This invention relates generally to blind assemblies, and more particularly to retractable blind assemblies. More specifically, although not exclusively, this invention relates to retractable blind assemblies for covering a raked window.

Retractable window blinds may be provided to cover windows or openings of various shapes and sizes. In such window blinds, alignment is critical to ensure that the window is covered to the greatest extent possible. Due to their geometry, there are particular challenges in providing blinds to cover raked or gable windows. It has been found that prior art arrangements often fail to provide adequate coverage when the blinds are in a deployed condition, particularly when a plurality of blind portions are required to provide the necessary coverage.

It would therefore be advantageous to provide a retractable blind assembly for covering a window that overcomes, or at least partially mitigates, the observed drawbacks of the prior art.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the invention provides a retractable blind assembly for selectively covering a window, the assembly comprising a blind including: a bottom rail; a top rail for mounting along an upper edge of a window; a foldable covering extending between the top and bottom rails; and retraction means operable to move, in use, the bottom rail between: a first, retracted position, in which the bottom rail lies adjacent and substantially parallel to the top rail with the foldable covering collapsed therebetween; and a second, deployed position, in which the bottom rail is substantially horizontal and the foldable covering forms a substantially vertical edge extending from one end of the bottom rail for covering at least part of the window; wherein the bottom rail comprises a magnet at or adjacent the end from which the vertical edge extends for drawing the bottom rail toward a cooperating magnet, thereby to bring the vertical edge of the foldable covering toward a desired position.

As such, the invention provides a means of locating the substantially vertical edge relative to a corresponding vertical edge of the window to be covered.

The window may comprise a raked window. The top rail may be for mounting along a nonhorizontal upper edge, e.g. of a raked window. The bottom rail may diverge from the top rail, e.g. from a first end of the bottom rail toward a second end of the bottom rail, in the second position. The substantially vertical edge may extend from the second end of the bottom rail.

Another aspect of the invention provides a retractable blind assembly for selectively covering a raked window, the assembly comprising a blind including: a bottom rail; a top rail for mounting along a non-horizontal upper edge of the raked window; a foldable covering extending between the top and bottom rails; and retraction means operable to move, in use, the bottom rail between: a first, retracted position, in which the bottom rail lies adjacent and substantially parallel to the top rail with the foldable covering collapsed therebetween; and a second, deployed position, in which the bottom rail is substantially horizontal and diverges from the top rail from a first end of the bottom rail toward a second end of the bottom rail, while the foldable covering forms a substantially vertical edge extending from the second end of the bottom rail for covering at least part of the window; wherein the bottom rail comprises a magnet at or adjacent the second end for drawing the bottom rail toward a cooperating magnet, thereby to bring the vertical edge of the foldable covering toward a desired position.

The assembly may be for selectively covering a gabled raked window with first and second non-horizontal upper edges, e.g. that converge toward one another. The blind may be a first blind to be mounted along the first non-horizontal upper edge.

The assembly may comprise a second blind. The second blind may include a bottom rail. The second blind may include a top rail, e.g. for mounting along the or another upper edge of the window, e.g. the second non-horizontal upper edge thereof. The second blind may comprise a foldable covering. The foldable covering may extend between the top and bottom rails. The second blind may comprise retraction means, which may be operable to move, in use, the bottom rail. The bottom rail may be movable between a first, retracted position and a second, deployed position. The bottom rail may lie adjacent and/or substantially parallel to the top rail when the bottom rail is in the first position. The foldable covering may be collapsed between the bottom rail and the top rail when the bottom rail is in the first position. The bottom rail may be substantially horizontal in the second position. The bottom rail may diverge from the top rail in the second position, e.g. from a first end of the bottom rail toward a second end of the bottom rail. The foldable covering may form a substantially vertical edge in the second position. The substantially vertical edge may extend from one end, e.g. the second end, of the bottom rail for covering at least part of the window.

