [Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, the blind of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the blind, and Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing the configuration of the end portion of the cell.

[0011] The blind 1 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of tubular cells 10 having a honeycomb structure, a string-like member 12 for pulling up the cells 10, a lower rail 2 provided below the lowermost cell 10 and connected to the lower end of the string-like member 12, and a pulling mechanism 3 for winding up the string-like member 12, wherein a heating element 22 that generates heat by power supply from a power supply device 4 is provided inside the lower rail 2.

[0012] The blind 1 of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 has a basic structure in which a plurality of flexible elongated cells 10 are connected in parallel. Specifically, the bottom surface of a cell 10 having a substantially hexagonal cross section is connected to the top surface of the cell 10 positioned therebelow, and this is repeated to form the connected arrangement.

[0013] The material of the cells 10 is not particularly limited as long as it does not deform or break due to heat, and for example, metals such as aluminum, heat-resistant plastics, FRP and the like can be used.

[0014] As shown in Figure 2, through holes 13 are provided in the vertical direction in the vicinity of both side end portions of the cell group formed by connecting the individual cells 10, and the string-like member 12 for pulling up the cells is inserted through the through holes 13. Further, the upper end of the string-like member 12 is connected to the pulling mechanism 3 provided at the upper part of the cell group, and the lower end is connected to the lower rail 2 provided at the lower part of the cell group. The operation of the pulling mechanism 3 pulls up the lower rail 2, and the cells 10 are folded as shown in Figures 3(A) and 3(B).

[0015] The heating element 22 installed inside the lower rail 2 is preferably as lightweight and thin as possible, taking into consideration the space inside the lower rail 2. Specific examples of heating elements 22 include PTC heaters, carbon-based heaters, film heaters, and silicone rubber heaters. Among these, carbon-based heaters are preferable from the viewpoint of cost, temperature controllability, lightness, and safety. The carbon-based heater may be a sheet-type heater with carbon coated on a base material, or the material may be directly applied to the inside of the lower rail 2. The heating element 22 only needs to be installed in at least a part of the lower rail 2, and as shown in Figure 1, a long heating element 22 can be installed at the bottom of the inner surface of the lower rail 2, or multiple heating elements can be installed in sections.

[0016] The upper surface of the lower rail 2 is provided with a rail opening 21 that communicates with the internal space of the cell 10, and the cell 10 is provided with a cell opening 11 that connects the internal spaces of the upper and lower connected cells 10. Air heated by the heating element 22 is supplied to the entire cell 10 through the rail opening 21 and the cell opening 11 by an upward airflow. The rail opening 21 and the cell opening 11 can be provided in shapes such as a long slit in the longitudinal direction, a small-diameter circular hole, an elliptical hole, or a mesh.

[0017] The heating element 22 generates heat when power is supplied from the power supply unit 4. The electricity supplied from the power supply unit 4 must be adjusted to an appropriate voltage, taking into account the temperature at which the heating element 22 is heated. The power supply to the heating element 22 can be either DC or AC, but it is preferable to use an adjusted DC current, considering stability at relatively low temperatures. When supplying DC current using a standard household AC power supply of 100V, it is preferable to use a stabilized power supply to convert it to a stabilized DC current, or an AC adapter that outputs appropriate voltage and current values. The amount of power supplied is set appropriately under conditions that the heating element 22 heats up to a predetermined temperature.

[0018] Furthermore, the power supply device 4 used to power the heating element 22 can be, for example, a power supply device 4 equipped with a solar panel 41, a storage battery 42, and a control unit 43, as shown in Figure 4. Examples of solar panels 41 include perovskite solar panels and silicon solar panels. Perovskite solar panels are solar panels manufactured by coating or printing a material having a special crystal structure called a perovskite structure as a film onto the surface of a substrate, and have the characteristics of achieving both high power generation efficiency under low light conditions and lightweight design.

[0019] Furthermore, silicon-based solar panels are currently the most widely used and highly reliable type of solar panel. They are mainly classified into two types, monocrystalline and polycrystalline, depending on the crystalline state of their main raw material, silicon. Both types can stably maintain high energy conversion efficiency, and possess high durability and a long lifespan.

[0020] Since the solar panel 41 is preferably installed near the window where the blind 1 is installed, it is preferable to use a combination of lightweight, small-area, flat silicon-type solar panels or a relatively large-area, flexible sheet-type perovskite-type solar panel. In particular, as the solar panel 41 used in this invention, it is especially preferable to use a perovskite-type solar panel from the viewpoint of processability, lightness, ease of installation, etc. Depending on the installation situation, a solar panel that combines a perovskite-type solar panel and a silicon-type solar panel can also be used. Alternatively, the solar panel 41 alone can be installed in a location that easily receives sunlight via a cable.

[0021] Examples of the storage battery 42 include lithium-ion batteries, lithium iron phosphate batteries, lead-acid batteries, and lithium polymer batteries. Among these, lithium-ion batteries can be used from the viewpoint of lightness and high energy output, while lithium iron phosphate batteries can be preferably used from the viewpoint of safety and long lifespan.

