Blind assembly

Abstract

A blind apparatus comprising at least two tracks having adjacent ends meeting at a corner defined therebetween, the tracks defining two opposite ends remote from such corner, a rotation shaft for each track, a lead traveller in each track, moving along a lead traveller path of predetermined length from an open position at one end of the path to a closed position at the other end of the path, pluralities of travellers, forming groups, associated with respective lead travellers, each traveller having a rotatable slat shaft and being connected to a rotation shaft whereby upon rotation of the rotation shaft, the slat shaft may be rotated, adjacent travellers in the same group being connected by links, each lead traveller being connected to an adjacent traveller in its respective group by a further link, a .[.flexible.]. control element attachable to the lead travellers, and, a flexible coupling connecting adjacent rotation shafts at the corner, with all lead travellers being movable simultaneously along respective paths by the .[.flexible.]. control element. .Iadd.Also disclosed is a corner junction member for joining the two lengths of track. .Iaddend.

I claim: 
     
       1. A blind apparatus comprising: at least two tracks having adjacent ends meeting at a corner defined therebetween, the tracks defining two opposite ends remote from such corner;   at least one corner junction member adapted to form said corner;   connection means on said corner junction member interengageable with said adjacent ends of said tracks;   an angle formation in said junction member whereby said tracks are located at an angle to one another;   .[.a.]. .Iadd.first and second slat .Iaddend.rotation .[.shaft.]. .Iadd.means extending .Iaddend.longitudinally .[.located.]. relative to .[.each track.]. .Iadd.respective ones of said tracks.Iaddend.;   support means for supporting said .Iadd.slat .Iaddend.rotation .[.shafts.]. .Iadd.means.Iaddend.;   a plurality of travellers, forming at least two groups, said travellers being slidably received within respective tracks, each traveller having a rotatable slat shaft, each traveller in each said group being connected to a respective one of said .Iadd.slat .Iaddend.rotation .[.shafts.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.for rotation of said slat shafts, adjacent travellers in the same group being connected to one another;   .[.flexible elements.]. .Iadd.traverse drive means .Iaddend.engageable with said groups of travellers and operable to move said travellers along .Iadd.respective ones of .Iaddend.said tracks between open and closed positions;   rotation control means connected to a said .Iadd.slat .Iaddend.rotation .[.shaft.]. .Iadd.means.Iaddend., and,   flexible coupling means connecting adjacent .Iadd.slat .Iaddend.rotation .[.shafts.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.adjacent said corner.   
     
     
       2. A blind apparatus as claimed in claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.25 .Iaddend.wherein said flexible coupling means comprises: a helical spring, and,   collar means attached to each end of said spring, each collar means being affixed to a respective rotation shaft.   
     
     
       3. A blind apparatus as claimed in claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.26 .Iaddend.wherein a guide means is provided at said corner, whereby said flexible element may be supported around said corner. 
     
     
       4. A blind apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein a pulley is provided at said one end of said one track to receive said flexible element. 
     
     
       5. A blind apparatus as claimed in claim 4 including: a lead traveller in each said group of travellers, at least one main lead traveller moving along a path of a predetermined length between open and closed positions, and others of said lead travellers moving along paths of a length less than said predetermined length,   wherein a said flexible element is attached to said main lead traveller to move the same along said lead traveller path, and wherein slidable lead traveller engagement means are attached to each said other lead traveller, whereby to allow said flexible element to move the full length of said longest lead traveller path.   
     
     
       6. A blind apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein each engagement means for said other lead travellers comprises a first bead affixed to said flexible element and wherein each said other lead traveller defines two parallel spaced apart panels defining first openings therethrough, said flexible element extending through the first openings, said openings having sufficient width to admit said first beads therethrough, and including a washer having a central aperture through which said flexible element extends, said washer being supported by said flexible element between said panels, said central aperture having insufficient width to allow said first beads to pass therethrough. 
     
     
       7. A bling apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said attachment means includes a second bead affixed to said flexible element, said second bead having a width greater than that of said openings in said panels. 
     
     
       8. A blind apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a downwardly depending slat is attached to each slat shaft. 
     
     
       9. A blind apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said corner junction member comprises insert portions adapted to be inserted into adjacent ends of said tracks, and hinge means joining said insert portions, whereby said tracks can be adjusted to different angles. 
     
     
       10. A blind apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein there are two said insert portions each having hinge wall means forming an integral structure. 
     
     
       11. A blind apparatus as claimed in claim .[.9.]. .Iadd.25 .Iaddend.including bearing means in said junction member for receiving said rotation shafts. 
     
     
       12. A blind apparatus as claimed in claim .[.9.]. .Iadd.26 .Iaddend.including guide rollers in said junction member for guiding said flexible elements. 
     
     
       13. A blind apparatus as claimed in claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.26 .Iaddend.including traveller engagement means slidable along said flexible elements. 
     
     
       14. A blind apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said engagement means comprises a body member, and frictional gripping means in said body member, adapted to make a sliding frictional grip on said flexible elements, said body member being connectable with a respective one of said other lead travellers whereby to move them a predetermined distance, and thereafter when said other lead travellers are at rest, said flexible elements will slide through said gripping means, to permit said main lead traveller to move along its said longest path. 
     
     
       15. A blind apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are three said tracks, meeting at two corners, and including two said .[.corner.]. .Iadd.angle .Iaddend.formations. 
     
     
       16. A blind apparatus comprising: at least two tracks having adjacent ends meeting at a corner defined therebetween, the tracks defining two opposite ends remote from such corner;   a relatively rigid rotation shaft longitudinally located relative to each track;   support means affixed to each track for supporting respective rotation shafts;   at least one lead traveller slidably received within each track, each said lead traveller being constrained to move along a lead traveller path of predetermined length within its respective said track from an open position at one end of said path to a closed position at the other end of said path;   a plurality of further travellers, formin at least two groups, a said group being associated with a respective said lead traveller, all said travellers being slidably received within respective said tracks, each said traveller having a rotatable slat shaft, each said traveller being connected by suitable transmission means to a respective one of said rotation shafts whereby upon rotation of said rotation shafts, said slat shafts may be rotated, adjacent travellers in the same said group being connected by a connection means, each said lead traveller being connected to an adjacent said traveller in its respective said group by a further connection means;   .[.a flexible element.]. .Iadd.traverse drive means .Iaddend.engageable with said lead travellers and operable to move .[.all.]. said lead travellers simultaneously along said tracks between open and closed positions;   rotations control means attached to one of said rotation shafts, and,   flexible coupling means connecting adjacent rotation shafts at said corner.   
     
     
       17. A blind apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said flexible coupling means comprises: a helical spring, and,   collar means attached to each end of said spring, each collar means being affixed to a respective shaft.   
     
     
       18. A blind apparatus as claimed in claim .[.16.]. .Iadd.27 .Iaddend.including guide means at said corner, for guiding said flexible element. 
     
     
       19. A blind apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said flexible element is attached to each lead traveller constrained to move along a longest lead traveller path, and wherein lead traveller engagement means are adjustably attached to said flexible element adjacent each other lead traveller, and engage the same. 
     
     
       20. A blind apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein said lead traveller engagement means comprises a first bead affixed to said flexible element and wherein each said other lead traveller defined two parallel spaced apart panels defining first openings therethrough, said flexible element extending through said first openings, said first openings having sufficient width to admit said first beads therethrough, and including a washer, having a central aperture through which said flexible element extends, said washer being supported between said panels, said central aperture having insufficient width to allow said first beads to pass therethrough, and including a second bead affixed to said flexible element, said second bead having a width greater than that of said first openings in said panels. 
     
     
       21. A blind apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein a downwardly depending slat is attached to each slat shaft. 
     
     
       22. A blind apparatus as claimed in claim 16 including a corner junction member, adapted to form a corner between two adjacent ends of track, said corner junction member comprising portions adapted to be connected to adjacent ends of said tracks, and angle means joining said portions, whereby said tracks can be set at an angle to one another. 
     
     
       23. A blind apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein said lead traveller engagement means comprises a body member, and frictional gripping means in said body member adapted to make a sliding frictional grip on said flexible element, whereby said body member may move a predetermined distance, and thereafter when its respective said lead traveller is at rest, said flexible element will slide through said gripping means. 
     
     
       24. A blind apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein there are three said tracks meeting at two corners. .Iadd. 
     
     
       25.  A blind apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and in which said first and second slat-rotation means comprise first and second rotation shafts. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. A blind apparatus as claimed in claim 25 and in which said traverse drive means comprises flexible elements engageable with said groups of travellers. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. A blind apparatus as claimed in claim 16 and in which said traverse drive means comprises a flexible 
     
     
        element engageable with said lead travellers. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28.  A blind track assembly comprising: at least two lengths of blind track, meeting at a corner;   blind suspension means supported by said at least two lengths of track;   blind control means extending along said at least two lengths of track;   a corner junction member at said corner, said corner junction member, in turn, comprising:   first connector means interengageable with a first one of said tracks at said corner;   second connector means interengageable with a second one of said lengths of track;   hinge means interconnecting said first and second connector means whereby said lengths of track may be set at an angle to one another, and,   guide means on said corner junction member for guiding said blind control   
     
     
        means therearound. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29.  A blind track assembly as claimed in claim 28, wherein said blind control means is rotatable, and including bearing means in said corner junction member for supporting said blind control means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. A blind track assembly as claimed in claim 29 including blind control means in both said lengths of track, and including flexible connector means extending between said first and second blind control means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. A blind track assembly comprising: at least two lengths of blind track, meeting at a corner;   blind suspension means supported by said at least two lengths of track;   blind control means extending along said at least two lengths of track;   a corner junction member at said corner, said corner junction member, in turn, comprising:   first connector means interengageable with a first one of said tracks at said corner;   second connector means interengageable with a second one of said lengths of track;   hinge means interconnecting said first and second connector means whereby said lengths of track may be set at an angle to one another, and,   rotatable blind control means in both said lengths of track, and including rotatable connector means extending between respective said rotatable blind control means. .Iaddend.