Frame section for a black-out blind assembly

Abstract

A black-out blind assembly having a frame supporting a black-out blind moveable within the frame between open and closed positions wherein sections of the frame have inner and outer walls extending from a side wall so as to form a channel section defining a recess for receiving part of a black-out blind. A light absorbing substantially non-reflective insert is positioned within the recess of the channel section adjacent the inner, outer and side walls so as to prevent scattered and reflected light passing around the sides of the black-out blind.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority to European patent application No. 04253931.2, filed 30 Jun. 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully disclosed herein. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a frame section of a frame for a black-out blind assembly, in particular for reducing the transmission of light through the blind assembly. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] It is well known to provide black-out blinds for architectural openings. These blinds are used to cover openings, such as windows, to cover the opening and prevent ingress of any light. Examples of such blinds are described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,354,489, U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,892, DE 1 127 555 and DE 1 705 816. [0006] Although the blinds themselves can be sufficiently opaque to produce the desired effect, there is a problem that light can be reflected within the frame supporting the blind, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0029] Since a black-out blind will generally have a predefined thickness, it is possible to design the sides of a frame with channel sections having a width corresponding to the thickness of the blind and, hence, minimising any scattered / reflected light around the sides of the black-out blind. However, particularly for the end part of the frame in which the blind is rolled and unrolled, there is a problem of light reflection. The end part has to have a sufficiently large recess to accommodate a fully rolled black-out blind. As a result, when the blind is unrolled, there is a large space within the recess around which light can be reflected.

[0030] The present invention provides a very effective arrangement for overcoming this problem.

Problems solved by technology

Painting and / or coating frame sections can be a problem, since, usually, it is only the innermost part of the frame section which needs to be light absorbing and non-reflective.

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