U.S. patent application number 11/324404 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-29 for winding mechanism of blind.
Invention is credited to Henry Lin.
Application Number | 20060137831 11/324404 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46323541 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060137831 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin; Henry |
June 29, 2006 |
Winding mechanism of blind
Abstract
A winding mechanism mounts at head rail of blind and includes
lines each wrapped around a bottom stiffener strip and the head
rail, a cord wound around cord reel and having at least one loop
wrapped around a bight section of the line, a first drum coupled to
the cord reel by gear, a second drum, and an S-shaped tape spring
interconnected the first and second drums, the spring adapted to
exert a force to support the drapery material. In a downward
pulling of the stiffener strip the cord reel rotates to release
each line and the cord with one worm section of the spring being
further wound and the other worm section thereof being loosened for
reaching a balance with the blind. An upward pulling of the same
has an opposite effect. The drapery material is able to stay at any
position in response to stopping the cord reel.
Inventors: |
Lin; Henry; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TROXELL LAW OFFICE PLLC
SUITE 1404
5205 LEESBURG PIKE
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22041
US
|
Family ID: |
46323541 |
Appl. No.: |
11/324404 |
Filed: |
January 4, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11023560 |
Dec 29, 2004 |
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11324404 |
Jan 4, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
160/84.04 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B 9/322 20130101;
E06B 9/60 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
160/084.04 |
International
Class: |
A47H 5/00 20060101
A47H005/00 |
Claims
1. A winding mechanism mountable at a groove of a head rail of a
blind, the blind further including a bottom stiffener strip and a
sheet of drapery material coupled between the head rail and the
stiffener strip, comprising: a cord reel provided on the head rail;
a line having one end tied off at a first position of the stiffener
strip, passed one side of the sheet of drapery material, the head
rail, and the other side of the sheet of drapery material, and
having the other end tied off at a second position of the stiffener
strip, the other end of the line formed as a bight section
proximate the cord reel; a cord wound around the cord reel and
coupled to the bight section of the line; a first drum rotated with
the cord reel; a second drum; a tape spring interconnected the
first drum and the second drum, the spring including two worm
sections together formed an S, the spring adapted to exert a force
to support the weight of the sheet of drapery material wherein in a
downward pulling of the stiffener strip the cord reel rotates to
release the line and the cord for lowering the sheet of drapery
material with one worm section being further wound and the other
worm section being loosened as a counterweight of the sheet of
drapery material so as to reach a balance, thereby maintaining the
sheet of drapery material at any one of a plurality of positions
from a fully raised position to a fully lowered position in
response to stopping the cord reel; and a retaining member
including an elongate seat engaged with a bottom surface of the
stiffener strip, and two upwardly curved snapping edges along front
end rear edges of the seat for clamping the stiffener strip;
wherein in an upward pulling of the stiffener strip the cord reel
rotates in an opposite direction to wind the line and the cord for
lifting the sheet of drapery material with one worm section being
loosened and the other worm section being further wound as a
counterweight of the sheet of drapery material so as to reach a
balance, thereby maintaining the sheet of drapery material at any
one of a plurality of positions from the fully raised position to
the fully lowered position in response to stopping the cord
reel.
2. The winding mechanism of claim 1, wherein the cord reel
comprises a first gear and the first drum comprises a second gear
meshed with the first gear such that the cord reel and the first
drum are adapted to rotate in opposite directions.
3. The winding mechanism of claim 1, wherein the spring is adapted
to control the cord reel.
4. The winding mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a gear
interconnected the first drum and the cord reel.
5. The winding mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a plurality
of spaced guide rollers disposed in the groove and two holes formed
on a bottom of the groove, and wherein the guide rollers are
coupled together by winding the cord therearound, and two ends of
the cord are adapted to pass the holes.
6. The winding mechanism of claim 1, wherein the line is wound in a
direction opposite to that of each of the worm sections.
7. The winding mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a case for
receiving the cord reel, the first drum, and the second drum
therein.
