U.S. patent application number 11/498087 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-07 for window blind assembly having an outer frame.
Invention is credited to Tai-Long Huang.
Application Number | 20080029226 11/498087 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39028010 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080029226 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huang; Tai-Long |
February 7, 2008 |
Window blind assembly having an outer frame
Abstract
A window blind assembly includes an outer frame, a blind unit,
and a control device. The outer frame includes a head rail defining
a first receiving space, and two opposite vertical rails one of
which defines a second receiving space in spatial communication
with the first receiving space. The blind unit includes a plurality
of slats and a slat ladder supporting the slats. The control device
includes a lift cord connected to the slats, and a control member
having an operating portion that extends outwardly from the second
receiving space and that is operable to slide the control member
relative to the outer frame so as to raise or lower the slats.
Inventors: |
Huang; Tai-Long; (Fuhsing,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DAVIDSON BERQUIST JACKSON & GOWDEY LLP
4300 WILSON BLVD., 7TH FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22203
US
|
Family ID: |
39028010 |
Appl. No.: |
11/498087 |
Filed: |
August 3, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
160/107 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B 9/264 20130101;
E06B 9/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
160/107 |
International
Class: |
A47H 1/00 20060101
A47H001/00 |
Claims
1. A window blind assembly adapted to be sandwiched between a front
transparent plate and a rear transparent plate, said window blind
assembly comprising: an outer frame adapted to be placed between
the front and rear transparent plates, and including a head rail, a
bottom rail, and two opposite vertical rails one of which is
connected to right ends of said head and bottom rails and the other
one of which is connected to left ends of said head and bottom
rails, said head rail defining a horizontally extending first
receiving space, one of said vertical rails defining a vertically
extending second receiving space in spatial communication with said
first receiving space; a blind unit disposed within said outer
frame, and including a plurality of slats, and a slat ladder
supporting said slats; and a control device including a lift cord
connected to said slats and extending into said first and second
receiving spaces, and a control member mounted on said one of said
vertical rails and having an interior sliding portion disposed
within said second receiving space and connected to said lift cord,
and an operating portion connected to said interior sliding portion
and extending outwardly from said second receiving space, said
operating portion being operable to slide said control member
upward or downward relative to said one of said vertical rails so
as to lower or raise said slats.
2. The window blind assembly of claim 1, wherein said control
device further includes a first positioning member fixed to said
control member, and a second positioning member disposed fixedly
within said second receiving space, said first and second
positioning members being attracted magnetically to each other so
as to restrict sliding movement of said control member.
3. The window blind assembly of claim 2, wherein one of said first
and second positioning members is made of a magnet and the other
one of said first and second positioning members is magnetically
attractable.
4. The window blind assembly of claim 1, wherein said one of said
vertical rails further has a vertically extending wall bounding
said second receiving space and adapted to abut against the front
transparent plate, said control member further having a slide
groove extending between said interior sliding portion and said
operating portion, and a bridge part interconnecting said interior
sliding portion and said operating portion and extending across
said slide groove, said bridge part extending through said wall to
project said operating portion outward, said slide groove providing
a space between said operating portion and said wall, said space
being adapted to permit a lateral end of the front transparent
plate to be inserted therein.
5. The window blind assembly of claim 1, wherein said outer frame
further includes a cord holder and a cord guide both of which are
disposed within said first receiving space, said lift cord having
first and second portions, and a fold between said first and second
portions, said fold being attached to said cord holder, said first
and second portions extending into said second receiving space from
said cord holder to connect with said control member, turning
upward from said control member to pass over said cord guide,
turning into said first receiving space from said cord guide, and
extending downward from said first receiving space for connection
with said slats.
6. The window blind assembly of claim 5, wherein said cord guide
has two guide holes and a guide wall, said first and second
portions of said lift cord passing over said guide wall and
extending through said guide holes, respectively, for extension
into said first receiving space and for connection with said
slats.
7. The window blind assembly of claim 5, wherein said control
member further has top and bottom ends, and a through hole
proximate to said top end of said control member, said first and
second portions of said lift cord extending through said through
hole to connect with and to turn upward from said control
member.
8. The window blind assembly of claim 1, wherein said control
device further includes at least one fixed seat disposed within
said first receiving space, a rotary shaft mounted rotatably on
said fixed seat and extending within said first receiving space, an
upper reel member fixed on said rotary shaft and proximate to said
one of said vertical rails, a lower reel member rotatably mounted
within said bottom rail and proximate to said one of said vertical
rails, and a turning cord unit disposed in said second receiving
space and being looped to pass over said upper and lower reel
members so as to rotate said rotary shaft, said slat ladder being
connected to said rotary shaft, said control member being connected
to said turning cord unit to control said rotary shaft.