[0022] Furthermore, the control unit 43 connected to the solar panel 41 and the battery 42 includes a charge controller. There are two types of charge controllers: PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) and MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking). PWM introduces the voltage from the solar panel 41 to the battery 42 in a form close to its original state and adjusts the amount of charge by rapidly switching it ON / OFF. MPPT constantly detects the voltage and current values ​​at which the solar panel 41 can efficiently generate power, performs DC-DC conversion, and supplies the optimal form to the battery 42. When considering applications requiring long-term operation, it is preferable to use MPPT as the charge controller for the blind 1 of the present invention.

[0023] The wiring of the cable 23 for supplying electricity to the heating element 22 can be appropriately selected according to the specifications of the blind and is not particularly limited. For example, the power supply unit 4 can be installed on the top of the lifting mechanism 3 and wired to the heating element 22 through the through hole 13 provided in the cell 10, or, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, the string-like member 12 for lifting the cell can be used as the power supply cable 23. In addition, the cable 23 to the heating element 22 can be connected in series with one side of the lower rail 2 as the positive terminal and the other side as the negative terminal, or if multiple heating elements 22 are installed, they can be connected in parallel.

[0024] The heating temperature of the heating element 22 can be set appropriately considering the material of the lower rail 2, but from a safety standpoint, it is set in the range of 20 to 70°C, preferably 30 to 60°C, and more preferably 40 to 50°C. With this temperature range set, the air inside the lower rail 2 can be safely heated to the predetermined temperature.

[0025] Furthermore, a fan 24 driven by power supplied from the power supply unit 4 can be provided on the lower rail 2. As shown in Figure 4, the fan 24 can supply outside air into the lower rail 2, heat the air with the heating element 22, and forcibly supply it into the internal space of the cell 10. The placement of the fan 24 is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to place it at the longitudinal end of the lower rail 2, considering design and other factors. Also, if a fan 24 is provided on the lower rail 2, an exhaust opening can be provided at the top of the cell 10 or in the lifting mechanism 3.

[0026] Furthermore, in the blind 1 of the present invention, a motor unit 31 is provided in the lifting mechanism 3 connected to the cell 10, and the opening and closing of the blind 1 can be operated by powering the motor unit 31 with power supplied from the power supply device 4.

[0027] Furthermore, in the blind 1 of the present invention, as shown in Figure 5, a cover portion 5 can be provided at the end opening of the longitudinal end of the cell 10. The cover portion 5 has a substantially hexagonal shape that is inscribed in the honeycomb cross-section of the cell 10. As shown in Figure 6, the end of the cell 10 and the cover portion 5 are connected by an upper edge connection portion 51, where the upper edge of the substantially hexagon of the cover portion 5 is connected to the upper edge of the end of the cell 10, and a lower edge connection portion 52, where the lower edge of the substantially hexagon of the cover portion 5 is connected to the lower edge of the cell 10. Note that the sides A, B and C, D of the cover portion 5 in Figure 6 are not connected to the end of the cell 10, as shown in Figures 6(B) and (C). In addition, a horizontally extending bend portion 53 is provided in the central part of the substantially hexagon of the cover portion 5.

[0028] Then, by winding up the string-like member 12 with the lifting mechanism 3 and pulling up the lower rail 2, the blind 1 can be folded, and as the cell 10 is folded, the lid portion 5 is folded inward into the cell 10 via the folding portion 53, as shown in Figures 6(A), (B), and (C).

[0029] Furthermore, from the viewpoint of heat insulation, it is preferable to provide a cover portion 5 at each end opening of the cell 10, but a cover portion 5 may be provided at only one end opening. In addition, it is also possible to provide a cover portion 5 at some of the end openings.

[0030] The cover portion 5 at the end of cell 10 allows the warm air inside cell 10 to remain in the enclosed space for a long time, improving the heat retention of the atmosphere around the blind 1. This can, for example, block cold air from windows in winter, improve heating efficiency, and also prevent condensation on the window glass.

[0031] Furthermore, in order to further improve the effects of the present invention, insulating material or heat storage material can be provided in the cell 10 or the lid 5, or the cell 10 or the lid 5 itself can be formed from insulating material or heat storage material. Examples of insulating materials include aerogel-based insulating material, microporous insulating material, and flame-retardant fiber felt. Aerogel-based insulating material is an insulating material that uses silica aerogel, and the main raw material aerogel is composed of nano-sized micropores, which suppress air convection and thereby exhibit insulating performance.

[0032] Microporous insulation materials are primarily made from fine silica powder and have nanoscale pores, providing insulation performance through their dense gap structure. Flame-resistant fiber felt is a nonwoven fabric made from specially treated acrylic fibers to prevent burning. It is extremely thin, about 0.7 mm thick, and highly flexible.