8. A winding mechanism mountable at a groove of a head rail of a
blind, the blind further including a bottom stiffener strip and a
sheet of drapery material coupled between the head rail and the
stiffener strip, comprising: a cord reel provided on the head rail;
lines each having one end tied off at a first position of the
stiffener strip, passed one side of the sheet of drapery material,
the head rail, and the other side of the sheet of drapery material,
and having the other end tied off at a second position of the
stiffener strip, the other end of the line formed as a bight
section proximate the cord reel; a cord wound around the cord reel
and having at least one loop wrapped around the bight section; a
first drum rotated with the cord reel; a second drum; and a tape
spring interconnected the first drum and the second drum, the
spring including two worm sections together formed an S, the spring
adapted to exert a force to support the weight of the sheet of
drapery material; wherein in a downward pulling of the stiffener
strip the cord reel rotates to release the lines and the cord for
lowering the sheet of drapery material with one worm section being
further wound and the other worm section being loosened as a
counterweight of the sheet of drapery material so as to reach a
balance, thereby maintaining the sheet of drapery material at any
one of a plurality of positions from a fully raised position to a
fully lowered position in response to stopping the cord reel; and
in an upward pulling of the stiffener strip the cord reel rotates
in an opposite direction to wind the lines and the cord for lifting
the sheet of drapery material with one worm section being loosened
and the other worm section being further wound as a counterweight
of the sheet of drapery material so as to reach a balance, thereby
maintaining the sheet of drapery material at any one of a plurality
of positions from the fully raised position to the fully lowered
position in response to stopping the cord reel.
9. The winding mechanism of claim 8, further comprising a retaining
member including an elongate seat engaged with a bottom surface of
the stiffener strip, and two upwardly curved snapping edges along
front end rear edges of the seat for clamping the stiffener
strip.
10. The winding mechanism of claim 8, wherein the cord reel
comprises a first gear and the first drum comprises a second gear
meshed with the first gear such that the cord reel and the first
drum are adapted to rotate in opposite directions.
11. The winding mechanism of claim 8, wherein the spring is adapted
to control the cord reel.
12. The winding mechanism of claim 8, further comprising a gear
interconnected the first drum and the cord reel.
13. The winding mechanism of claim 8, further comprising a
plurality of spaced guide rollers disposed in the groove and holes
formed on a bottom of the groove, and wherein the guide rollers are
coupled together by winding the cord therearound, and two ends of
the cord are adapted to pass the holes.
14. The winding mechanism of claim 8, wherein each line is wound in
a direction opposite to that of each of the worm sections.
15. The winding mechanism of claim 8, further comprising a case for
receiving the cord reel, the first drum, and the second drum
therein.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.
11/023,560, which is now pending.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to blinds and more
particularly to a winding mechanism of a blind (e.g., roll-up or
Venetian blind) which can be releasably locked in any one of a
plurality of positions relative to a top of window frame.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] Typically, a blind (e.g., roll-up or Venetian blind) is
adapted to raise or lower by pulling a lift cord coupled to a
winding mechanism. However, it is possible that a child may tie the
exposed cord about the neck to cause danger or even death. Thus,
this is not safe.
[0006] A conventional roll-up blind having a hidden lift cord is
shown in FIG. 1 and comprises a head rail 1 fixed to a top of
window frame, two spaced, opposite springs 2 in the head rail 1, a
bottom stiffener strip 3, a plurality of folds 4 coupled between
the head rail 1 and the stiffener strip 3, each fold 4 having two
openings proximate both sides, two side rails 5 and 6 of U-section
fixed at both sides of the window frame, the side rails 5 and 6
adapted to allow both ends of the folds 4 to longitudinally slide
therein, and two cords 7 and 8 in which the cord 7 has one end
passed the left openings to couple to one spring 2 and the other
end tied off at the left side rail 5, and the cord 8 has one end
passed the right openings to couple to the other spring 2 and the
other end tied off at the right side rail 6.
[0007] However, the previous design suffered from several
disadvantages. For example, the springs 2 tend to lose its
elasticity after a predetermined times of lowering or raising
operation of the folds 4. And in turn, it may compromise the
positioning capability of folds 4 by operating the cords 7 and 8.
