U.S. patent application number 11/195714 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-08 for winding device for a blind without pull cords.
This patent application is currently assigned to Nien Made Enterprise Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Wen Yu Che, Ren Judkins, Ming Nien, David K. Pon, Chang Chin Yao.
Application Number | 20070029051 11/195714 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37716592 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070029051 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nien; Ming ; et al. |
February 8, 2007 |
Winding device for a blind without pull cords
Abstract
A winding device for a blind without pull cords is provided with
a reel pivotal base and a cord-guiding base abutting against each
other in the upper rail of a blind. A winding reel is axially
assembled on the reel pivotal base, having its outer circumference
formed with an oblique conical surface gradually shrinking from its
first end to its second end to enable a linking cord to move
forward automatically when the linking cord is wound on the winding
reel. The cord-guiding base is provided with at least one push
block at a location where the winding reel is pivotally rotated for
guiding the linking cord to be wound side by side closely on the
winding reel, preventing the linking cord from overlapping or wound
irregularly after the linking cord is wound on the winding reel,
enabling a blind to be collapsed or stretched smoothly.
Inventors: |
Nien; Ming; (Taichung,
TW) ; Judkins; Ren; (Pittsburgh, PA) ; Pon;
David K.; (Tustin, CA) ; Che; Wen Yu;
(Taichung, TW) ; Yao; Chang Chin; (Taichung,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TROXELL LAW OFFICE PLLC
SUITE 1404
5205 LEESBURG PIKE
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22041
US
|
Assignee: |
Nien Made Enterprise Co.,
Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
37716592 |
Appl. No.: |
11/195714 |
Filed: |
August 3, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
160/84.05 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B 2009/3225 20130101;
E06B 9/322 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
160/084.05 |
International
Class: |
A47H 5/00 20060101
A47H005/00 |
Claims
1. A winding device for a blind without pull cords comprising: A
reel pivotal base installed at a preset portion of the upper rail
of a blind; A winding reel formed with a first end and a second
end, said first end of said winding reel pivotally and axially
assembled on said reel pivotal base, a linking cord having its
first end fixed in said second end of said winding reel, said
winding reel having its outer circumference formed with an oblique
conical surface gradually shrinking from said first end to said
second end; and A cord-guiding base installed in said upper rail
and abutting against said reel pivotal base, said cord-guiding base
formed with a vertical wall, said vertical wall having its central
upper edge cut with an arc-shaped notch, said arc-shaped notch
receiving a relative portion of said winding reel, a gap formed
between said winding reel and said arc-shaped notch.
2. The winding device for a blind without pull cords as claimed in
claim 1, wherein said reel pivotal base has its, bottom and one
lateral wall respectively bored with a cord hole for a linking cord
to pass therethrough.
3. The winding device for a blind without pull cords as claimed in
claim 1, wherein said vertical wall of said cord-guiding base is
bored with a cord hole at one side near said arc-shaped notch for
the second end of said linking cord to pass therethrough, said
second end of said linking cord then threaded through said cord
hole in the lateral wall and in the bottom of said reel pivotal
base.
4. The winding device for a blind without pull cords as claimed in
claim 1, wherein said arc-shaped notch of said vertical wall of
said cord-guiding base has a preset portion of its lateral edge
provided with at least one protruding push block facing said second
end of said winding reel, said push block guiding and pushing said
linking cord to move toward said second end of said winding reel
after said linking cord is threaded out of said cord hole of said
vertical wall of said cord-guiding base, enabling said linking cord
to be wound side by side orderly and closely on said winding
reel.
5. The winding device for a blind without pull cords as claimed in
claim 4, wherein said push block of said cord-guiding base is
formed with a support surface gradually slanting-up along the
winding course of said linking cord.
6. The winding device for a blind without pull cords as claimed in
claim 4, wherein said arc-shaped notch of said cord-guiding base
has its lateral edges orderly provided with a first push block and
a second push block along the winding course of said linking
cord.
7. The winding device for a blind without pull cords as claimed in
claim 4, wherein one side of said push block is flush with the
inner edge of said arc-shaped notch.
8. The winding device for a blind without pull cords as claimed in
claim 4, wherein said vertical wall of said cord-guiding base has
its opposite lateral walls respectively and symmetrically provided
with a push block.
9. The winding device for a blind without pull cords as claimed in
claim 6, wherein said second push block of said cord-guiding base
is formed with a support surface gradually slanting-up along the
winding course of said linking cord, the lowermost portion of said
support surface of said second push block about positioned at a
same level of the support surface of said first push block.
10. The winding device for a blind without pull cords as claimed in
claim 6, wherein said second push block is arc-shaped and the
length of said second push block is about one fourth of an
imaginary circle of said arc-shaped notch of said cord-guiding
base.
