Window Blind

Abstract

There is described a portable and foldable window blind comprising an sheet ( 1 ) of light-attenuating material having a resilient flexible frame ( 2 ) attached around its edge, the blind having fixing means ( 5 ) for attaching to a window, and the fixing means being attached to the sheet material of the blind by an elongate element ( 4 ). The elongate element ( 4 ) is preferably a flexible tension element such as a cord or strap, and may be elastic. The effective length of the elongate element ( 4 ) between the sheet ( 1 ) and the fixing device ( 5 ) may be adjusted by a clamping device ( 7 ) positioned on the side of the sheet material ( 1 ) remote from the fixing device ( 5 ) and selectively engagable at a variety of points along the length of the elongate element ( 4 ). There is also described an extension piece ( 26,27,28 ) for mounting the blind to a bay window.

1 . A window blind comprising:
 a sheet of light-attenuating flexible material;   a resilient flexible frame adapted to tension the sheet;   at least one fixing device adapted to be attached to a window, the fixing device being attached to the sheet by an elongate element;   
       wherein the effective length of the elongate element between the fixing device and the sheet is selectively adjustable. 
     
     
         2 . A window blind according to  claim 1  wherein the elongate element is a flexible tension element. 
     
     
         3 . A window blind according to  claim 1 , wherein the fixing device is attached to the sheet by means of a tension element extending through an opening in the sheet, and the effective length of the flexible tension element is adjusted by means of a clamping device positioned on the side of the sheet remote from the fixing device, and securable to the tension element at a plurality of positions along the length of the tension element. 
     
     
         4 . A window blind according to  claim 1 , wherein the fixing device is attached to the sheet by means of a tension element extending through an opening in the sheet, and wherein the tension element is provided, at its end remote from the fixing device, with fastening means adapted to be secured to the sheet material at a location remote from the opening. 
     
     
         5 . A window blind according to  claim 4 , wherein the fastening means comprises a hook-and-loop fastener. 
     
     
         6 . A window blind according to  claim 4 , wherein the fastening means comprises a tab formed with a buttonhole and engagable with one or more buttons fixed to the sheet material. 
     
     
         7 . A window blind according to  claim 1 , wherein the fixing device comprises a suction cup. 
     
     
         8 . A window blind according to  claim 1 , wherein the fixing device comprises a hook or a loop engagable with a window handle. 
     
     
         9 . A window blind according to  claim 1 , wherein the fixing device comprises an enlarged portion attached to the elongate element. 
     
     
         10 . A window blind according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongate element is elastic. 
     
     
         11 . A window blind according to  claim 1 , wherein the fixing device is attached to a central portion of the sheet. 
     
     
         12 . A window blind according to  claim 1 , wherein the window blind comprises a plurality of fixing devices. 
     
     
         13 . A window blind according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         14 . A window blind according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is circular, triangular or trapezoidal. 
     
     
         15 . A window blind according to  claim 1 , wherein the resilient flexible frame extends round the edge of the sheet and is attached to the sheet by being contained within a circumferential hem. 
     
     
         16 . A window blind according to  claim 1 , wherein the resilient flexible frame comprises resilient plastics material. 
     
     
         17 . A window blind according to  claim 1 , wherein the resilient flexible frame comprises metallic material. 
     
     
         18 . A window blind according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is formed from fully opaque material. 
     
     
         19 . A window blind according to  claim 1 , further comprising an extension piece comprising an elongate body having at one end a fixing means for fixing to the window, and at its other end a fixture for engaging the elongate element of the window blind adjacent its fixing device. 
     
     
         20 . A window blind according to  claim 19 , wherein the fixture is a loop, a hook, or a karabiner. 
     
     
         21 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . An extension piece for a window blind having at least one fixing device adapted to be attached to a sheet of light-attenuating flexible material by an elongate element and to a window, the extension piece comprising:
 an elongate body having at one end a fixing means for fixing to the window, and at its other end a fixture for engaging the elongate element of the window blind adjacent the fixing device of the window blind.   
     
     
         24 . An extension piece according to  claim 23 , wherein the fixture is a loop, a hook, or a karabiner.