Further, there are no guide members for the cords 7 and 8 in the
head rail 1 and the stiffener strip 3. It may increase friction in
pulling the cords 7 and 8 during operation. To the worse, the cords
7 and 8 may break after a predetermined times of lowering or
raising operation. Furthermore, the stiffener strip 3 is relatively
thin, resulting in a poor maneuverability of the blind.
[0008] Thus, it is desirable to provide an improved winding
mechanism of blind in order to overcome the above drawbacks of
prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a winding mechanism mountable at a groove of a head rail of
a blind, the blind further including a bottom stiffener strip and a
sheet of drapery material coupled between the head rail and the
stiffener strip, comprising a cord reel provided on the head rail;
a line having one end tied off at a first position of the stiffener
strip, passed one side of the sheet of drapery material, the head
rail, and the other side of the sheet of drapery material, and
having the other end tied off at a second position of the stiffener
strip, the other end of the line formed as a bight section
proximate the cord reel; a cord wound around the cord reel and
coupled to the bight section of the line; a first drum rotated with
the cord reel; a second drum; a tape spring interconnected the
first drum and the second drum, the spring including two worm
sections together formed an S, the spring adapted to exert a force
to support the weight of the sheet of drapery material wherein in a
downward pulling of the stiffener strip the cord reel rotates to
release the line and the cord for lowering the sheet of drapery
material with one worm section being further wound and the other
worm section being loosened as a counterweight of the sheet of
drapery material so as to reach a balance, thereby maintaining the
sheet of drapery material at any one of a plurality of positions
from a fully raised position to a fully lowered position in
response to stopping the cord reel; and a retaining member
including an elongate seat engaged with a bottom surface of the
stiffener strip, and two upwardly curved snapping edges along front
end rear edges of the seat for clamping the stiffener strip;
wherein in an upward pulling of the stiffener strip the cord reel
rotates in an opposite direction to wind the line and the cord for
lifting the sheet of drapery material with one worm section being
loosened and the other worm section being further wound as a
counterweight of the sheet of drapery material so as to reach a
balance, thereby maintaining the sheet of drapery material at any
one of a plurality of positions from the fully raised position to
the fully lowered position in response to stopping the cord
reel.
[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
winding mechanism mountable at a groove of a head rail of a blind,
the blind further including a bottom stiffener strip and a sheet of
drapery material coupled between the head rail and the stiffener
strip, comprising a cord reel provided on the head rail; lines each
having one end tied off at a first position of the stiffener strip,
passed one side of the sheet of drapery material, the head rail,
and the other side of the sheet of drapery material, and having the
other end tied off at a second position of the stiffener strip, the
other end of the line formed as a bight section proximate the cord
reel; a cord wound around the cord reel and having at least one
loop wrapped around the bight section; a first drum rotated with
the cord reel; a second drum; and a tape spring interconnected the
first drum and the second drum, the spring including two worm
sections together formed an S, the spring adapted to exert a force
to support the weight of the sheet of drapery material; wherein in
a downward pulling of the stiffener strip the cord reel rotates to
release the lines and the cord for lowering the sheet of drapery
material with one worm section being further wound and the other
worm section being loosened as a counterweight of the sheet of
drapery material so as to reach a balance, thereby maintaining the
sheet of drapery material at any one of a plurality of positions
from a fully raised position to a fully lowered position in
response to stopping the cord reel; and in an upward pulling of the
stiffener strip the cord reel rotates in an opposite direction to
wind the lines and the cord for lifting the sheet of drapery
material with one worm section being loosened and the other worm
section being further wound as a counterweight of the sheet of
drapery material so as to reach a balance, thereby maintaining the
sheet of drapery material at any one of a plurality of positions
from the fully raised position to the fully lowered position in
response to stopping the cord reel.