11. The winding device for a blind without pull cords as claimed in
claim 1, wherein a cover is covered on said winding reel and has
one end engaged with said reel pivotal base, with a space formed
between the inner wall of said cover and the outer wall of said
winding reel for receiving said linking cord wound on said winding
reel.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a winding device for a blind
without pull cords, particularly to one able to wind and release
the linking cords of a blind comparatively smoothly.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] A conventional blind without pull cords has its upper rail
installed with an elastic force mechanism and a rotating shaft
actuated to rotate by the elastic force mechanism and connected in
series with the two winding reels of two winding devices at the
opposite sides of the elastic force mechanism. When a blind is
pushed upward, the elastic force mechanism will indirectly actuate
the two winding reels to rotate through the rotating shaft and the
linking cords threaded the slats of a blind and connected with a
lower rail will be wound on the two winding reels, and when the
blind is drawn downward, the linking cords wound on the winding
reels will be drawn and released. Each winding device is further
provided with a reel pivotal base in the upper rail for the winding
reel to be axially assembled thereon.
[0005] However, when the conventional winding devices are operated
to wind the linking cords of a blind, it is usually found that some
parts of the linking cords cannot be wound side by side closely on
the winding reels while other parts of the linking cords are likely
to overlap one another after wound on the winding reels, impossible
to wind and release the linking cords properly and, consequently,
failing to collapse and stretch a blind smoothly. In addition, if
the two opposite winding reels carry out winding of the linking
cords at the opposite sides of a blind at different speeds, there
will produce different levels between the opposite sides of the
blind, thus affecting integral beauty of the blind.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The objective of the invention is to offer a winding device
for a blind without pull cords, provided with a reel pivotal base
and a cord-guiding base abutting against each other in the upper
rail of a blind. A winding reel is pivotally and axially assembled
on the reel pivotal base and has its outer circumference formed
with an oblique conical surface gradually shrinking from its first
end to its second end to enable linking cords of a blind to
automatically move toward the second end of the winding real when
the linking cords are wound on the winding reels. The cord-guiding
base is provided with at least one push block at a location where
the winding reel is pivotally rotated, for guiding the linking
cords to be wound side by side closely on the winding reel,
preventing the linking cords from overlapping or wound irregularly
after being wound on the winding reel and enabling the blind to be
collapsed or stretched smoothly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0007] This invention will be better understood by referring to the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment
of a winding device assembled with the upper rail of a blind
without pull cords in the present invention:
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first preferred
embodiment of the winding device in the present invention:
[0010] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first
preferred embodiment of the winding device in the present
invention:
[0011] FIG. 4 is a partial upper cross-sectional view of the first
preferred embodiment of the winding device starting to wind the
linking cord of a blind on winding reel in the present
invention:
[0012] FIG. 5 is a partial upper cross-sectional view of the first
preferred embodiment of the winding device finishing winding the
linking cord of the blind on the winding reel in the present
invention: and
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second preferred
embodiment of the reel pivotal base of a winding device to be
assembled with the upper rail of a blind in the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] A first preferred embodiment of a winding device to be
installed in the upper rail of a blind without pull cords in the
present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, includes a reel
pivotal base 10, a winding reel 20, a cord-guiding base 30 and a
cover 40 as main components combined together.
[0015] The reel pivotal base 10 is formed with a recessed groove 11
with an opening facing upward. The recessed groove 11 has the
central upper edge of its two lateral walls respectively cut with
an arc-shaped notch 12 larger than a semicircle, and also has its
two lateral walls and the central portion of its bottom
respectively bored with a cord hole 13 for a linking cord 60 to
pass therethrough. Further, the reel pivotal base 10 is provided
with a positioning stud 14 at the central portion of its bottom to
be inserted and positioned in an insert hole 511 in the groove
bottom 51 of the upper rail 50, with the threading hole 13 located
in the center of the positioning stud 14. Furthermore, the reel
pivotal base 10 has its front and rear outer wall respectively
fixed thereon with an elastic clasping member 15 protruding outward
to be elastically clasped in two slot ways 52 formed at top of the
opposite sides of the upper rail 50.
[0016] The winding reel 20 is a hollow shaft and has the central
portion of its opposite ends respectively formed with a polygonal
shaft hole 21 for receiving there in a rotating shaft 71 that is
actuated to rotate by the elastic torsion produced by an elastic
force mechanism 70. The winding reel 20 is formed with a first end
22 and a second end 23. The first end 22 of the winding reel 20 has
its outer circumferential surface provided with two annular flanges
221 separated from each other at a proper distance to be engaged
with the inner wall of the two arc-shaped notches 12 of the reel
pivotal base 10, letting the winding reel 20 axially restricted in
position and able to rotate freely. The second end 23 of the
winding reel 20 has its outer circumferential surface provided with
an annular flange 231 and bored with an insert hole 232 near the
inner side of the annular flange 231, with the first end 61 of a
linking cord 60 inserted through the insert hole 232 and tied into
a knot to be fixed therein. The winding reel 20 further has its
outer circumferential wall formed with an oblique conical surface
24 gradually shrinking from the first end 22 to the second end
23.