[0033] Examples of heat storage materials include PCM sheets, carbon fiber composites, and silicone rubber mixtures using silica aerogel. PCM sheets are thin, lightweight, and flexible heat storage materials that store heat by utilizing the latent heat released when a substance melts from a solid to a liquid, and can retain the stored heat for a long time. In particular, thin PCM sheets have a structure in which microencapsulated PCM is kneaded into nonwoven fabric or plastic sheets, and exhibit high heat storage performance with a thickness of only a few millimeters.

[0034] Carbon fiber composites are heat storage and heat dissipation materials made from carbon, and are composed of thin graphite sheets or carbon felt. These materials are compatible with carbon heaters, and because carbon has extremely high thermal conductivity, they have the property of quickly and uniformly distributing heat while retaining a small amount of residual heat.

[0035] These insulating and heat-storing materials only need to be provided in a portion of the cell 10, and may be provided on the outside of the cell 10, the inner surface of the lid 5, and other parts of the cell 10.

[0036] According to the blind 1 of the present invention with the above configuration, the air in the lower rail 2 is heated by the heating element 22, and the warm air is supplied to and retained in the space within the cell 10, thereby improving the heat retention of the atmosphere around the blind 1. This makes it possible to block cold air from windows in winter, for example, and improve heating efficiency. In addition, since the blind 1 itself warms up, it can function as a heating device and prevent condensation on the window glass.

[0037] Although the blinds of the present invention have been described above based on embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0038] For example, the power supply control unit can be equipped with sensors and timers and linked to the lifting mechanism, allowing for temperature control and winding operation via remote control, or heating of the heating element at a set time. It can also be controlled to supply power to the heating element only when the blind is lowered and stop supplying power when it is raised. Furthermore, a communication mechanism can be built in to enable network connectivity, allowing settings and operations to be executed via external access.

[0039] Furthermore, by equipping the power supply's control unit with sensors and timers, the temperature of the heating element can be controlled, and it can also be linked with the winding device to allow winding operations to be controlled by remote control or to be performed at set times. In addition, by incorporating communication equipment to enable network connectivity, settings and operations can be executed by accessing the system from the outside.

[0040] Furthermore, in the blind of the present invention, it is also possible to control the power supply to the heating element to stop when the cells are folded by a predetermined amount or when the lower rail 2 is raised to a predetermined position.

[0041] In addition to the blinds of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, blinds can also be configured with multiple rows of cells in the front and back. Specifically, for example, a blind 1 with two rows of cells 10 in the front and back, as shown in Figure 7, can be given as an example. With this configuration of blinds, it is possible to further improve the efficiency of blocking cold air and heating. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0042] 1 Blind 10 cells 11 Cell openings 12 String-like member 13 Through hole 2 Lower rail 21 Rail opening 22 Heating element 23 Cables 24 Fans 3. Lifting mechanism 31 Motor Unit 4 Power supply 41 Solar panels 42 Storage batteries 43 Control Unit 5 Lid 51 Upper connection part 52 Lower edge connection 53 Folded section

Claims

1. A foldable blind, Multiple foldable cylindrical cells having a honeycomb structure, A string-like member for pulling up the cell, A lower rail is provided below the lowest cell, to which the lower end of the string-like member is connected, A lifting mechanism is provided on the uppermost cell to wind up the string-like member, A heating element that generates heat when power is supplied from the power supply unit is provided inside the lower rail. A rail opening is provided on the upper surface of the lower rail, which communicates with the internal space of the cell. The blind is characterized in that the cells are provided with cell openings that connect the internal spaces of the cells that are connected vertically.

2. A fan, which is driven by power supplied from the power supply unit, is provided on the lower rail. The blind according to claim 1, characterized in that air is supplied into the lower rail by the fan, and the air heated by the heating element circulates within the internal space of the cell.

3. The blind according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating element is at least one selected from the group consisting of a PTC heater, a carbon-based heater, a film heater, and a silicone rubber heater.

4. The power supply device comprises a solar power generation unit having solar panels, a control unit, and a storage battery. The blind according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating element is heated by power supplied from the solar power generation unit.

5. The blind according to claim 1, characterized in that the lifting mechanism is electrically driven by power supplied from the power supply device.

6. The blind according to claim 1, characterized in that a lid portion that can deform in accordance with the folding of the cell is provided at the end opening of the longitudinal end of the cell.

7. The aforementioned lid portion, Having a roughly hexagonal shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the cell, The upper connection portion is formed by connecting the upper side of the roughly hexagonal shape with the upper side of the cell, The lower connection portion is where the lower side of the roughly hexagon and the lower side of the cell are connected, It has a horizontally extending bend formed in the center of the aforementioned roughly hexagonal shape, The blind according to claim 6, characterized in that, as the cell is folded, the lid portion is folded inward through the folding portion of the cell.

8. The blind according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one of the insulating material and the heat storage material is provided in at least one of the cells or the lid.

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