The bottom rail of the second blind may comprise a magnet at or adjacent the second end thereof. The magnet of the bottom rail of the second blind may face the magnet of the bottom rail of the first blind, e.g. for drawing the bottom rails toward one another, thereby to bring the vertical edges of the foldable covering of each blind toward one another.

The assembly may be for selectively covering a raked window having a truncated apex. The or each substantially vertical edge may comprise or be provided or described by a first edge. The first edge may be or comprise a free edge. The or each foldable covering may comprise a second edge, e.g. an upper edge. The second or upper edge may comprise a free edge, e.g. a second, upper free edge. The second or upper edge may extend substantially horizontally, e.g. when the blind is in the deployed position. The second or upper edge may extend between the top rail and the first and/or substantially vertical edge, e.g. when the blind is in the deployed position. The first and second edges of the foldable covering may form an angle, e.g. an acute angle, when the blind is in the retracted position.

Another aspect of the invention provides a retractable blind assembly for selectively covering a raked window with a truncated apex, the assembly comprising a blind including: a bottom rail; a top rail for mounting along a non-horizontal upper edge of the raked window; a foldable covering extending between the top and bottom rails; and retraction means operable to move, in use, the bottom rail between: a first, retracted position, in which the bottom rail lies adjacent and substantially parallel to the top rail with the foldable covering collapsed therebetween; and a second, deployed position, in which the bottom rail is substantially horizontal and diverges from the top rail from a first end of the bottom rail toward a second end of the bottom rail, while the foldable covering forms a first, substantially vertical free edge extending from the second end of the bottom rail for covering at least part of the window and a second, upper free edge that extends substantially horizontally between the top rail and the first free edge when the blind is in the deployed position; wherein the first and second free edges of the foldable covering form an acute angle when the blind is in the retracted position.

The first end of the bottom rail of the or each blind may abuts or may be adjacent an end of the top rail, e.g. when the bottom rail is in the second position. The or each foldable covering may form a substantially triangular panel, e.g. when the or each or both bottom rail(s) is or are in the second position.

The folds of the foldable covering may fan out, e.g. from the first end of the bottom rail toward the second end thereof.

The retraction means of the or at least one of the blinds may comprise a line connected to the bottom rail. The line may be connected to the bottom rail adjacent or toward its second end. The retraction means may be associated with the top rail. The retraction means may be configured or operable to retract the line in use, e.g. thereby to draw the bottom rail toward the top rail. The line may comprise a first line. The blind assembly or retraction means may comprise a second line, which may be connected to the bottom rail between its first end and the first line. The retraction means may be configured or operable to retract the second line, e.g. slower than it retracts the first line. The blind assembly or retraction means may be free of a line adjacent or toward its first end. The retraction means may be motorised.

The motorised retraction means may comprise a rechargeable battery. The motorised retraction means may also comprise a magnetic charging connector electrically connected to the rechargeable battery. The assembly may comprise a charging cable with a magnetic connector configured to connect to the magnetic charging connector for charging the battery.

The or each retraction means may comprise a retraction mechanism. The retraction means of the first and second blinds may comprise a common retraction mechanism operable by a single motor.

The foldable covering may comprise a pleated blind. The foldable covering of the first blind and/or second blind may comprise a pleated blind.

The pleated blind may comprise a cellular or honeycomb pleated blind.

For the avoidance of doubt, any of the features described herein apply equally to any aspect of the invention. Another aspect of the invention provides a computer program element comprising and/or describing and/or defining a three-dimensional design, e.g. of the retractable blind assembly described above or an embodiment thereof. The three-dimensional design may be for use with a simulation means or an additive or subtractive manufacturing means, system or device.

The computer program element may be for causing, or operable or configured to cause, an additive or subtractive manufacturing means, system or device to manufacture the retractable blind assembly described above or an embodiment thereof. The computer program element may comprise computer readable program code means for causing an additive or subtractive manufacturing means, system or device to execute a procedure to manufacture the retractable blind assembly described above or an embodiment thereof.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. For the avoidance of doubt, the terms “may”, “and/or”, “e.g.”, “for example” and any similar term as used herein should be interpreted as non-limiting such that any feature so-described need not be present.