[0011] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description taken with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a front view of a conventional roll-up blind;
[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment
of winding mechanism to be mounted on a roll-up blind according to
the invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the assembled winding
mechanism and blind of FIG. 2;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a top view in part section of the winding
mechanism;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged, exploded view of the winding
mechanism;
[0017] FIGS. 6 and 7 are transverse and longitudinal sectional
views of the winding mechanism respectively;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second preferred
embodiment of winding mechanism for roll-up blind according to the
invention;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view of the winding
mechanism shown in FIG. 8;
[0020] FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the winding
mechanism shown in FIG. 8 where the winding mechanism is activating
to lift the blind and a single loop is interconnected the joining
point of the line and the cord reel;
[0021] FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 showing another
configuration thereof where loops are interconnected the joining
point of the line and the cord reel;
[0022] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the fully lifted blind
according to the invention;
[0023] FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of a third
preferred embodiment of winding mechanism for roll-up blind
according to the invention;
[0024] FIG. 14 is a transverse sectional view of the winding
mechanism shown in FIG. 13;
[0025] FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fourth
preferred embodiment of winding mechanism for roll-up blind
according to the invention; and
[0026] FIG. 16 is a transverse sectional view of the winding
mechanism shown in FIG. 15.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, there is shown a winding
mechanism 40 in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the
invention. The winding mechanism 40 is to be mounted on a roll-up
blind comprising a head rail 10 of U-section, a bottom stiffener
strip 20, and a sheet of drapery material 30 coupled between the
head rail 10 and the stiffener strip 20 and comprised of a
plurality of folds 31 each having two orifices 32 proximate both
sides. A plurality of spaced guide rollers 11, 12, 14, and 15 and
the winding mechanism 40 are disposed in a groove 11 of the head
rail 10. The guide rollers 11, 12, 14, and 15 are coupled together
by a continuous line 49 wound around them. Two ends of the line 49
pass two bottom apertures (not shown) and the orifices 32 to tie
off in the stiffener strip 20. The guide rollers 11, 12, 14, and 15
are adapted to guide the line 49 in its pulling operation (i.e.,
more smooth). Note that the sheet of drapery material 30 and its
folds 31 of the roll-up blind in this embodiment can be replaced by
slats of a Venetian blind in the other embodiment.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, the winding mechanism 40
comprises a case 41 open to its bottom, the case 41 having an
internal space 42 for mounting a cord reel 43, a first drum 44, and
a second drum 45 therein. The winding mechanism 40 further
comprises at least three shafts 46 each having two ends fixed on
two opposite walls of the case 41 with the cord reel 43, the first
drum 44, or the second drum 45 rotatably put thereon. A tape spring
47 is interconnected the first drum 44 and the second drum 45. The
tape spring 47 comprises two worm sections 471 and 472 together
formed an S. The tape spring 47 can exert a force to support the
weight of the sheet of drapery material 30. A free end 48 of the
worm section 472 is fixed on the first drum 44. A long cord 13A is
wound around the cord reel 43. A winding of the cord 13A is
opposite to that of each of the worm sections 471 and 472. One end
of the cord 13A passes one of two slits 411 on one side surface of
the case 41 to couple to the line 49 at a bight section 491 formed
at the other end of the line 49. As such, the line 49 and the cord
13A can operate as a whole. The cord reel 43 comprises a gear 412
at one end to be meshed with a gear 413 of the first drum 44 such
that the cord reel 43 and the first drum 44 can rotate in opposite
directions.
[0029] The S-shaped tape spring 47 is energized due to the same
winding direction of the worm sections 471 and 472 and the weight
of the sheet of drapery material 30. A downward pulling of the
stiffener strip 20 by the hand together with the weight of the
sheet of drapery material 30 can overcome an upward pulling force
of the cord 13A provided by the tape spring 47. As such, the cord
reel 43 rotates to release the cord 13A and thus the line 49 so as
to lower the sheet of drapery material 30. The worm section 471 is
wound further (i.e., store energy) and the worm section 472 is
loosened to compensate the further winding of the worm section 471
during the release. Such serves as a counterweight of the sheet of
drapery material 30 so as to reach a balance. As a result, the
sheet of drapery material 30 is adapted to stay at any one of a
plurality of positions from the fully raised position to the fully
lowered position by stopping the cord reel 43.