9. The window blind assembly of claim 8, wherein said interior
sliding portion of said control member has top and bottom ends,
said turning cord unit having a first end fixed to said top end of
said interior sliding portion, and a second end fixed to said
bottom end of said interior sliding portion, whereby said turning
cord unit is looped.
10. The window blind assembly of claim 9, wherein said turning cord
unit includes a first cord having said first end, a second cord
having said second end, and a coiled spring disposed between said
bottom end of said interior sliding portion and said lower reel
member and connected between said first and second cords.
11. The window blind assembly of claim 8, wherein said control
device further includes a limiting seat fixed to said rotary shaft
proximate to said fixed seat so as to rotate along with said rotary
shaft and having two limit faces that are spaced apart angularly
from each other, and a limiting groove formed between said limit
faces, said fixed seat having a limit pin projecting axially into
said limiting groove to limit said limiting seat to turn
limitedly.
12. The window blind assembly of claim 1, wherein the other one of
said vertical rails defines a third receiving space communicated
with said first receiving space, said control device further
including an additional control member disposed slidably within
said third receiving space, at least one fixed seat disposed within
said first receiving space, a rotary shaft mounted rotatably on
said fixed seat and extending within said first receiving space, an
upper reel member fixed to said rotary shaft and proximate to said
other one of said vertical rails, a lower reel member rotatably
mounted within said bottom rail and proximate to said other one of
said vertical rails, and a turning cord unit disposed in said third
receiving space, said turning cord unit being looped to pass over
said upper and lower reel members so as to rotate said rotary
shaft, said slat ladder being connected to said rotary shaft, said
additional control member being connected to said turning cord unit
to control said rotary shaft.
13. A window blind assembly adapted to be sandwiched between a
front transparent plate and a rear transparent plate, said window
blind assembly comprising: an outer frame adapted to be placed
between the front and rear transparent plates, and including a head
rail, a bottom rail, and two opposite vertical rails one of which
is connected to right ends of said head and bottom rails and the
other one of which is connected to left ends of said head and
bottom rails, said head rail defining a horizontally extending
first receiving space, one of said vertical rails defining a second
receiving space in spatial communication with said first receiving
space; a blind unit disposed within said outer frame, and including
a plurality of slats, and a slat ladder supporting said slats; and
a control device including a rotary shaft disposed within said head
rail and connected to said slat ladder, a turning cord unit
extending within said second receiving space and associated with
said rotary shaft so as to turn said slats through said rotary
shaft, a control member disposed in said second receiving space and
connected to said turning cord unit and operable to slide upward
and downward along said second receiving space so as to rotate said
rotary shaft through said turning cord unit, and a limiting seat
for limiting said rotary shaft to turn only within a predetermined
angle.
14. The window blind assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein said
control device further includes a fixed seat disposed within said
first receiving space, said rotary shaft being mounted rotatably on
said fixed seat, said limiting seat being fixed to said rotary
shaft proximate to said fixed seat, said fixed seat having a
limiting element to project to said limiting seat so as to control
said limiting seat to turn only within the predetermined angle.
15. The window blind assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein said
control device further includes upper and lower reel members
disposed respectively in said first receiving space and said bottom
rail, said rotary shaft being fixed to said upper reel member, said
turning cord unit being looped to pass over and to move said upper
and lower reel members, said control member being operable to move
said turning cord unit.
16. A window blind assembly adapted to be sandwiched between a
front transparent plate and a rear transparent plate, said window
blind assembly comprising: an outer frame adapted to be placed
between the front and rear transparent plates, and including a head
rail, a bottom rail, and two opposite vertical rails one of which
is connected to right ends of said head and bottom rails and the
other one of which is connected to left ends of said head and
bottom rails, said head rail defining a horizontally extending
first receiving space, one of said vertical rails defining a
vertically extending second receiving space in spatial
communication with said first receiving space; a blind unit
disposed within said outer frame, and including a plurality of
slats, and a slat ladder supporting said slats; and a control
device including a lift cord for raising and lowering said slats, a
turning cord unit for turning said slats, and a control member
connected to both of said lift cord and said turning cord unit,
said control member being operable to slide upward and downward
along said second receiving space so as to control both of said
lift cord and said turning cord unit, said control member having an
interior sliding portion disposed slidably within said second
receiving space, and an operating portion projecting outwardly from
said one of said vertical rails.
