A roller blind assembly

Abstract

A roller blind assembly includes a roller blind. Two guide assemblies each have a guide rod. Upper and lower stop assemblies are arranged on respective guide rods. Slide assemblies are displaceable between the upper and lower stop assemblies. Pivot arm assemblies on respective slide assemblies comprise pivot arms pivotal between an upper extent of pivotal movement and a lower extent of pivotal movement. Outer ends of the pivot arms are connected to a bottom rail assembly. The slide assemblies releasably engage respective upper stop assemblies. The slide assemblies engage with the upper stop assemblies when the pivot arms are pivoted upwardly and disengage when the pivot arms are pivoted to at or near the lower extent of pivotal movement to allow the slide assemblies to move downwardly to bear against the lower stop assemblies.

Description

[0001] A ROLLER BLIND ASSEMBLY

[0002] FIELD

[0003] Various embodiments of a roller blind assembly and an accessory for a roller blind assembly are described herein.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] A proportion of conventional, horizontally mounted roller blinds are moved up and down by manually grasping and twisting a base or bottom rail and either pulling the bottom rail down or allowing the bottom rail to move upwardly as a sheet of blind material winds onto a roller under torsional spring action.

[0006] With such roller blinds, arms interconnect the bottom rail with the guide rods by way of a suitable releasable locking mechanism that operates when the arms are tilted with respect to the associated guide rods while the bottom rail remains stationary. This is achieved by manually twisting the bottom rail while holding the bottom rail against upward or downward movement. When the locking mechanism is released, the blind sheet can retract while at the same time torque is applied to the bottom rail as it moves upwardly under spring-based retraction with the blind sheet being wound onto the roller. As soon as the bottom rail is released, subsequent tilting of the arms with respect to the guide rods serves to lock the bottom rail with respect to the guide rods. Downward movement for extraction of the blind sheet is by pulling the bottom rail to tilt the arms downwardly allowing release from the guide rods. When a suitable position is achieved, the rail can be released so that the locking mechanism retains the bottom rail in position when the arms tilt upwardly.

[0007] The above manual operation can be achieved with a hooked rod to engage the bottom rail. This limits the use of such roller blinds to second floor installations.

[0008] Such roller blinds are useful, since they allow a window to be opened to provide air flow and, at the same time, provide protection against sun, wind, and rain. In an intermediate position, the blind can operate like an awning, providing protection from the sun, while allowing a view and airflow. The arms serve to retain the blind sheet at a fixed angle with respect to a window, or the like, to provide an awning-effect.

[0009] An issue with manually operated blinds is that it can be difficult to grasp or twist the rail, or to engage the rail with a hooked rod to operate the blind. A further issue with such blinds is that the angle of the blind sheet, extended, is constant no matter the extent to which the blind sheet is extracted because the pivot arms extend generally orthogonally with respect to the guide rods. This means that the blind can obstruct paths, walkways, or the like, when in use.

[0010] Examples of conventional roller blind assemblies, also referred to as drop arm awnings, are those supplied by Hunter Douglas Limited and Uniline Australia Ltd., and those supplied under the brand Solto (registered trade mark).

[0011] Such conventional roller blind assemblies include a headbox that is mounted on a structure, such as a dwelling, above an opening, such as a window. The headbox contains a roller that carries a wound blind sheet. The roller can be motorised to release the wound blind sheet. The blind assembly includes two pivot arm assemblies that are mounted, at inner ends, to a wall of the structure, on respective sides of the opening. Outer ends of the pivot arms are connected to a bottom rail assembly, which, in turn, is fastened to the blind sheet.

[0012] The pivot arm assemblies each include a pivot arm and a mounting member or plate that is fastened to the structure, and an internal spring arrangement is interposed between the pivot arm and the mounting member. The internal spring arrangement is positioned and configured to bias the pivot arm downwardly to impart tension to the blind sheet. This provides the blind sheet with some structural integrity when the blind sheet is extended. Thus, when the roller blind releases the blind sheet, the sheet is fed under the action of the pivot arms.

[0013] SUMMARY

[0014] Embodiments of a roller blind assembly comprise: a roller blind that is mountable on a structure, the roller blind being operable to feed and retract a blind sheet between operative and inoperative conditions; two guide assemblies, each guide assembly comprising two guide rods that are vertically mountable on the structure, on respective sides of an opening to be screened by the blind sheet, and upper and lower stop assemblies arranged on respective guide rods; two slide assemblies arranged on the respective guide rods, each slide assembly being displaceable between a top position, against the upper stop assembly, and a bottom position, against the lower stop assembly; two pivot arm assemblies mounted on respective slide assemblies, each pivot arm assembly comprising a pivot arm that is pivotal relative to the respective slide assembly between an upper extent of pivotal movement and a lower extent of pivotal movement; and a bottom rail assembly, outer ends of the pivot arms being connected to the bottom rail assembly, so that the pivot arms can pivot upwardly to accommodate retraction of the blind sheet, and downwardly to accommodate feeding of the blind sheet, wherein. the slide assemblies are releasably engageable with respective upper stop assemblies to inhibit vertical displacement of the slide assemblies, the pivot arms and slide assemblies being configured so that when the slide assemblies bear against the upper stop assemblies and the pivot arms are pivoted upwardly, the slide assemblies engage with the respective upper stop assemblies, and when the pivot arms are pivoted downwardly to at or near the lower extent of pivotal movement, the slide assemblies can disengage from the upper stop assemblies to allow the slide assemblies to move downwardly to bear against the lower stop assemblies and the blind sheet to be fed into a fully lowered condition.