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, there is shown a winding
mechanism 40 in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of
the invention. The winding mechanism 40 of the second preferred
embodiment is identical to that of the first preferred embodiment
of the invention with certain exceptions. Cord 13A is replaced by a
loop 13B having one end connected to the cord reel 43 and the other
end wrapped around the bight section 491 of the line 49. Referring
to FIG. 11, it shows another configuration of the second preferred
embodiment of the invention. In this configuration, cord 13A is
replaced by loops 13C each having one end connected to the cord
reel 43 and the other end wrapped around the bight section 491 of
the line 49.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 12 in conjunction with FIG. 2, an upward
pulling of the stiffener strip 20 by the hand together with the
compression force of the spring 47 can overcome the weight of the
sheet of drapery material 30. For reaching a balance, the worm
section 471 coupled to the first drum 44 begins to release and the
worm section 472 coupled to the second roller 45 begins to wind. A
force exerted onto the cord reel 43 by the spring 47 is thus
adjusted. Also, a rotation of the first drum 44 will cause the cord
reel 43 to rotate the same for winding the line 49. Likewise, the
sheet of drapery material 30 is adapted to stay at any one of a
plurality of positions from the fully raised position to the fully
lowered position by stopping the cord reel 43.
[0032] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 again, the winding mechanism 40
further comprises a retaining member 50 including an elongate seat
51 engaged with a bottom surface of the stiffener strip 20 and two
upwardly curved snapping edges 52 along front end rear edges of the
seat 51 for clamping the stiffener strip 20. The provision of the
retaining member 50 aims at facilitating the upward or downward
pulling the stiffener strip 20 by the hand.
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, a third preferred embodiment
of winding mechanism 60 of blind according to the invention is
shown. The winding mechanism 60 of the third preferred embodiment
is identical to that of the first preferred embodiment of the
invention with certain exceptions. The winding mechanism 60
comprises a case 61 open to its bottom, the case 61 having an
internal space 62 for mounting a third drum 63 and a fourth drum 64
therein. The winding mechanism 60 further comprises two shafts 65
each having two ends fixed on two opposite walls of the case 61
with the third drum 63 and the fourth drum 64 rotatably put
thereon. An S-shaped tape spring 66 is interconnected the third
drum 63 and the fourth drum 64. A free end of the worm section 66
is fixed on the third drum 63. A cord reel 67 is coaxially formed
at one side of the third drum 63. A long cord 68A is wound around
the cord reel 67. One end of the cord 68A passes a slit on one side
surface of the case 61 to couple to a line 70. As such, the cord
68A and the line 70 can operate as a whole.
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, a fourth preferred embodiment
of winding mechanism 60 of blind according to the invention is
shown. The winding mechanism 60 of the fourth preferred embodiment
is identical to that of the third preferred embodiment of the
invention with certain exceptions. The winding mechanism 60
comprises a case 61 open to its bottom, the case 61 having an
internal space 62 for mounting a third drum 63 and a fourth drum 64
therein. The winding mechanism 60 further comprises two shafts 65
each has two ends fixed on two opposite walls of the case 61 with
the third drum 63 and the fourth drum 64 rotatably put thereon. An
S-shaped tape spring 66 is interconnected the third drum 63 and the
fourth drum 64. A free end of the worm section 66 is fixed on the
third drum 63. A cord reel 67 is coaxially formed at one side of
the third drum 63. A long cord 68A is wound around the cord reel
67. One end of the cord 68A formed as a loop 68B passes a slit on
one side surface of the case 61 to wrap around a bight section 71
of the line 70. As such, the loop 68B and the line 70 can operate
as a whole.
[0035] In practice, each of the springs 47 and 66 can control one
or more cord reels 43 and 67 for accommodating different sizes of
the blind. In brief, the invention is safe and smooth in its
operation.
[0036] While the invention herein disclosed has been described by
means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and
variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art
without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set
forth in the claims.
* * * * *