Indeed, any combination of optional features is expressly envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention, whether or not these are expressly claimed. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a retractable blind assembly according to an embodiment of the invention covering a window having a raked portion with a truncated apex; and

Figure 2 is a front view of the assembly of Figure 1 showing only the raked portion; Figure 3 is a detail view of region C of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a front view of the foldable covering of the assembly of Figure 1 , in a deployed position;

Figure 5 is a front view of the foldable covering of Figure 4, in a partially retracted position;

Figure 6 is a front view of the foldable covering of the assembly of Figure 4, in a retracted position;

Figure 7 is a front view of a retractable blind assembly according to an embodiment of the invention covering a window having a raked portion; and

Figure 8 is a front view of the assembly of Figure 7 showing only the raked portion;

Figure 9 is a detail view of region D of Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view through the foldable covering.

Referring now to Figure 1 , there is shown a retractable blind assembly 1 for selectively covering a raked window having a truncated apex and shown in a deployed position. The assembly 1 includes a first blind 2a and a second blind 2b configured to cooperate to selectively cover a raked window having a truncated apex, as described in greater detail below. Each blind 2a, 2b has a respective top rail 3 for mounting along a respective nonhorizontal upper edge of a raked window, a substantially horizontal bottom rail 4 and a foldable covering 5 connected to each of, and extending between, the top rail 3 and bottom rail 4.

The first and second blinds 2a, 2b are identical and are arranged so as to mirror one another about an edge 50 of each foldable covering 5. The edge 50 is straight and extends substantially vertically when the blinds 2a, 2b are in the deployed position. Each of the blinds 2a, 2b is moveable between the deployed position shown in Figure 1 and a retracted position as shown in Figure 6 wherein the bottom rail 4 lies adjacent the top rail 3. A retraction mechanism 6 (as shown in Figures 4 to 6) is operable to move each of the blinds 2a, 2b between the retracted position and deployed position.

The window or opening to be selectively covered by the arrangement shown in Figure 1 also includes a rectangular portion R located below the raked portion. The rectangular portion R is selectively covered by a pair of adjacent rectangular blinds B, each of which includes a bottom rail 4’.

Referring now to Figures 2 to 4, there is shown the assembly 1 with the blinds 2a, 2b in a deployed position. The top rail 3 is provided as an elongate member formed of a metal in this example and is configured to be mounted along a non-horizonal edge of a raked window. The top rail 3 has a first end 30 configured to be located proximate a lower corner of the window and a second end 31 located proximate a truncated apex of the window. A pair of mounting brackets 32 is provided for mounting the top rail 3 to an edge of a window.

Similarly, the bottom rail 4 is also provided as an elongate member formed of a metal having a first end 40 located adjacent the first end 30 of the top rail 3 and a second end 41 . When the blinds 2a, 2b are the deployed position, the bottom rail 4 diverges from the top rail 3 from the first end 40 to the second end 41 . The second end 41 is provided with a magnet 42 for drawing the bottom rail 4 toward a cooperating magnet 42 of a bottom rail 4 of the second blind 2b.

The foldable covering 5 extends between the top rail 3 and bottom rail 4 and is provided as a pleated blind comprising a plurality of folds 51. In the present embodiment, in the deployed position each foldable covering 5 has an upper edge 52 extending substantially horizontally between the top rail 3 and the edge 50. As shown in greater detail in Figure 10, the foldable covering 5 has a cellular structure when viewed in cross-section, formed of a plurality of cells 53.

As is shown in Figure 2, when the blinds 2a, 2b are in the deployed position, the foldable covering 5 of each blind 2a, 2b forms a substantially triangular panel in which the folds 51 fan out from the first end 40 of the bottom rail 4 toward the second end 41 thereof. Referring to Figure 3 in particular, there is shown a detail view of the second end 41 of each respective bottom rail 4. Each second end 41 is provided with a magnet 42, wherein the magnets 42 are of opposing polarity from one another so as to draw together the second ends 41 when the blinds 2a, 2b are in the deployed condition. By drawing together the second ends 41 the edges 50 of the foldable coverings 5 are also drawn together so as to provide coverage across the entirety of a window.

Referring to Figure 4 in particular, there is shown the retraction mechanism 6 that is operable to move each of the blinds 2a, 2b between the deployed position and a retracted position. The retraction mechanism 6 is shown in Figure 4 applied to the first blind 2a, but it will be appreciated that a similar retraction mechanism 6 will also be applied to the second blind 2b. The retraction mechanism 6 includes a motor 60 mounted to the top rail 3 and a line 61 extending from the motor 60 and connected to the bottom rail 4 adjacent its second end 41. The motor 60 is configured to retract the line 61 so as to draw the bottom rail 4 toward the top rail 3.

Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown the first blind 2a in a partially retracted position. In order to move the first blind 2a from the deployed position shown in Figures 1 to 4 to the partially retracted position of Figure 5, the bottom rail 4 is pivoted about its first end 41 by operating the motor 60 to retract a portion of the line 61. The first end 40 remains adjacent the first end 30 of the top rail 3, and the second end 41 is drawn upwards towards the second end 31 such that the bottom rail 4 no longer extends substantially horizontally. The bottom rail 4 diverges from the top rail 3 from the first end 40 to the second end 41 to a lesser extent than in the deployed position described above.

The folds 51 of the foldable covering 5 are partially collapsed, and fan out from the first end 40 of the bottom rail 4 toward the second end 41 thereof. Furthermore, instead of being straight and substantially vertical, the edge 50 is now arcuate. The upper edge 52 extends substantially horizontally between the top rail 3 and the edge 50.

It will be appreciated that in the partially retracted position the second blind 2b will take a similar form as first blind 2a described above. Further, as each of the bottom rails 4 is pivoted, the magnets 42 disengage one another and the second ends 41 are no longer adjacent one another. As the edge 50 of the each of the blinds 2a, 2b is arcuate, a gap is described therebetween. Referring now to Figure 6, there is shown the first blind 2a in a retracted position. In order to move the first blind 2a from the deployed position shown in Figures 1 to 4 to the retracted position of Figure 6, the bottom rail 4 is pivoted about its first end 40 by operating the motor 60 to fully retract the line 61 . The bottom rail 4 lies adjacent to and extends parallel to the top rail 3 when the blind 2a is in the retracted position.

The folds 51 of the foldable covering 5 are fully collapsed, and extend parallel to each of the top rail 3 and bottom rail 4 from the first end 40 of the bottom rail 4 toward the second end 41 thereof. The top rail 3 and bottom rail 4 are separated by the width of the foldable covering 5 in its fully collapsed condition.

Furthermore, the edge 50 is now straight and extends substantially parallel to the top rail 3 and bottom rail 4. The upper edge 52 extends substantially horizontally between the top rail 3 and the edge 50.

In this example, the bottom rail 4’ of each side of the rectangular portion R of the blind assembly 1 also includes magnets 42’, which are of opposing polarity from one another so as to draw the bottom rails 4’ together when the rectangular portion R is in the deployed condition. Of course, it is envisaged that the magnets 42’ may be omitted from the bottom rails 4’ without departing from the scope of the invention.

Referring now to Figure 7, there is shown a retractable blind assembly 101 for selectively covering a raked window having an apex and shown in a deployed position. The assembly 100 is similar to assembly 1 , and like features will be denoted by like references incremented by ‘100’. The assembly 101 includes a first blind 102a and a second blind 102b each having a respective top rail 103 for mounting along a respective non-horizontal upper edge of a raked window, a substantially horizontal bottom rail 104 and a foldable covering 105 connected to each of, and extending between, the top rail 103 and bottom rail 104.

