Flexible or portable closure – partition – or panel – Roll type – With guides or fabric edge holders
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-14
2002-07-02
Lev, Bruce A. (Department: 3634)
Flexible or portable closure, partition, or panel
Roll type
With guides or fabric edge holders
C160S371000, C160S380000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06412538
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application corresponds to and claims priority to European Application No. 99201122.1, filed Apr. 14, 1999. This European application is hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
a. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a side guide for enclosing the sides of an architectural roller covering, especially a roller covering for an architectural opening, such as a roller screen, shade, or blind for a window.
b. Description of the Related Art
Side guides for architectural roller coverings are known, for example, from the following patent publications: EP 0 841 461, DE 44 06 267, U.S. Pat. No. 4,357,978 and GB 2 235 005. Typically, such side guides include generally U-shaped, vertically-extending channels. The channels preferably surround the front and back of the sides of the roller coverings, adjacent their side edges, to prevent heat, dirt, and insects from getting past their side edges and/or to keep the coverings in a vertical plane while allowing them to move vertically unhindered when raising and lowering them. Such side guides have also typically been adapted to be removably fit onto mounting members on a wall, adjacent to a window which such roller coverings are intended to cover.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The installation and maintenance of such side guides has generally not been easy. In this regard, side guides have been sought which are easier to disassemble and reassemble when cleaning or installing their roller coverings.
This invention provides a side guide for an architectural roller covering, such as a roller screens shade, or blind for a window, having:
a base having a longitudinally-extending elongated base web with an outer flange and an inner flange extending laterally from a lateral surface of the base web; a free lateral end of the outer flange having a first hinge formation that is longitudinally directed towards the inner flange; and
a cover having a longitudinally-extending elongated cover web with a second hinge formation and a bent arm extending laterally from a lateral surface of the cover web towards the base; the lateral surface of the base web facing the lateral surface of the cover web; the second hinge formation being located longitudinally between the inner and outer flanges of the base and extending longitudinally towards the first hinge formation and away from the bent arm; and the bent arm also being located longitudinally between the inner and outer flanges of the base and having an elbow that extends towards the second hinge formation and is between two laterally-extending portions of the bent arm;
whereby the second hinge formation can cooperate with the first hinge formation and the cover can be pivoted about the cooperating first and second hinge formations to move the bent arm laterally towards the base web until a free lateral end of the bent arm contacts the lateral surface of the base web and a laterally-extending surface of the inner flange, facing the outer flange, to resiliently lock the cover on the base.
Advantageously, the base and cover extend vertically and preferably are coextensive. It is especially advantageous that a first portion of the bent arm, at a lateral end of the elbow remote from the cover web, extends i) longitudinally away from the second hinge formation, ii) laterally away from the cover web at an acute angle to the cover web, and iii) towards the laterally-extending surface of the inner flange. It is particularly advantageous that a second portion of the bent arm, connected to the cover web and the elbow, extends laterally away from the cover web and longitudinally towards the second hinge formation. It is also particularly advantageous that the first hinge formation be a hinge groove that is longitudinally open towards the inner flange and that the second hinge formation be a hook. It is further particularly advantageous that the free lateral end of the bent arm is lockingly accommodated adjacent the laterally-extending surface of the inner flange when the free lateral end contacts the lateral surface of the base web.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an architectural roller covering, such as a roller screen, shade, or blind for a window, is provided, which includes a side guide of this invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3220469 (1965-11-01), Oehmig
patent: 3552476 (1971-01-01), Le Tarte
patent: 4357978 (1982-11-01), Keller et al.
patent: 4458739 (1984-07-01), Murray et al.
patent: 4544012 (1985-10-01), Woodward
patent: 4665670 (1987-05-01), Van Den Burg
patent: 4894960 (1990-01-01), Hill et al.
patent: 4932453 (1990-06-01), Hoover et al.
patent: 4967424 (1990-11-01), Stegmeier
patent: 6125910 (2000-10-01), Pepperell et al.
patent: 9301944 (1994-06-01), None
patent: 4406267 (1997-11-01), None
patent: 19823853 (1998-11-01), None
patent: 841461 (1998-05-01), None
patent: 2235005 (1993-11-01), None
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Lev Bruce A.
LandOfFree
Side guide for a roller covering does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Side guide for a roller covering, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Side guide for a roller covering will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2878413