[0015] Each slide assembly may comprise a slide body. Each slide body may define a passage to receive the respective guide rod. The passages and the guide rods may be dimensioned so that the slide bodies can tilt relative to the respective guide rods to move upper ends of the slide bodies inwardly and outwardly. Catch mechanisms are arranged on respective slide bodies. The catch mechanisms may be configured to engage the respective upper stop assemblies when the upper ends of the slide bodies move inwardly, and to disengage from the upper stop assemblies when the upper ends of the slide bodies move outwardly.

[0016] The pivot arms may each include a biasing mechanism to bias the pivot arms towards the lower extent of pivotal movement.

[0017] The pivot arms may be configured to act on the respective slide assemblies when pivoted downwardly into the lower extent to disengage the slide assemblies.

[0018] The pivot arm assemblies may include pivot mounts arranged on respective slide bodies. The pivot mounts may each include a flat base and a lug projecting from the base. The pivot arms may be pivotally mounted on respective lugs.

[0019] The pivot arms may each include an outer, substantially straight portion, and an inner portion that is angularly offset with respect to the outer portion. The inner portions may be pivotally mounted on respective lugs. The inner portions may be configured to bear against the flat base below axes of rotation of the pivot arms to apply leverage to the slide assemblies resulting in the tilting of the slide bodies to disengage the catch mechanisms from the respective upper stop assemblies.

[0020] The upper and lower stop assemblies may include upper and lower stop members, respectively, the guide rods extending through respective upper stop members such that the upper stop members include portions that project outwardly from the guide rod to facilitate engagement of the catch mechanisms with the respective upper stop members.

[0021] Each catch mechanism may include a catch that extends upwardly from the slide body. The catch may include a recess for receiving the portion that projects outwardly from the guide rod when the upper end of the slide body moves inwardly towards the guide rod.

[0022] The upper and lower stop assemblies may include upper and lower vertical mounts that are fastenable to the structure. The upper and lower stop members may extend from the upper and lower vertical mounts, respectively.

[0023] The guide rods may comprise lower portions of lengths of metal. Each length may be shaped to define an upper portion, the lower portion, and an intermediate portion, the upper portions being fastenable to the structure, and the intermediate portion oriented angularly with respect to the upper and lower portions so that the lower portions are spaced from the structure when the upper portions are fastened to the structure.

[0024] The upper stop assemblies may include stop members arranged on the respective guide rods, at or near the intermediate portions. The catch mechanisms may include catches that extend upwardly from the respective slide bodies, the catches including recesses for receiving respective portions of the stop members that project outwardly from the respective guide rods.

[0025] The roller blind assembly may include lower brackets. Each lower bracket may have an operatively vertical mounting plate that can be fastened to the structure. The lower stop assemblies may each include a carrier member that projects from the respective plate. Lower stop members may be mounted on respective carrier members. Various embodiments of an accessory for a roller blind that is mountable on a structure and is operable to feed and retract a blind sheet between operative and inoperative conditions comprise: a guide assembly that comprises a guide rod, two of which are vertically mountable on the structure, on respective sides of an opening to be screened by the blind sheet, and upper and lower stop assemblies arranged on the guide rod; a slide assembly arranged on the guide rod, the slide assembly being displaceable between a top position, against the upper stop assembly, and a bottom position, against the lower stop assembly; and a pivot arm assembly mounted on the slide assembly, the pivot arm assembly comprising a pivot arm that is pivotal relative to the slide assembly between an upper extent of pivotal movement and a lower extent of pivotal movement, an outer end of the pivot arm being connectable to a bottom rail assembly, so that the pivot arm can pivot upwardly to accommodate retraction of the blind sheet, and downwardly to accommodate feeding of the blind sheet, wherein the slide assembly is releasably engageable with the upper stop assembly to inhibit vertical displacement of the slide assembly, the pivot arm and the slide assembly being configured so that when the slide assembly bears against the upper stop assembly and the pivot arm is pivoted upwardly, the slide assembly engages with the upper stop assembly, and when the pivot arm is at or near the lower extent of pivotal movement, the slide assembly can disengage from the upper stop assembly to allow the slide assembly to move downwardly to bear against the lower stop assembly and the blind sheet to be fed into a fully lowered condition.

[0026] The slide assembly may comprise a slide body that defines a passage to receive the guide rod. The passage and the guide rod may be dimensioned so that the slide body can tilt relative to the guide rod to move an upper end of the slide body inwardly and outwardly. A catch mechanism may be arranged on the slide body. The catch mechanism may be configured to engage the upper stop assembly when the upper end of the slide body moves inwardly, and to disengage from the upper stop assembly when the upper end of the slide body moves outwardly.

[0027] The pivot arm may include a biasing mechanism to bias the pivot arm towards the lower extent of pivotal movement.

[0028] The pivot arms may be configured to act on the respective slide assemblies when pivoted downwardly into the lower extent to disengage the slide assemblies. The upper and lower stop assemblies may include upper and lower stop members. The guide rod may extend through the upper stop member such that the upper stop member includes a portion that projects outwardly from the guide rod to facilitate engagement of the catch mechanism with the upper stop member.

[0029] The catch mechanism may include a catch that extends upwardly from the slide body. The catch may include a recess for receiving the portion that projects outwardly from the guide rod, when the upper end of the slide body moves towards the guide rod.

[0030] Various embodiments of an accessory for a roller blind that is mountable on a structure and is operable to feed and retract a blind sheet between operative and inoperative conditions, comprise: a slide assembly configured for arrangement on a guide rod, two of which are vertically mountable on the structure on respective sides of an opening to be screened by the blind sheet, the slide assembly being displaceable between a top position, against an upper stop assembly arranged on the guide rod, and a bottom position, against a lower stop assembly arranged on the guide rod; and a pivot arm assembly mounted on the slide assembly, the pivot arm assembly comprising a pivot arm that is pivotal relative to the slide assembly between an upper extent of pivotal movement and a lower extent of pivotal movement, an outer end of the pivot arm being connectable to a bottom rail assembly, so that the pivot arm can pivot upwardly to accommodate retraction of the blind sheet, and downwardly to accommodate feeding of the blind sheet, wherein the slide assembly is releasably engageable with the upper stop assembly to inhibit vertical displacement of the slide assembly, the pivot arm and the slide assembly being configured so that when the slide assembly bears against the upper stop assembly and the pivot arm is pivoted upwardly, the slide assembly engages with the upper stop assembly, and when the pivot arm is at or near the lower extent of pivotal movement, the slide assembly can disengage from the upper stop assembly to allow the slide assembly to move downwardly to bear against the lower stop assembly and the blind sheet to be fed into a fully lowered condition.

[0031] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a roller blind assembly in a fully retracted condition.

[0033] Figure 2 shows the roller blind assembly in an intermediate condition. Figure 3 shows the roller blind assembly in a partially lowered condition.

[0034] Figure 4 shows the roller blind assembly in a fully lowered condition.

[0035] Figure 5 shows detail of a slide assembly and upper stop assembly of a guide assembly for the roller blind assembly when the roller blind assembly is in a fully retracted condition.

[0036] Figure 6 shows detail of the slide assembly and upper stop assembly when the roller blind assembly is in the intermediate condition.

[0037] Figure 7 shows detail of the slide assembly and upper stop assembly when the roller blind assembly is in a partially lowered condition.

[0038] Figure 8 shows detail of the slide assembly and a lower stop assembly when the roller blind assembly is in a fully lowered condition.

[0039] Figure 9 shows detail of the lower stop assembly.

[0040] Figure 10 shows a three-dimensional view, from above, of the slide assembly.

[0041] Figure 11 shows a schematic, partial side view of an embodiment of the roller blind assembly.

[0042] Figure 12 shows a schematic side view of a pivot arm assembly of the roller blind assembly.

[0043] Figure 13 shows detail of a slide assembly and upper stop assembly of an embodiment of the roller blind assembly when the roller blind assembly is in a fully retracted condition.

[0044] Figure 14 shows detail of the slide assembly and upper stop assembly when the roller blind assembly is in an intermediate condition.

[0045] Figure 15 shows a view of the slide assembly and upper stop assembly when the roller blind assembly is in a partially lowered condition.

[0046] Figure 16 shows a side view of the slide assembly and upper stop assembly when the roller blind assembly is in the partially lowered condition.

[0047] Figure 17 shows a side view of the slide assembly and lower stop assembly when the roller blind assembly is in a fully lowered condition.

[0048] Figure 18 is a three-dimensional view of a lower stop of the lower stop assembly. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates an embodiment of a roller blind assembly.

[0050] The roller blind assembly 10 includes a roller blind 11 that is mountable on a structure. The roller blind 11 has a headbox assembly 13. The headbox assembly 13 is that of a conventional roller blind assembly, as set out in the background of this disclosure. The headbox assembly 13 includes a headbox 19. The assembly 13 includes a motorised roller that is arranged in the headbox 13. A sheet 21 of blind material can be fed from the headbox 19, and extracted from the headbox 19, in a conventional manner, upon operation of the motorised roller in a conventional manner. It is envisaged that the assembly 13 can include a manually operated roller, such as those operated with a crank mechanism, from inside or outside a building.

[0051] The roller blind assembly 10 includes two guide assemblies 12.

[0052] Each guide assembly 12 includes a guide rod 14. The guide rods 14 are cylindrical and are vertically mounted on a structure, such as a wall 15 of a building, such as a dwelling or office block. The guide rods 14 can be mounted on respective sides of an opening 17 defined by a sub-structure such as window 23 or a door assembly.

[0053] An upper stop assembly 16 is positioned on an upper portion 18 of the guide rod 14. A lower stop assembly 20 is positioned on a lower portion 22 of the guide rod 14.

[0054] Two slide assemblies 24 are mounted on respective guide rods 14 to be slidably displaceable between a top position (figures 1 , 2, 3, 5, 6, 7) and a bottom position (figures 4, 8) to be stopped by the upper and lower stop assemblies 16, 20, respectively. The slide assemblies 24 are releasably engageable with respective upper stop assemblies 16 to inhibit vertical displacement of the slide assemblies 24.

[0055] The roller blind assembly 10 includes two pivot arm assemblies 32 mounted on respective slide assemblies 24. Each pivot arm assembly 32 includes a pivot arm 33 that is pivotal relative to the respective slide assembly 24 between an upper extent of pivotal movement (figures 1 , 5, 13) and a lower extent of pivotal movement (figures 3, 4, 7, 8, 15, 16, 17).

[0056] The roller blind assembly 10 includes a bottom rail assembly 36. Outer ends 34 of the pivot arms 33 are connected to the bottom rail assembly 36 so that the pivot arms 33 can pivot upwardly to accommodate retraction of the blind sheet 21 , and downwardly to accommodate feeding of the blind sheet 21 .