[0017] The cord-guiding base 30 has its underside provided with two
protruding arc-shaped members 31, as shown in FIG. 4, to be
inserted and positioned in an engage hole 512 adjacent to the inner
side of the insert hole 511 in the groove bottom 51 of the upper
rail 50. Two protruding elastic hooking members 32 are disposed
between the two arc-shaped members 31 to be elastically hooked on
the underside wall of the engage hole 512 of the upper rail 50,
letting the cord-guiding base 30 abut against the inner side of the
reel pivotal base 10. Further, the cord-guiding base 30 has its
central portion formed with a vertical wall 33 having its central
upper edge cut with an arc-shaped notch 331 larger than a
semicircle for receiving a relative portion of the winding reel 20,
with a proper gap formed between the winding reel 20 and the
arc-shaped notch 331. The vertical wall 33 of the cord-guiding base
30 has one side below the arc-shaped notch 331 bored with a cord
hole 332 aligned to the cord hole 13 in one lateral wall of the
reel pivotal base 10. The second end 62 of the linking cord 60 is
inserted through the cord hole 332 of the cord-guiding base 30 and
through the cord holes 13 in one lateral wall and in the bottom of
the reel pivotal base 10 and then threaded through the slats of a
blind 80 to be connected with a lower rail 90.
[0018] Further, the vertical wall 33 has its opposite lateral walls
respectively and symmetrically formed with a first push block 34
and a second push block 35 at the lateral edge of the arc-shaped
notch 331 and along the winding course of a linking cord 60 after
the linking cord 60 is threaded through the cord hole 332. One side
of the first and the second push block 34, 35 are flush with the
inner edge of the arc-shaped notch 331. The first push block 34 is
formed with a bulged support surface 341 and the second push block
35 is formed with a support surface 351 gradually slanting upward
along the winding course of the linking cord 60. In addition, the
lowermost portion of the support surface 351 of the second push
block 35 is about positioned at the level of the support surface
341 of the first push block 34, and the length of the second push
block 35 is about one fourth of an imaginary circle of the
arc-shaped notch 331.
[0019] The cover 40 is covered on the winding reel 20 and has one
end engaged with the reel pivotal base 10, with a space formed
between the inner wall of the cover 40 and the outer wall surface
of the winding reel 20 for receiving the linking cord 60 wound on
the winding reel 20.
[0020] A second preferred embodiment of a winding device for a
blind without pull cords in the present invention, as shown in FIG.
6, has almost the same structure as that described in the first
preferred embodiment, except that two hooking plates 16 instead of
the two elastic clasping members 15 are respectively fixed at the
front and the rear outer walls of the reel pivotal base 10 so that
the reel pivotal base 10 can be firmly combined with the upper rail
50 by means of the two hooking plates 16 respectively hooked in the
opposite slot ways 52 of the upper rail 50.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, when a user applies a force to lift a
blind 80 stretched downward, the elastic force mechanism 70 will
indirectly actuate the winding reels 20 to rotate through the
rotating shafts 71 and force the linking cords 60 to be orderly
wound on the winding reel 20. In a winding process, the linking
cord 60 continuously drawn out of the cord hole 332 of the
cord-guiding base 30 will first touch the bulged support surface
341 of the first push block 34, which is provided along a winding
course, and be pushed to move toward the second end 23 of the
winding reel 20, as shown in FIG. 4. Subsequently, the linking cord
60 will touch the slanting-up support surface 351 of the second
push block 35, which is positioned higher than the support surface
341 of the first push block 34 and provided along the winding
course, and be guided to move toward the second end 23 of the
winding reel 20. With the help of the outer circumferential oblique
conical surface 24 of the winding reel 20, which is gradually
shrunk from the first end 22 to the second end 23, the linking cord
60 can be orderly wound toward the second end 23 of the winding
reel 20, letting each circle of the linking cord 60 wound on the
winding reel 20 and lean against one another closely, as shown in
FIG. 5, to prevent the linking cords 60 on the winding reel 20 from
overlapping or separating. By so designing, the linking cords 60 of
a blind 80 can surely be wound or unwound smoothly and therefore,
the blind 80 can also be collapsed or stretched smoothly, avoiding
producing different levels at the opposite sides of a blind and
able to keep integral beauty of the blind.
[0022] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been
described above, it will be recognized and understood that various
modifications may be made therein and the appended claims are
intended to cover all such modifications that may fall within the
spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *