Roller-blind suitable for use with a hollow insulated panel, and a double pane insulated panel with a movable blind therein

A roller-blind and insulated panel combination, comprising:

• an insulated panel defining an enclosed interior space, the insulated panel including first and second generally parallel transparent isulation panes which comprise main surfaces for the interior space and which are spaced at a predetermined distance from one another, the interior space being airtight and accessible only through a longitudinally extending opening in the insulated panel;
• an elongate housing for defining an airtight interior space and having a sole opening located along one longitudinal side thereof, the opening in the housing being defined by first and second longitudinal strips which extend away from the housing and which are receivable within the interior space of the insulated panel through the longitudinally extending opening in the panel, the housing measuring, in any cross section, substantially more than the predetermined distance of the insulated panel the respective openings of the housing and of insulated panel mating with each other in an airtight fashion whereby the interior spaces of the insulated panel and the housing communicate, in an airtight manner, the housing being supported by the insulated panel and further having a lateral width which permits the insulated panel to be received and installed in standard sized window and door frames, the spacing between the main surfaces of the panel being of a size which is selected to optimize insulation properties of the insulated panel;
• a roller rotatably mounted in the housing;
• a blind attached to the roller and windable thereupon, the blind being movable into and substantially out of the interior space of the insulated panel;
• a motor, located in the housing and coupled to the roller for rotating the roller;
• and
• actuating means, accessible exteriorly of the housing and of the insulated panel and coupled to the motor through the housing in an airtight manner, for actuating the motor.

A transparent panel for obstructing an opening in a building, the panel comprising:

• a frame having an outer periphery which is shaped to fit snugly in the opening in the building;
• an insulated panel including first and second spaced transparent insulated panes, the volume between the panes defining an airtight inner space which is accessible only through a longitudinally extending opening in the panel, the spacing between the insulated panes being effective for optimizing insulation properties of the insulated panel;
• an elongate housing defining an interior space and having an opening located along one longitudinal side thereof, the opening being defined by first and second longitudinal strips which extend away from the housing and are receivable within the interior space of the insulated panel, the respective openings of the housing and of the insulated panel mating with each other whereby the interior spaces of the insulated panel and the housing communicate, in an airtight manner, the housing being supported on the insulated panel and further having a lateral width which permits the insulated panel to be received and installed in window and door frames having standard sizes;
• a roller rotatably mounted in the housing;
• a blind attached to the roller and windable thereupon, the blind being movable into and substantially out of the interior space of the insulated panel;
• a motor, located in the housing and coupled to the roller for rotating the roller;
• and
• actuating means, accessible exteriorly of the housing and of the insulated panel and coupled to the motor through the housing in an airtight manner, for actuating the motor.