The first and second blinds 102a, 102b are identical to one another and are arranged so as to mirror one another about an edge 150 of each foldable covering 105. The edge 150 is straight and extends substantially vertically when the blinds 102a, 102b are in the deployed position. The first blind 102a and the second blind 102b cooperate to selectively cover a raked window having an apex, as is described in greater detail below. Each of the blinds 102a, 102b is moveable between the deployed position shown in Figure 7 and a retracted position (not shown) wherein the bottom rail 104 lies adjacent the top rail

103. A retraction mechanism (not shown) is operable to move each of the blinds 102a, 102b between the retracted position and deployed position.

The window or opening to be selectively covered by the arrangement shown in Figure 7 also includes a rectangular portion R located below the raked portion. The rectangular portion R is selectively covered by a pair of adjacent rectangular blinds B.

Referring now to Figures 8 and 9, there is shown the assembly 101 with the blinds 102a, 102b in a deployed position. In the interests of brevity, only the differences between assembly 101 and assembly 1 will be described in detail hereinafter.

In the present embodiment, each top rail 103 is provided as an elongate member formed on metal. The respective second ends 131 of the top rails 103 are located adjacent one another proximate an apex of the window. The first ends 130 of the top rail 103 are located proximate a lower corner of the window.

Each bottom rail 104 is similar to bottom rail 4, and is also provided as an elongate member formed of a metal having a first end 140 located adjacent the first end 130 of the top rail 103 and a second end 141. The second end 141 is provided with a magnet 142 for drawing the bottom rail 104 toward a cooperating magnet 141 of a bottom rail 104 of the second blind 102b.

The foldable covering 105 extends between the top rail 103 and bottom rail 104 and is provided as a pleated blind comprising a plurality of folds 151. In the present embodiment, in the deployed position each foldable covering 105 describes a triangular panel and does not have an upper edge 52 as per the foldable covering 5. As a result, the edge 150 extends between the second end 131 of the top rail 103 and the second end 141 of the bottom rail

104. As shown in greater detail in Figure 10, the foldable covering 105 has a cellular structure similar to foldable covering 5 when viewed in cross-section, formed of a plurality of cells 153. Referring to Figure 9 in particular, there is shown a detail view of the second end 141 of each respective bottom rail 104. Each second end 141 is provided with a magnet 142, which are configured to operate in a similar manner to the arrangement described above in respect of Figure 3.

It will be appreciated that in order to move the blind 102a, 102b from the deployed position shown in Figures 7 to 9 to a retracted position, the bottom rail 104 is pivoted about its first end by operating a retraction mechanism (not shown) similar to retraction mechanism 6.

It will also be appreciated that in a partially retracted position the folds 151 of the foldable covering 105 are partially collapsed and fan out from the first end 140 of the bottom rail 104 toward the second end 141 thereof. Furthermore, instead of being straight and substantially vertical the edge 150 will be arcuate between the second end 131 of the top rail 3 and the second end 141 of the bottom rail 4.

As each of the bottom rails 104 is pivoted, the magnets 142 disengage one another and the second ends 141 are no longer adjacent. As the edge 150 of the each of the blinds 102a, 102b is arcuate, a gap is described therebetween.

When the blinds 102a, 102b are in a retracted position, the bottom rail 104 will lie adjacent to and extend parallel to the top rail 103. The folds 151 of the foldable covering 105 will be fully collapsed, and extend parallel to each of the top rail 103 and bottom rail 104 from the first end 140 of the bottom rail 104 toward the second end 141 thereof.

Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the edge 150 will be straight and extend between the second end 131 of the top rail 103 and the second end 141 of the bottom rail 4.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that several variations to the aforementioned embodiments are envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.

It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any number of combinations of the aforementioned features and/or those shown in the appended drawings provide clear advantages over the prior art and are therefore within the scope of the invention described herein.