Retractable self rolling blind, awning or cover apparatus

Abstract

A retractable self rolling blind, awning or cover apparatus ( 11 ), comprising two or more sheets of fabric or other suitable material ( 17 ) affixed and wound conjointly about a keyway tube ( 12 ), the tube ( 12 ) being fitted with a conventional spring mechanism for use with blinds, awnings and the like, the spring mechanism being pretensioned so as to cause the sheets of fabric ( 17 ) to be rewound about the keyway tube ( 12 ) when one or more of the sheets of fabric ( 17 ) is released from its extended or unwound position, and wherein the keyway tube ( 12 ) and spring are allowed to travel unwinding and winding up of the fabric ( 17 ).

1 . A retractable self rolling blind, awning or cover apparatus, comprising two or more sheets of fabric or other suitable material affixed and wound conjointly about a keyway tube which is supported between rotatable mounting means, said mounting means being guided by a track guide means; said tube being fitted with a conventional spring mechanism, said spring mechanism being pretentioned so as to cause the sheets of fabric to be rewound about the keyway tube when said sheets are released from an unwound position and wherein said tube travels during unwinding and winding up of the fabric along the said track guide means, characterized in that there is no tension bar coupled to said tube and wherein the tension of the spring mechanics is retained via the interaction between the said mounting means and said track guide means.  
   
   
       2 . A retractable self rolling blind, awning or cover apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the travel of the keyway tube and spring are assisted by providing the spring end and idler end with wheels or wheel unit or alike depending on the particular use to which the apparatus is to be put.  
   
   
       3 . A retractable self rolling bind, awning or cover apparatus according to claims  1  and  2 , in which such wheels are caused to roll in appropriate tracks, the tracks allow the free rolling of the wheels and at the same time retaining the tension on the spring during the travel of the keyway tube and spring mechanism.  
   
   
       4 . A retractable self rolling blind, awning or cover apparatus according to claims  1 , especially when used as an awning, in which the whole apparatus is suspended above an area, or below a ceiling, the spring end and idler end are being provided with a pulley wheel unit, which is arranged to run on a guide support wires to allow the tube to travel in the direction in which the blind or cover material is to be rolled and unrolled, but which restrict lateral movement along the axis of the tube, thereby giving not only support but stability to the arrangement as a whole.  
   
   
       5 . A retractable self rolling blind, awning or cover apparatus according to  claim 4 , in which the pulley wheel unit is located on the guide support wire in order to retain the tension on the spring and allow the free rolling of the wheels, and the travel of the keyway tube and spring mechanism.  
   
   
       6 . A retractable self rolling blind, awning or cover apparatus according to any one of the  claims 1  to  4 , wherein three sheets of fabric are wound around the keyway tube, thereby allowing for a pair of sheets to form an awning or effective ceiling, whilst a third sheet is allowed to drop down from a central keyway tube, when the other two are unwound, to form a wall portion or divider.  
   
   
       7 . A retractable self rolling blind, awning or cover apparatus, according to any one of the previous claims, wherein two or more self rolling apparatus are coupled together in line to extend the area which may be covered.  
   
   
       8 . A retractable self rolling blind, awning or cover apparatus according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein there is provided an awning in which one horizontal ceiling panel is formed from one sheet of material, whilst a second sheet forms a vertical wall, the keyway tube acting as the junction of the wall and ceiling portions.  
   
   
       9 . A retractable blind, awning or cover apparatus according to  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the self rolling structure functions as an extendible vertical panel, the wheels on the upper and lower ends of the self rolling apparatus are held in tracks and aligned so as to allow lateral travel thereof.