[0057] The pivot arms 33 and the slide assemblies 24 are configured so that when the slide assemblies 24 bear against the upper stop assemblies 16 and the pivot arms 33 are pivoted upwardly, the slide assemblies 24 engage with the respective upper stop assemblies 16, and when the pivot arms 33 are pivoted to at or near the lower extent of pivotal movement, the slide assemblies 34 can disengage from the upper stop assemblies 16 to allow the slide assemblies 34 to move downwardly to bear against the lower stop assemblies 20 and the blind sheet 21 to be fed to a fully lowered condition, while the pivot arms 33 remain at or near the lower extent of pivotal movement.

[0058] The slide assembly 24 includes a slide body 26. The slide body 26 is configured to tilt with respect to the guide rod 14, such that an upper end 28 of the slide body 26 can move towards and away from the guide rod 14.

[0059] A catch mechanism 30 is arranged on the slide body 26. The catch mechanism 30 is configured to engage the upper stop assembly 16 when the upper end 28 of the slide body 26 moves inwardly towards the guide rod 14, and to disengage from the upper stop assembly 16 when the upper end 28 of the slide body 26 moves outwardly away from the guide rod 14.

[0060] The pivot arm assembly 32 can be sourced from any number of suppliers of conventional roller blind assemblies, as set out in the background of this disclosure.

[0061] A schematic example of the pivot arm assembly 32 is shown in figures 11 and 12. The pivot arm assembly 32 includes a biasing mechanism 38. The biasing mechanism 38 is configured to bias the pivot arm assembly 32 from the upper extent of pivotal movement towards the lower extent of pivotal movement.

[0062] The slide body 26 defines a passage 40. The passage 40 has a diameter relative to that of the guide rod 14 such that the slide body 26 can tilt to a limited extent relative to the guide rod 14. For example, the guide rods 14 can have a diameter of about 12 mm and the passage 40 can have a diameter of about 20 mm. A length of the slide body 26 can be about 102 mm. It will be appreciated that these measurements can vary depending on the application. For example, the proportions of these dimensions can be used to ascertain dimensions of other embodiments of the slide body and guide rod. The requirement is that the extent of tilt is sufficient for the catch mechanism 30 to engage or disengage the upper stop assembly 16. In figures 5, 8, 14, the relative dimensions of the passages 40 and the guide rods 14 (106 in figure 14) is shown.

[0063] The slide bodies 26 can be of any suitable material, such as a polymeric material, for example, a reinforced plastics material, or a metal, such as steel or aluminium. The slide bodies 26 and the respective catch mechanisms 30 can be one-piece, unitary structures. For example, the slide bodies 26 and the respective catch mechanisms 30 can be one-piece mouldings or castings. They can also be printed or machined.

[0064] The upper and lower stop assemblies 16, 20 include upper and lower stop members 42, 44, respectively. The guide rods 42 extend through the respective upper stop members 42 such that the upper stop members 42 include portions or ledges 46 that project outwardly from the guide rods 42 to facilitate engagement of the catch mechanisms 30 with the upper stop members 42.

[0065] The catch mechanisms 30 include respective catches 48 that extend upwardly from the respective slide bodies 26. Each catch 48 defines an inwardly opening recess 50 for receiving the ledge 46 when the upper end 28 of the slide body 26 moves towards the guide rod 14.

[0066] The upper and lower stop assemblies 16, 20 include upper and lower mounts 52, 54, respectively, that are fastened to the wall 15.

[0067] The upper and lower mounts 52, 54 each include a generally flat mounting plate 56, 58, respectively. The mounting plates 56, 58 can each define two or more openings to accommodate a shank of a fastener so that the mounting plates 56, 58 can be fastened to the wall 15.

[0068] The upper and lower stop members 42, 44 are each generally flat and extend generally orthogonally from an end of the respective plates 56, 58, so that the upper and lower stop assemblies 16, 20 each have a generally L-shaped profile. Thus, the upper and lower stop assemblies 16, 20 are in the form of L-shaped brackets. The upper and lower stop members 42, 44 are in the form of respective arms of the brackets, while the mounting plates 56, 58 are in the form of respective legs of the brackets.

[0069] The stop assemblies 16, 20 can each have a one-piece, unitary structure. The stop assemblies 16, 20 can be of a metal, such as steel or aluminium, which is formed from flat feedstock, or is cast, machined, or printed. Alternatively, the stop assemblies 16, 20, can be of a polymeric material that is moulded, cast, or printed.

[0070] In one embodiment (figures 11 , 12), the pivot arm 33 includes a hollow, elongated member, in the form of a tube 68. The tube 68 can be of a metal. For example, the tube 68 can be a length of extruded aluminium. However, other materials may also be suitable, such as steel or a polymeric material. The biasing mechanism 38 is partially received in the tube 68.

[0071] The pivot arm assembly 32 includes a mounting member or plate 61 that is mountable on the slide body 26. To that end, the slide body 26 defines a substantially flat, outwardly facing surface to which the plate 61 is fastened. The plate 61 can define two openings to accommodate shanks of fasteners that are screwed into the slide body 26 to fasten the plate 61 to the slide body 26.

[0072] A lug 60 projects from the plate 61 . The biasing mechanism 38 is interposed between the lug 60 and the pivot arm 32. The biasing mechanism 38 includes a pivot mount 62 that is pivotally mounted on the lug 60 with a pivot pin 63. The pivot mount 62 defines an outwardly extending, winding surface 64. The winding surface 64 is cammed, with a radius of the winding surface 64 increasing towards the outer end 34 of the pivot arm 32, and the winding surface 46 projecting into the tube 68. A tie 70 is fixed at an inner end 71 to the plate 61 at a position above a rotational axis of the pivot mount 62 so that the tie 70 engages the winding surface 64 by partially wrapping or winding about the winding surface 64.