17. The window blind assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein said
interior sliding portion has top and bottom ends, said turning cord
unit being attached to said top and bottom ends of said interior
sliding portion to form a loop, said lift cord being attached to
said top end of said interior sliding portion.
18. The window blind assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein said
one of said vertical rails further has a vertically extending wall
bounding said second receiving space and adapted to abut against
the front transparent plate, and an elongated aperture formed in
said wall and communicated with said second receiving space, said
control member further including a slide groove that extends from a
top end to a bottom end of said control member between said
interior sliding portion and said operating portion, and a bridge
part interconnecting said interior sliding portion and said
operating portion and extending across said slide groove, said
bridge part extending through said aperture to project said
operating portion outwardly of said wall, said slide groove
providing a space between said wall and said operating portion,
said space being adapted to permit a lateral end of the front
transparent plate to be inserted therein.
19. The window blind assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein said
control device further includes a first positioning member attached
to said control member, a second positioning member fixed within
said second receiving member, said first and second positioning
members being magnetically attracted to each other so as to prevent
said control member from falling downward freely by gravity.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a window blind, more particularly
to a window blind assembly that is framed and that is easy to
operate.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional window blind includes a
head rail 1, a bottom rail 2 opposite to the head rail 1, a
plurality of horizontal slats 3 connected between the head rail 1
and the bottom rail 2, a rotary shaft 4 mounted in the head rail 1,
two spaced-apart drums 5 mounted on the rotary shaft 4, two slat
ladders 6 each connected between one of the drums 5 and the bottom
rail 2, a slat angle adjustment rod 7 connected to the head rail 1
for rotating the rotary shaft 4, a cord-pressing seat 8 provided in
the head rail 1, and a lift cord 9. The lift cord 9 has a loop
portion extending through the cord-pressing seat 8, and two
opposite ends connected to the bottom rail 2.
[0005] By operating the slat angle adjustment rod 7 so as to rotate
simultaneously the rotary shaft 4 and the drums 5, the slat ladders
6 can rotate the slats 3 and adjust the angular position of the
slats 3. Further, by operating the lift cord 9, the slats 3 can be
raised or lowered.
[0006] Although the aforementioned conventional window blind can
achieve its intended purpose, it has the following drawbacks:
[0007] 1. The user has to operate separately the slat angle
adjustment rod 7 and the lift cord 9 to accomplish adjusting the
angular position of the slats 3 and the raising or lowering of the
slats 3, respectively. This renders the conventional window blind
inconvenient to use.
[0008] 2. The slats 3 are exposed and unsecured so that they are
not only easily covered with dust and dirt, but also, together with
the bottom rail 2, are easily blown by the wind and bump into a
window frame.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a window blind assembly that is capable of overcoming the
aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.
[0010] According to one aspect of this invention, a window blind
assembly is adapted to be sandwiched between front and rear
transparent plates. The window blind assembly comprises an outer
frame, a blind unit, and a control device. The outer frame is
adapted to be placed between the front and rear transparent plates,
and includes a head rail, a bottom rail, and two opposite vertical
rails one of which is connected to right ends of the head and
bottom rails and the other one of which is connected to left ends
of the head and bottom rails. The head rail defines a horizontally
extending first receiving space. One of the vertical rails defines
a vertically extending second receiving space in spatial
communication with the first receiving space. The blind unit is
disposed within the outer frame, and includes a plurality of slats,
and a slat ladder supporting the slats. The control device includes
a lift cord connected to the slats and extending into the first and
second receiving spaces, and a control member mounted on said one
of the vertical rails and having an interior sliding portion
disposed within the second receiving space and connected to the
lift cord, and an operating portion connected to the interior
sliding portion and extending outwardly from the second receiving
space. The operating portion is operable to slide the control
member relative to said one of the vertical rails so as to raise or
lower the slats.
[0011] According to another aspect of this invention, a window
blind assembly is adapted to be sandwiched between front and rear
transparent plates. The window blind assembly comprises an outer
frame, a blind unit, and a control device. The outer frame is
adapted to be placed between the front and rear transparent plates,
and includes a head rail, a bottom rail, and two opposite vertical
rails one of which is connected to right ends of the head and
bottom rails and the other one of which is connected to left ends
of the head and bottom rails. The head rail defines a horizontally
extending first receiving space. One of the vertical rails defines
a second receiving space in spatial communication with the first
receiving space. The blind unit is disposed within the outer frame,
and includes a plurality of slats, and a slat ladder supporting the
slats. The control device includes a rotary shaft disposed within
the head rail and connected to the slat ladder, a turning cord unit
extending within the second receiving space and associated with the
rotary shaft so as to turn the slats through the rotary shaft, a
control member disposed in the second receiving space and connected
to the turning cord unit and operable to slide upward and downward
along the second receiving space so as to rotate the rotary shaft
through the turning cord unit, and a limiting seat for limiting the
rotary shaft to turn only within a predetermined angle.
[0012] According to still another aspect of this invention, a
window blind assembly is adapted to be sandwiched between front and
rear transparent plates. The window blind assembly comprises an
outer frame, a blind unit, and a control device. The outer frame is
adapted to be placed between the front and rear transparent plates,
and includes ahead rail, a bottom rail, and two opposite vertical
rails one of which is connected to right ends of the head and
bottom rails and the other one of which is connected to left ends
of the head and bottom rails. The head rail defines a horizontally
extending first receiving space. One of the vertical rails defines
a vertically extending second receiving space in spatial
communication with the first receiving space. The blind unit is
disposed within the outer frame, and includes a plurality of slats,
and a slat ladder supporting the slats. The control device includes
a lift cord for raising and lowering the slats, a turning cord unit
for turning the slats, and a control member connected to both of
the lift cord and the turning cord unit. The control member is
operable to slide upward and downward along the second receiving
space so as to control both of the lift cord and the turning cord
unit, and has an interior sliding portion disposed slidably within
the second receiving space, and an operating portion projecting
outwardly from said one of the vertical rails.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional window
blind;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the first
preferred embodiment of a window blind assembly according to the
present invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view, illustrating the
window blind assembly of the present invention, front and rear
transparent plates, two retaining units, and a window frame;
[0017] FIG. 4 is an assembled schematic view of FIG. 3;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line V-V
of FIG. 4;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line
VI-VI of FIG. 4;
[0020] FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of FIG.
2;
[0021] FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a control member
of a control device of the first preferred embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a sectional side view of the control member;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line X-X of FIG.
9;
[0024] FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line XI-XI of FIG.
9;
[0025] FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line XII-XII of FIG.
11;
[0026] FIG. 13 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of FIG.
2;
[0027] FIG. 14 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view,
illustrating a fixed seat and a limiting seat of the control device
of the first preferred embodiment;
[0028] FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line XV-XV of FIG.
13, illustrating the limiting seat in a limited position;
[0029] FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 15, but illustrating the
limiting seat in a non-limited position;
[0030] FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 15, but illustrating the
limiting seat being rotated counterclockwise to another limited
position;
[0031] FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but with the control
member being moved slightly downward;
[0032] FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18, but with the control
member being moved half-way downwardly;
[0033] FIG. 20 is a partially exploded perspective view of the
second preferred embodiment of a window blind assembly according to
the present invention; and
[0034] FIG. 21 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the
second preferred embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0035] Before the present invention is described in greater detail,
it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same
reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 17, the first preferred embodiment
of a window blind assembly according to the present invention is
adapted to be sandwiched between a front transparent plate 500 and
a rear transparent plate 600. The front transparent plate 500 has
two vertically extending lateral ends 520, 530. In this embodiment,
the front and rear transparent plates 500, 600 are made of glass.
The front and rear transparent plates 500, 600 and the window blind
assembly of the present invention can be positioned on a frame,
such as a window frame 800, through two sets of retaining units
700.
[0037] The window blind assembly of the present invention comprises
an outer frame 100, a blind unit 200, and a control device 300.
[0038] The outer frame 100 is adapted to be placed between the
front and rear transparent plates 500, 600, and includes ahead rail
10, a bottom rail 20, a first vertical rail 30, a second vertical
rail 40 opposite to the first vertical rail 30, a cord guide 50
(see FIG. 7) provided in the head rail 10, a front face 60 formed
on the head and bottom rails 10, 20 and the first and second
vertical rails 30, 40, and a rear face 70 opposite to the front
face 60 and formed on the head and bottom rails 10, 20 and the
first and second vertical rails 30, 40.
[0039] The head rail 10 includes a head rail seat 11, an elongated
hollow top rod 12 connected to the head rail seat 11, a first
corner member 13 connected to a right end of one of the head rail
seat 11 and the top rod 12, a second corner member 14 connected to
a left end of one of the head rail seat 11 and the top rod 12, and
a horizontally extending first receiving space 15 (see FIG. 5)
defined cooperatively by the head rail seat 11 and the top rod 12.
In this embodiment, the head rail seat 11 is made up of two
elongated L-shaped members 111. A cord holder 131 (see FIG. 7) is
connected to the first corner member 13, and is disposed within the
first receiving space 15.
[0040] The bottom rail 20 includes a bottom rail seat 21, an
elongated hollow bottom rod 22 connected to the bottom rail seat
21, a third corner member 23 connected to a right end of one of the
bottom rail seat 21 and the bottom rod 22, and a fourth corner
member 24 connected to a left end of one of the bottom rail seat 21
and the bottom rod 22.
[0041] The first vertical rail 30 is connected to the right ends of
the head and bottom rails 10, 20, and has a first vertical rail
seat 31, a hollow first vertical rod 32 connected to the first
vertical rail seat 31, and a vertically extending second receiving
space 33 defined cooperatively by the first vertical rail seat 31
and the first vertical rod 32. In this embodiment, the second
receiving space 33 is in spatial communication with the first
receiving space 15. The first vertical rail seat 31 has a
vertically extending wall 301 bounding the second receiving space
33 and adapted to abut against the front transparent plate 500, and
an elongated aperture 34 formed in the wall 301 and communicated
with the second receiving space 33.
[0042] In this embodiment, two arms of the first corner member 13
are inserted respectively into the right end of the top rod 12 and
a top end of the first vertical rod 32, and two arms of the third
corner member 23 are inserted respectively into the right end of
the bottom rod 22 and a bottom end of the first vertical rod
32.
[0043] The second vertical rail 40 is connected to left ends of the
head and bottom rails 10, 20, and includes a second vertical rail
seat 41, and a hollow second vertical rod 42 connected to the
second vertical rail seat 41. In this embodiment, two arms of the
second corner member 14 are inserted respectively into the left end
of the top rod 12 and a top end of the second vertical rod 42, and
two arms of the fourth corner member 24 are inserted respectively
into the left end of the bottom rod 22 and a bottom end of the
second vertical rod 42.
[0044] The cord guide 50 (see FIG. 7) is provided on the first
corner member 13, and is disposed within the first receiving space
15. The cord guide 50 has two guide holes 51, and a guide wall 52
connected continuously to the guide holes 51.
[0045] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, the front transparent plate
500 is disposed on the front face 60 of the outer frame 100, while
the rear transparent plate 600 is disposed on the rear face 70 of
the outer frame 100.
[0046] The blind unit 200 is disposed within the outer frame 100,
and includes a plurality of slats 210, a bottom bar 220, and two
slat ladders 230 connected to the head rail 10 and the bottom bar
220 to support the slats 210.
[0047] The control device 300 includes a control member 310, a lift
cord 320, a first positioning member 330 (see FIG. 6), a second
positioning member 340, a rotary shaft 350, two spaced-apart fixed
seats 360, a limiting seat 370, an upper reel member 380, a lower
reel member 381, and a turning cord unit 390.
[0048] With reference to FIGS. 6 to 11, the control member 310 is
mounted on the first vertical rail 30, and has an interior sliding
portion 311 disposed within the second receiving space 33, an
operating portion 312 connected to the interior sliding portion 311
and extending outwardly from the second receiving space 33 and out
of the aperture 34, a slide groove 313 extending between the
interior sliding portion 311 and the operating portion 312, and a
bridge part 3131 interconnecting the interior sliding portion 311
and the operating portion 312 and extending across the slide groove
313. The operating portion 312 may be operated by a user to slide
the control member 310 upward or downward relative to the first
vertical rail 30 so as to lower or raise the slats 210 and the
bottom bar 220. The slide groove 313 provides a space 3132 between
the operating portion 312 and the wall 301 of the first vertical
rail seat 31. The space 3132 is adapted to permit the lateral end
520 of the front transparent plate 500 to be inserted thereinto
when the window blind assembly of the present invention is
installed between the front and rear transparent plates 500, 600.
The bridge part 3131 extends past the wall 301 to project the
operating portion 312 outward.
[0049] The control member 310 further has top and bottom ends, two
spaced-apart through holes 314 proximate respectively to the top
and bottom ends of the control member 310, two spaced-apart through
slots 315 formed in a top end of the interior sliding portion 311,
two spaced-apart through slots 315' formed in a bottom end of the
interior sliding portion 311, and a cutout portion 316 formed in an
intermediate section of the interior sliding portion 311. A metal
plate 317 is disposed in the cutout portion 316 so as to divide the
cutout portion 316 into two receiving parts (316a, 316b). The
interior sliding portion 311 has a cord passage (see FIG. 12)
extending from the top and bottom ends thereof and defined
cooperatively by the through slots 315, 315' and the cutout portion
316.
[0050] With reference to FIGS. 2, 5, and 7, the lift cord 320
extends into the first receiving space 15 and the second receiving
space 33 (see FIG. 6), and has first and second portions 321, 322
connected to the slats 210 and the bottom bar 220, and a fold 323
between the first and second portions 321, 322. In this embodiment,
the lift cord 320 is arranged as follows:
[0051] The fold 323 is attached to the cord holder 131, and is
proximate to the cord guide 50. The first and second portions 321,
322 extend into the second receiving space 33 from the cord holder
131, pass through the through hole 314 (see FIG. 8) that is
proximate to the top end of the control member 310, and then turn
upward from the control member 310 to pass over the guide wall 52
and to extend through the respective guide holes 51. The first and
second portions 321, 322 then extend into the first receiving space
15 from the respective guide holes 51, and are separated to extend
out of the head rail 11, and to thread through the slats 210 and
the bottom bar 220 in a conventional manner.
[0052] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 10, the first positioning
member 330 is fixed to the control member 310, and has two stacked
magnets 331 disposed in the receiving part (316b) of the interior
sliding portion 311 facing the first vertical rod 32 and stuck to
the metal plate 317 by magnetic attraction.
[0053] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the second positioning
member 340 is provided on one side of the first vertical rod 32
facing the first vertical rail seat 31, and is disposed fixedly
within the second receiving space 33. In this embodiment, the
second positioning member 340 is an elongated iron bar.
[0054] The first and second positioning members 330, 340 are
adhered magnetically to each other so as to restrict sliding
movement of the control member 310. Hence, when the control member
310 is not moved upward or downward by a user, the magnets 331 are
magnetically held by the second positioning member 340 so that the
control member 310 is prevented from freely falling downward by
gravity.
[0055] With reference to FIGS. 13, 14, and 15, the fixed seats 360
are disposed within the first receiving space 15, and are mounted
on the head rail seat 11. One of the fixed seats 360 has a limit
pin 361 projecting outwardly from the corresponding fixed seat
360.
[0056] With reference to FIGS. 7, 13, and 14, the rotary shaft 350
has a first shaft section 351 mounted rotatably on the first corner
member 13, a second shaft section 352 extending into the first
receiving space 15 (see FIG. 5), and two spaced-apart drums 353
mounted on the second shaft section 352. The second shaft section
352 is mounted rotatably on the fixed seats 360, and the drums 353
are rotatable along with the second shaft section 352. Each slat
ladder 230 has a top end 231 extending into the first receiving
space 15 and fixed to the corresponding drum 353 after passing
through a respective fixed seat 360.
[0057] With reference again to FIGS. 13 to 17, the limiting seat
370 is fixed to the second shaft section 352 of the rotary shaft
350 so as to rotate along with the rotary shaft 350, and is
disposed adjacent to a right side of the fixed seat 360 that is
proximate to the second corner member 14. The limiting seat 370 has
two limit faces 373, 374 that are spaced-apart angularly from each
other at an angular distance of 180.degree., and a limiting groove
371 formed between the limit faces 373, 374. The limit pin 361 of
the fixed seat 360 projects axially into the limiting groove 371.
The limiting seat 370 is turnable limitedly within an angular
distance of 180.degree., so that the rotary shaft 350 is limited to
rotate only by an angle of 180.degree., thereby preventing the
slats 210 from turning excessively. In other words, the limiting
seat 370 is used to limit the slats 210 to turn within an angle of
180.degree. from a first closed state shown in FIG. 15 to a second
closed state shown in FIG. 17. In particular, when the rotary shaft
350 and the limiting seat 370 rotate to turn the slats 210 to the
first closed state (see FIG. 15), the limit face 373 abuts against
the limit pin 361, thereby preventing the rotary shaft 350 from
further rotation. When the rotary shaft 350 and the limiting seat
370 rotate counterclockwise by 90.degree. from the first closed
state, the slats 210 are turned to an open state (see FIG. 16), and
the limit face 373 moves away from the limit pin 361. When the
rotary shaft 350 and the limiting seat 370 further rotate
counterclockwise from the open state, the slats 210 reach the
second closed state (see FIG. 17), and the limit face 374 abuts
against the limit pin 361, thereby preventing the rotary shaft 350
from further rotation.
[0058] With reference again to FIG. 7, the upper reel member 380 is
fixed to the first shaft section 351 of the rotary shaft 350, and
is proximate to the first vertical rail 30. The lower reel member
381 is opposite to the upper reel member 380, and is mounted
rotatably on the third corner member 23 of the bottom rail 20
proximate to the first vertical rail 30.
[0059] With reference to FIGS. 2, 7, 9, and 12, the turning cord
unit 390 is disposed in the second receiving space 33, and is
looped to pass over the upper and lower reel members 380, 381 so as
to rotate the rotary shaft 350 for turning the slats 210. The
turning cord unit 390 has a first end 394 fixed to the top end of
the interior sliding portion 311, and a second end 395 fixed to the
bottom end of the interior sliding portion 311 so as to form a
loop. The turning cord unit 390 includes a first cord 391 having
the first end 394, and a second cord 393 having the second end 395.
A coiled spring 392 is disposed between the interior sliding
portion 311 and the lower reel member 381. The first end 394 of the
first cord 391 passes through the through slots 315, and is tied to
the top end of the interior sliding portion 311. The first cord 391
extends upward from the first end 394 to pass over the upper reel
member 380, then extends downward to pass through the cord passage
319, and passes over the lower reel member 381.
[0060] The second end 395 of the second cord 393 loops around the
through hole 314 that is proximate to the bottom end of the control
member 310, and is tied to the bottom end of the interior sliding
portion 311. The first and second cords 391, 393 are further tied
to two opposite ends of the coiled spring 392. Hence, the first and
second cords 391, 393 are connected to the control member 310 and
are formed into a loop that passes over the upper and lower reel
members 380, 381, so that the control member 310 can control the
rotary shaft 350.
[0061] Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, in combination with FIGS. 13,
15, 16, and 17, when the control member 310 is slid downward along
the aperture 34 from a position at the top end of the aperture 34,
the slats 210 are closed, as shown in FIG. 15, and the bottom bar
220 is in the vicinity of the bottom rail 20. During the sliding of
the control member 310, the first cord 391 of the turning cord unit
390 activates the upper reel member 380 to rotate, and the lift
cord 320 lifts the slats 210 and the bottom bar 220. The upper reel
member 380, in turn, rotates the rotary shaft 350 and the limiting
seat 370. During the rotation of the rotary shaft 350 and the
limiting seat 370, the slats 210 are first turned counterclockwise
by 90.degree. from the position shown in FIG. 15 to the open state
shown in FIG. 16. When the control member 310 is slid further
downward, the slats 210 are turned further counterclockwise by
another 90.degree. to reach the second closed state shown in FIG.
17. In this state, since the limit pin 361 abuts against the limit
face 374, continued downward sliding of the control member 310 and
the continued movement of the first cord 391 cannot rotate the
upper reel member 380 and the rotary shaft 350, so that the first
cord 391 can slide over the upper reel member 380. Hence, with the
slats 210 remaining in the second closed state, the slats 210 are
lifted continuously by the lift cord 320 until the control member
310 is slid downward to reach a bottom end of the aperture 34. The
slats 210 and the bottom bar 220 reach the head rail 10 when the
control member 310 is at the bottom end of the aperture 34.
[0062] If the slats 210 and the bottom bar 220 are not to be raised
to the head rail 10, the control member 310 may be stopped at a
position (A) (see FIG. 19) above the bottom end of the aperture 34
by means of the magnetic attraction between the magnets 331 of the
first positioning member 330 and the second positioning member 340.
The control member 310 maybe stopped at any position between the
top and bottom ends of the aperture 34 in this manner.
[0063] If the slats 210 are to be re-opened at this stage, the
control member 310 may be slightly slid upward so as to reverse the
direction of the turning cord unit 390. The rotary shaft 350 and
the limiting seat 370 will therefore rotate in a reverse direction,
and the limit face 374 will move away from the limit pin 361. As
such, the slats 210 can return to the open state shown in FIG. 16
and the first closed state shown in FIG. 15.
[0064] Therefore, the advantages of the window blind assembly of
the present invention can be summarized as follows:
[0065] 1. The user only needs to operate the control member 310 to
raise or lower the slats 210 and to adjust the angular position of
the slats 210, so that the present invention is very convenient to
use.
[0066] 2. The slats 210 and the bottom bar 220 are disposed in a
space defined by the outer frame 100 and the front and rear
transparent plates 500, 600. As such, not only are the slats 210
and the bottom bar 220 prevented from being covered with dust and
dirt, but the slats 210 and the bottom bar 220 are also prevented
from being blown by the wind so that the slats 210 and the bottom
bar 220 cannot bump into the window frame 800 to produce noise.