[0073] A compression spring 66 is arranged in the tube 68. The tie 70 is fixed, at an outer end 73, to a spring follower 72 with the spring 66 interposed between the spring follower 72 and the pivot mount 62. Thus, pivotal movement of the pivot arm 32 to the raised position results in compression of the spring 66, such that that movement is against a bias of the spring 66. Thus, movement of the pivot arm 32 from a pivotally raised condition to a pivotally lowered condition is with the bias of the spring 66, as the blind sheet 21 is extracted or extended, and is against the bias when the blind sheet 21 is retracted. The biasing mechanism 38 is configured so that the spring 66 returns to a condition at or near its original length when the pivot arm 33 is pivoted downwardly to a position at or near its lower extent of movement.

[0074] Thus, a spring strength of the biasing mechanism 38 is that which is sufficient to maintain a suitable amount of tension in the blind sheet 21 . Furthermore, the pivot arm 32 has a length that is sufficient to provide an awning effect when the blind sheet is extracted to a certain extent. Examples of suitable biasing mechanisms can be found in the conventional roller blind assemblies referred to in the background of this disclosure.

[0075] It will readily be appreciated that the pivot arm assembly 32 can be replaced with a conventional spring arm assembly of the type that can be mounted on a substrate such that pivotal movement of the spring arm assembly in one direction is against a bias. Such spring arm assemblies are readily available and used in various mechanical mounting operations. Examples are those which are found in the conventional roller blind assemblies referred to the background of this disclosure.

[0076] The bottom rail assembly 36 includes a rail 74 that is fastenable to the outer ends 34 of the pivot arms 32 of the guide assemblies 12 on respective sides of the opening 15 (figure 12). Thus, the rail 74 extends over the opening 17.

[0077] The rail 74 can be a conventional rail, such as the rails of the conventional roller blind assemblies referenced in the background of this disclosure.

[0078] In one example, the rail 74 is hollow and includes an inner wall 76 that is fastened to the outer ends 34. The rail 74 can be extruded from a suitable material such as aluminium to define a generally box-shaped transverse profile, with the inner wall 76 being generally flat. The outer ends 34 of the pivot arms 32 can be fastened to the rail 74 with a suitable fastening assembly, such as a threaded fastener 78 threadedly received through a plug 80 in the tube 68 and through the inner wall 76.

[0079] The roller blind 11 can include a motorised roller 82. The motorised roller 82 can be a roller of a conventional roller blind assembly, as described in the background of this disclosure. The blind sheet 21 of roller material or fabric is wound onto the roller 82.

[0080] A free edge sheet 21 is defined by beading 86 (figure 12). An outer wall 88 of the rail 74 defines a channel or recess 90 that partially encloses the beading 86 to retain the beading 86 and to secure the blind sheet 84 to the rail 74.

[0081] The roller blind 39 is a conventional, motorised blind with a suitable motor and gearing arrangement engaged with the roller 82 to rotate the roller 82 clockwise or anticlockwise to release the sheet 84 or retract the sheet 84, respectively. In this example, the roller 82 is rotated clockwise to release the sheet 84 or anticlockwise to retract the sheet 84.

[0082] The pivot arm assembly 32 can be conventional, with the pivot arm 33 being springmounted. The pivot arm assembly 32 can include a pivot mount 94 with a flat base 96. The base 96 is fastened to a flat, outwardly facing surface 95 of the slide body 26. The pivot mount 94 includes a lug 98 that projects from the base 96. The pivot arm 33 is pivotally connected to the lug 98 such that the pivot arm 33 is biased towards the lowest extent of pivotal movement. It is envisaged that the slide body 26 and the pivot mount 94 can be in the form of a unitary, one-piece structure.

[0083] Pivotal movement of the pivot arm 33 from the upper extent of pivotal movement towards the lower extent of pivotal movement is driven by the biasing mechanism 38 in a conventional manner. At or near the lowest extent of pivotal movement, the biasing mechanism 38 is released and gravity alone can act on the arm 33 and thus the slide body 26. Alternatively, the biasing mechanism can continue to act on the arm 33 at the lowest extent of pivotal movement. It will be appreciated that the force exerted on the slide body 26, whether upwardly or downwardly, is offset outwardly with respect to the slide body 26 to cause the tilting of the slide body 26.

[0084] The pivot arm 33 includes a substantially straight outer portion 130, and an inner portion 132 that is angularly offset, in a plane of pivotal movement of the pivot arm 33, with respect to the outer portion 130. The offset is such that the inner and outer portions 132, 130, define an included acute angle, opening outwardly. Thus, the portions define a vertex 142. The inner portion 132 has an arcuate profile in the pivotal plane so that the vertex is curved or rounded.

[0085] The inner portion 132 is pivotally mounted on the lug 98 with a pivot pin 134. The inner portion 132 can be configured to bear against the flat base 96, at or near the vertex 142, below an axis of rotation of the arm 33 when the arm 33 reaches its lowest extent of pivotal movement. The angled offset ensures that the straight portion 130 is angled away from the guide rod 14. This can apply leverage or torque to the slide assembly 24 to tilt the slide body 26 to disengage the catch mechanism 30. Instead, the pivot arm 33 can act on the slide body 26 because of its position in relation to the slide body 26 when the pivot arm 33 reaches its lowest extent of pivotal movement. Such action can be result of gravity or the action of the biasing mechanism. At that point, the slide assembly 24 is still positioned at the upper stop assembly 16. This ensures that the slide assemblies 24 are not displaced vertically as the blind sheet 21 moves from the retracted condition to an intermediate condition to form an awning, for example.

[0086] In figures 1 , 5, 13, the sheet 21 is fully retracted, with the slide assemblies 24 bearing against the upper stop assemblies 16. In that position, the slide bodies 26 are tilted, to a limited extent, with respect to the guide rods 14, so that the upper ends 28 of the slide bodies 26 are tilted towards the guide rods 14 and the ledges 46 are received in the recesses 50. This serves to secure the slide bodies 26 against further movement relative to the guide rods 14. In the upper extent of pivotal movement, the biasing mechanism 38 is at or near a maximum spring potential for this application.

[0087] The slide bodies 26 remain so secured in an intermediate position (figure 2, 6), after the sheet 21 is extracted to that extent as the sheet 84 unwinds. The biasing mechanism 38 is configured to retain tension in the sheet 84 during that extraction and at the intermediate position to provide structural integrity to the sheet 84. It will be appreciated that at the intermediate position the roller blind 39 acts as an awning (figure 2).

[0088] In a partially lowered condition (figure 3), the tension in the sheet 21 retains the slide bodies 26 in engagement with the stop assemblies 16. At that point, further unrolling of the sheet 21 causes the pivot arms 32 to reach their maximum extent of pivotal movement such the biasing mechanisms 38 can no longer generate a tension within the sheet 21 . At that point, outwardly offset gravitational force can cause the slide bodies 26 to tilt so that the upper ends 28 are moved away from the guide rods 14 and the ledges 46 are no longer received in the recesses 50. This allows the sheet 21 to be unrolled further as the rail 74 moves down into the position shown in figure 4, and the slide bodies 26 stop in the position shown in figure 8.

[0089] Upon retraction of the sheet 84, the upper ends 28 retain the position shown in figures 7 and 8 with the biasing mechanism retaining the pivot arms 32 in their fully downwardly pivoted condition as the slide bodies 26 are raised by operation of the roller blind 11 . When the slide bodies 26 bear against the upper stop members 42, the continued retraction of the sheet 84 causes the slide bodies 26 to tilt, because of an outwardly offset upward force, moving the upper ends 28 inwardly back towards the guide rods 14. The ledges 46 are then received in the recesses 50 to secure the slide bodies 26 relative to the guide rods 14.

[0090] In figures 13 to 17, there is shown an example of a guide assembly 100. With reference to the preceding drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified.

[0091] The guide assembly 100 operates in the same way as the guide assembly 12.

[0092] The guide assembly 100 has a length of metal rod 102 that is bent or shaped to function as a guide for the slide assembly 24. The rod 102 can be of aluminium or steel. The rod 102 includes an upper portion 104, a lower portion that functions as a guide rod 106, and an intermediate portion 108 interposed between the upper and lower portions 104, 106. The intermediate portion 108 is angled with respect to the upper portion 104 and the guide rod 106. The upper portion 104 is fastenable to the wall 15 with two fasteners 107 extending through the upper portion 104. It follows that the lower portion 106 can be spaced from the wall 15 to an extent that depends on a length of the intermediate portion 108.

[0093] The guide rod 106 has a cross-sectional area equivalent to that of the guide rod 14. Thus, the slide assembly 24 can be mounted on the guide rod 106, and the slide body 26 can tilt relative to the guide rod 106, as described above.

[0094] An upper stop member 110 is mounted on the guide rod 106 at or near a junction between the guide rod 106 and the intermediate portion 108. The upper stop member 110 is in the form of a disk-like member that is fitted to the lower portion 106. A thickness and diameter of the stop member 110 are such that a portion 112 of the stop member 110 projects outwardly to be receivable in the recess 50 of the catch 48, in the same manner as the ledge 46 is receivable in the recess 50.

[0095] A lower stop member 114 is mounted on the lower portion 106 at a distance from the upper stop member 110 that is equivalent to a required extent of travel of the slide assembly 24.

[0096] As can be seen in figure 18, the lower stop member 114 includes a base portion 116 that defines an opening 118 through which the lower portion 106 extends. Two, opposed retaining members 120 project downwardly from the base portion 116, on either side of the opening 118.

[0097] A lower bracket 122 of the assembly 100 has an operatively vertical mounting member or plate 124 that can be fastened to the wall 15 with two screw fasteners 126. A carrier member 128 projects from the plate 124. The carrier member 128 is received and secured between the retaining members 120 and is bifurcated to accommodate the guide rod 106 that extends through the opening 118.

[0098] The lower stop member 114 includes an upwardly projecting locating formation 130 that partially bounds the opening 118. The formation 128 can be received in the passage 40 of the slide body 26 when the slide body 26 is in the lowered position as can be seen in figure 17. This serves to inhibit the slide assemblies 24 and pivot arm assemblies 32 from rattling around when the blind sheet 21 is fully lowered. To that end, the lower stop member 114 can be of a suitable resiliently deformable material and can have a downwardly, and outwardly flared profile to be received snugly in a lower portion of the passage 40. For example, the locating formation 130 can incorporate a downward, outwardly tapered formation 144 that can engage slide body 26 so that the stop member 114 bears against the guide rod 102.

[0099] In figures 13 and 14, the slide assembly 24 is shown engaged with the stop member 110 to inhibit vertical movement of the slide assemblies 24 when the pivot arms 33 pivot from an upper extent of movement in figure 13, to the intermediate position so that the blind sheet 21 can serve as an awning (figure 2).

[0100] In figures 15 and 16, the pivot arms 33 have reached the lowest extent of pivotal movement causing the slide bodies 26 to pivot so that the upper ends 28 move outwardly. This detaches the slide assemblies 24 from the upper stop member 110. The extent of tilt is indicated in figure 15 by an arrow 140 with reference to a longitudinal axis 136 of the guide rod 106 and a line 138 that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the passage 40.

[0101] It will be appreciated that the securing or locking of the slide bodies 26 relative to the guide rods 14, 106 provides a stable operation of the roller blind assembly 10 because vertical movement of the slide bodies 26 while the blind sheet 21 is extracted under operation of the biasing mechanism 38 is undesirable. Such movement is likely to be limited to one slide body 26 or will not be consistent between the two slide bodies 26. This may cause the rail 74 to tilt in a vertical plane, which is undesirable. For example, such tilting can cause the slides to jam. With both the slide bodies 26 secured in position, such instability is avoided while the pivot arms 32 pivot downwardly to the lower extent of pivotal movement. Once the pivot arms 32 have reached the full extent of their downward pivot, the biasing mechanisms 38 no longer act and the slide assemblies 24 are able to slide down to the lower stop assemblies 20 under gravity, in a relatively stable manner.

[0102] The guide assemblies 12, 100 and the slide assemblies 24 can be provided separately as accessories for the roller blind assembly 10 or for a conventional roller blind. This allows a conventional roller blind to be upgraded.

[0103] A useful feature of the various embodiments of the roller blind assembly 10, described herein, is that components such as the roller blind 11 , bottom rail assembly 36, and pivot arm assemblies 32 can be conventional components. This allows for convenient assembly, replacement, and repair because of the ready availability of parts.

[0104] The appended claims are to be considered as incorporated into the above description.

[0105] Throughout this specification, reference to any advantages, promises, objects or the like should not be regarded as cumulative, composite, and / or collective and should be regarded as preferable or desirable rather than stated as a warranty.

[0106] Throughout this specification, unless otherwise indicated, "comprise," "comprises," and "comprising," (and variants thereof) or related terms such as "includes" (and variants thereof)," are used inclusively rather than exclusively, so that a stated integer or group of integers may include one or more other non-stated integers or groups of integers.

[0107] Words indicating direction or orientation, such as “front”, “rear”, “back”, etc, are used for convenience. The inventor(s) envisages that various embodiments can be used in a non-operative configuration, such as when presented for sale. Thus, such words are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. The words “inward” and “outward” and their derivatives are to be understood as being used with reference to a building, where “inward" means towards an inside of the building and “outward” is means towards an outside of the building.

[0108] Features which are described in the context of separate aspects and embodiments of the invention may be used together and / or be interchangeable. Similarly, features described in the context of a single embodiment may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

[0109] It is to be understood that the terminology employed above is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The described embodiments are intended to be illustrative of the invention, without limiting the scope thereof. The invention is capable of being practised with various modifications and additions as will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A roller blind assembly that comprises: a roller blind that is mountable on a structure, the roller blind being operable to feed and retract a blind sheet between operative and inoperative conditions; two guide assemblies, each guide assembly comprising two guide rods that are vertically mountable on the structure, on respective sides of an opening to be screened by the blind sheet, and upper and lower stop assemblies arranged on respective guide rods; two slide assemblies arranged on the respective guide rods, each slide assembly being displaceable between a top position, against the upper stop assembly, and a bottom position, against the lower stop assembly; two pivot arm assemblies mounted on respective slide assemblies, each pivot arm assembly comprising a pivot arm that is pivotal relative to the respective slide assembly between an upper extent of pivotal movement and a lower extent of pivotal movement; and a bottom rail assembly, outer ends of the pivot arms being connected to the bottom rail assembly, so that the pivot arms can pivot upwardly to accommodate retraction of the blind sheet, and downwardly to accommodate feeding of the blind sheet, wherein. the slide assemblies are releasably engageable with respective upper stop assemblies to inhibit vertical displacement of the slide assemblies, the pivot arms and slide assemblies being configured so that when the slide assemblies bear against the upper stop assemblies and the pivot arms are pivoted upwardly, the slide assemblies engage with the respective upper stop assemblies, and when the pivot arms are pivoted to at or near the lower extent of pivotal movement, the slide assemblies can disengage from the upper stop assemblies to allow the slide assemblies to move downwardly to bear against the lower stop assemblies and the blind sheet to be fed into a fully lowered condition.

2. The roller blind assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each slide assembly comprises a slide body, the slide bodies each defining a passage to receive the respective guide rods, the passages and the guide rods being dimensioned so that the slide bodies can tilt relative to the respective guide rods to move upper ends of the slide bodies inwardly and outwardly, and catch mechanisms arranged on respective slide bodies, the catch mechanisms being configured to engage the respective upper stop assemblies when the upper ends of the slide bodies moveinwardly, and to disengage from the upper stop assemblies when the upper ends of the slide bodies move outwardly.

3. The roller blind assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pivot arms each include a biasing mechanism to bias the pivot arms towards the lower extent of pivotal movement.

4. The roller blind assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pivot arms are configured to act on the respective slide assemblies when pivoted downwardly into the lower extent to disengage the slide assemblies.

5. The roller blind assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pivot arm assemblies include pivot mounts arranged on respective slide bodies, the pivot mounts each including a flat base and a lug projecting from the base, the pivot arms being pivotally mounted on respective lugs.

6. The roller blind assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pivot arms each include an outer, substantially straight portion, and an inner portion that is angularly offset with respect to the outer portion in a plane of pivotal movement of the pivot arm, the inner portions being pivotally mounted on respective lugs.

7. The roller blind assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the inner portions are configured to bear against the flat base below axes of rotation of the pivot arms to apply leverage to the slide assemblies resulting in the tilting of the slide bodies to disengage the catch mechanisms from the respective upper stop assemblies.

8. The roller blind assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the upper and lower stop assemblies include upper and lower stop members, respectively, the guide rods extending through respective upper stop members such that the upper stop members include portions that project outwardly from the guide rod to facilitate engagement of the catch mechanisms with the respective upper stop members.

9. The roller blind assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein each catch mechanism includes a catch that extends upwardly from the slide body, the catch including a recess for receiving the portion that projects outwardly from the guide rod when the upper end of the slide body moves inwardly towards the guide rod.

10. The roller blind assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the upper and lower stop assemblies include upper and lower vertical mounts that are fastenable to the structure, the upper and lower stop members extending from the upper and lower vertical mounts, respectively.11 . The roller blind assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the guide rods comprise lower portions of lengths of metal, each length being shaped to define an upper portion, the lower portion, and an intermediate portion, the upper portions being fastenable to the structure, and the intermediate portion oriented angularly with respect to the upper and lower portions so that the lower portions are spaced from the structure when the upper portions are fastened to the structure.

12. The roller blind assembly as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the upper stop assemblies include stop members arranged on the respective guide rods, at or near the intermediate portions, the catch mechanisms including catches that extend upwardly from the respective slide bodies, the catches including recesses for receiving respective portions of the stop members that project outwardly from the respective guide rods.

13. The roller blind assembly as claimed in claim 11 , which includes lower brackets, each lower bracket having an operatively vertical mounting plate that can be fastened to the structure, the lower stop assemblies each including a carrier member that projects from the respective plate, and lower stop members that are mounted on respective carrier members.

14. An accessory for a roller blind that is mountable on a structure, the roller blind being operable to feed and retract a blind sheet between operative and inoperative conditions, the accessory comprising: a guide assembly that comprises a guide rod, two of which are vertically mountable on the structure, on respective sides of an opening to be screened by the blind sheet, and upper and lower stop assemblies arranged on the guide rod; a slide assembly arranged on the guide rod, the slide assembly being displaceable between a top position, against the upper stop assembly, and a bottom position, against the lower stop assembly; and a pivot arm assembly mounted on the slide assembly, the pivot arm assembly comprising a pivot arm that is pivotal relative to the slide assembly between an upper extent of pivotal movement and a lower extent of pivotal movement, an outer end ofthe pivot arm being connectable to a bottom rail assembly, so that the pivot arm can pivot upwardly to accommodate retraction of the blind sheet, and downwardly to accommodate feeding of the blind sheet, wherein the slide assembly is releasably engageable with the upper stop assembly to inhibit vertical displacement of the slide assembly, the pivot arm and the slide assembly being configured so that when the slide assembly bears against the upper stop assembly and the pivot arm is pivoted upwardly, the slide assembly engages with the upper stop assembly, and when the pivot arm is at or near the lower extent of pivotal movement, the slide assembly can disengage from the upper stop assembly to allow the slide assembly to move downwardly to bear against the lower stop assembly and the blind sheet to be fed into a fully lowered condition.

15. The accessory as claimed in claim 14, wherein the slide assembly comprises a slide body that defines a passage to receive the guide rod, the passage and the guide rod being dimensioned so that the slide body can tilt relative to the guide rod to move an upper end of the slide body inwardly and outwardly, and a catch mechanism that is arranged on the slide body, the catch mechanism being configured to engage the upper stop assembly when the upper end of the slide body moves inwardly, and to disengage from the upper stop assembly when the upper end of the slide body moves outwardly.

16. The accessory as claimed in claim 14, wherein the pivot arm includes a biasing mechanism to bias the pivot arm towards the lower extent of pivotal movement.

17. The roller blind assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the pivot arms are configured to act on the respective slide assemblies when pivoted downwardly into the lower extent to disengage the slide assemblies.

18. The roller blind assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the upper and lower stop assemblies include upper and lower stop members, the guide rod extending through the upper stop member such that the upper stop member includes a portion that projects outwardly from the guide rod to facilitate engagement of the catch mechanism with the upper stop member.

19. The roller blind assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein the catch mechanism includes a catch that extends upwardly from the slide body, the catch including arecess for receiving the portion that projects outwardly from the guide rod, when the upper end of the slide body moves towards the guide rod.

20. An accessory for a roller blind that is mountable on a structure, the roller blind being operable to feed and retract a blind sheet between operative and inoperative conditions, the accessory comprising: a slide assembly configured for arrangement on a guide rod, two of which are vertically mountable on the structure on respective sides of an opening to be screened by the blind sheet, the slide assembly being displaceable between a top position, against an upper stop assembly arranged on the guide rod, and a bottom position, against a lower stop assembly arranged on the guide rod; and a pivot arm assembly mounted on the slide assembly, the pivot arm assembly comprising a pivot arm that is pivotal relative to the slide assembly between an upper extent of pivotal movement and a lower extent of pivotal movement, an outer end of the pivot arm being connectable to a bottom rail assembly, so that the pivot arm can pivot upwardly to accommodate retraction of the blind sheet, and downwardly to accommodate feeding of the blind sheet, wherein the slide assembly is releasably engageable with the upper stop assembly to inhibit vertical displacement of the slide assembly, the pivot arm and the slide assembly being configured so that when the slide assembly bears against the upper stop assembly and the pivot arm is pivoted upwardly, the slide assembly engages with the upper stop member, and when the pivot arm is at or near the lower extent of pivotal movement, the slide assembly can disengage from the upper stop assembly to allow the slide assembly to move downwardly to bear against the lower stop assembly and the blind sheet to be fed into a fully lowered condition.

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