[0067] 3. The lift cord 320 has the fold 323 hung on the cord
holder 131 and the first and second portions 321, 322 passing
through the through hole 314 that is proximate to the top end of
the interior sliding portion 311 and connected to the bottom bar
220 in a spaced-apart manner. Hence, when the control member 310 is
slid upward/downward, the bottom bar 220 moves twice the distance
that the control member 310 moves. That is to say, the distance
that the control member 310 has to be moved to lower or raise the
slats 210 and the bottom bar 220 is only half the length that the
bottom bar 220 is moved. Therefore, the slats 210 and the bottom
bar 220 can be quickly moved upward/downward to the desired height
by operating the control member 310.
[0068] 4. As the coiled spring 392 is connected between the first
and second cords 391, 393, an appropriate amount of tension in the
first cord 391 is ensured so that the first cord 391 can properly
rotate the upper reel member 380.
[0069] Referring to FIGS. 20 and 21, the second preferred
embodiment of a window blind assembly according to the present
invention is shown to be similar to the first preferred embodiment.
However, in this embodiment, the second vertical rail seat 41
defines a third receiving space 43 communicated with the first
receiving space 15 (see FIG. 5). Besides the control member 310, an
additional control member 410 is disposed slidably within the third
receiving space 43. A third positioning member 420 is fixed to the
control member 410, and a fourth positioning member 430 is provided
on one side of the second vertical rod 42 facing the second
vertical rail seat 41 and disposed within the third receiving space
43. The control member 310 is connected only to the lift cord
320.
[0070] The construction of the control member 410 is similar to
that of the control member 310. Particularly, the control member
410 includes an interior sliding portion 411 disposed within the
third receiving space 43, an operating portion 412 connected to the
interior sliding portion 411 and projecting outwardly from the
third receiving space 43, a slide groove 413 extending between the
interior sliding portion 411 and the operating portion 412, and a
bridge part 4141 interconnecting the interior sliding portion 411
and the operating portion 412. The interior sliding portion 411 has
a cord passage 419 extending from top to bottom ends thereof for
extension of a portion of the first cord 391 therethrough. The
slide groove 413 provides a space (not shown) between the operating
portion 412 and a wall 401 of the second vertical rail seat 41
(described below). The space is adapted to receive the lateral end
530 of the front transparent plate 500 (see FIG. 3).
[0071] The second vertical rail seat 41 has the vertically
extending wall 401 bounding the third receiving space 43 and
adapted to abut against the front transparent plate 500, and an
elongated aperture 44 formed in the wall 401 and communicated with
the third receiving space 43.
[0072] The operating portion 412 extends outwardly from the third
receiving space 43 and out of the aperture 44, and may be operated
by a user to slide the control member 410 upward or downward
relative to the second vertical rail 40 so as to lower or raise the
slats 210 and the bottom bar 220.
[0073] The connecting method of the lift cord 320 with the control
member 310 is similar to that described in the first preferred
embodiment, and the lift cord 320 is similarly controlled by the
control member 310.
[0074] The third positioning member 420 is similar to the first
positioning member 330, i.e., the third positioning member 420
includes two stacked magnets 421 mounted in the interior sliding
portion 411. The fourth positioning member 430 is similar to the
second positioning member 340, and is disposed in the second
vertical rod 42 in a manner similar to that of the second
positioning member 340 in the first vertical rod 32.
[0075] The first shaft section 351 of the rotary shaft 350, in this
embodiment, is mounted rotatably on the second corner member
14.
[0076] The upper reel member 380 is fixed to the first shaft
section 351 of the rotary shaft 350, and is proximate to the second
corner member 14.
[0077] The lower reel member 381 is mounted rotatably on the fourth
corner member 24, and is proximate to the second vertical rail
40.
[0078] The turning cord unit 390 is disposed in the third receiving
space 43, and is hung in a manner similar to that described in the
first preferred embodiment. The turning cord unit 390, in this
embodiment, is connected to the control member 410 so as to be
controlled by the same.
[0079] When the control member 310 is slid upward/downward by the
user, the lift cord 320 lowers/raises the slats 210 and the bottom
bar 220. When the control member 410 is slightly moved upward or
downward, the first cord 391 activates simultaneous rotation of the
upper reel member 380, the rotary shaft 350, and the limiting seat
370, which results in rotation of the slat ladders 230. Rotation of
the slat ladders 230, in turn, actuates the slats 210 to turn to a
desired angular position. The control member 410 may be stopped by
virtue of the magnets 421 being attracted to the fourth positioning
member 430, thereby allowing the control member 410 to be
positioned at the desired location.
[0080] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *