U.S. patent application number 12/561357 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-17 for counterbalanced blind.
Invention is credited to Wen-Jui Lin.
Application Number | 20110061823 12/561357 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43729321 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110061823 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin; Wen-Jui |
March 17, 2011 |
COUNTERBALANCED BLIND
Abstract
A counterbalanced blind has a top frame, a bottom bar, a shade
mounted between the top frame and the bottom bar, a reel device,
two roller devices and two cords. The reel device is mounted in the
top frame, and the two roller devices are mounted on the opposite
side of the reel device in the top frame. The cords are wound and
fastened in the reel device, respectively extend in opposite
directions to the roller devices, pass downward through the shade
and are fastened on the bottom bar. The bottom bar can be raised or
lowered and position of the bottom bar will be retained after
releasing the bottom bar.
Inventors: |
Lin; Wen-Jui; (Singang
Hsiang, TW) |
Family ID: |
43729321 |
Appl. No.: |
12/561357 |
Filed: |
September 17, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
160/340 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B 2009/3222 20130101;
E06B 9/262 20130101; E06B 2009/2625 20130101; E06B 2009/3225
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
160/340 |
International
Class: |
A47H 5/14 20060101
A47H005/14 |
Claims
1. A counterbalanced blind comprising: a top frame (10); a bottom
bar (20); a shade (30) mounted between the top frame (10) and the
bottom bar (20); two roller devices (4) mounted separately in the
top frame (10) and each roller device (4) having a first roller
(41) rotatably mounted in the top frame (10); a second roller (42)
rotatably mounted in the top frame (10); a reel device (5) mounted
between the two roller devices (4) in the top frame (10) and
comprising a first reel (51) rotatably mounted in the top frame
(10) and having a first gear (511) formed thereon; a second reel
(52) rotatably mounted in the top frame (10), having a second gear
(521) formed thereon, and the second gear (521) meshing with the
first gear (511); a resilient member (53) mounted on the first reel
(51) and connecting the first reel (51) with the second reel (52);
and two cords (60), one of the cords (60) fastened and wound on the
first reel (51), and the other cord (60) fastened and wound on the
second reel (52), the cords (60) respectively extending in opposite
directions through the roller devices (4), each cord (60) wound on
the first roller (41) and the second roller (42) of the roller
device (4), passing through the shade (30) and fastened to the
bottom bar (20) to counterbalance forces added on the roller device
(4).
2. The counterbalanced blind as claimed in claim 1, wherein each
cord (60) is wound on the first roller (41), the second roller
(42), then turns to the first roller (41) to counterbalance forces
added on the roller device (4), and extends downward to be fastened
on the bottom bar (20).
3. The counterbalanced blind as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
reel device (5) comprises a casing mounted in the top frame (10),
and the first reel (51) and the second reel (52) are mounted
rotatably in the casing (50).
4. The counterbalanced blind as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
reel device (5) comprises a casing mounted in the top frame (10),
and the first reel (51) and the second reel (52) are mounted
rotatably in the casing (50).
5. The counterbalanced blind as claimed in claim 1, wherein each
roller device (4) comprises a bracket (40) mounted in the top frame
(10), and the first roller (41) and the second roller (42) are
mounted rotatably on the bracket (40).
6. The counterbalanced blind as claimed in claim 2, wherein each
roller device (4) comprises a bracket (40) mounted in the top frame
(10), and the first roller (41) and the second roller (42) are
mounted rotatably on the bracket (40).
7. The counterbalanced blind as claimed in claim 3, wherein each
roller device (4) comprises a bracket (40) mounted in the top frame
(10), and the first roller (41) and the second roller (42) are
mounted rotatably on the bracket (40).
8. The counterbalanced blind as claimed in claim 4, wherein each
roller device (4) comprises a bracket (40) mounted in the top frame
(10), and the first roller (41) and the second roller (42) are
mounted rotatably on the bracket (40).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a blind, and more
particularly to a counterbalanced blind that can be operated easily
without a pull string.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] For shielding off sunshine or external light, windows are
usually provided with blinds or shades. A conventional blind
generally has a top frame, a bottom bar, a shade and a control
device. The top frame is mounted securely on a wall or a ceiling.
Two sides of the shade are respectively fastened to the top frame
and the bottom bar. The control device is mounted in the top frame
and has a pull string that is hung beside the top frame. When the
pull string is parallel to the blind, the control device is locked
and the shade is held at a predetermined height. When the pull
string is obliquely, the control device is released and the bottom
bar is free to move and the shade may be concertinaed or spread out
to control amount of light entering a room.
[0005] However, when the top frame is hung relatively high compared
to a person controlling the blinds, for example when wheelchair
users or children are operating the blind or when the blind is hung
high due to a large window, high ceiling or use on stairwells,
positioning the pull string sufficiently obliquely to release the
bottom bar and the shade may be difficult. Furthermore, the pull
string may be dangerous to young children and pets, especially
threat by strangulation or entanglement.
[0006] Therefore, the present invention provides a counterbalanced
blind to overcome the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An objective of the invention is to provide a
counterbalanced blind that can be operated easily without a pull
string.
[0008] The counterbalanced blind has a top frame, a bottom bar, a
shade mounted between the top frame and the bottom bar, a reel
device, two roller devices and two cords. The reel device is
mounted in the top frame, and the two roller devices are mounted on
the opposite side of the reel device in the top frame. The cords
are wound and fastened in the reel device, respectively extend in
opposite directions to the roller devices, pass downward through
the shade and are fastened on the bottom bar. The bottom bar can be
raised or lowered, and position of the bottom bar is retained after
releasing the bottom bar.
[0009] Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a
counterbalanced blind in accordance with the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a sectional front view of the counterbalanced
blind in FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a reel device in accordance
with the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a sectional front view of the roller device in
FIG. 2;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a sectional front view of the counterbalanced
blind in a lowered status;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a sectional front view of the counterbalanced
blind in a raised status.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, a counterbalanced blind in
accordance with the present invention comprises a top frame (10), a
bottom bar (20), a shade (30), two roller devices (4), a reel
device (5) and two cords (60).
[0017] The top frame (10) is mounted on walls or ceilings,
especially adjacent to windows. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2,
the shade (30) is mounted between the top frame (10) and the bottom
bar (20).
[0018] The two roller devices (4) are mounted separately in the top
frame (10), and each roller device (4) has a first roller (41), a
second roller (42), and an optional bracket (40). The first roller
(41) and the second roller (42) are rotatably mounted on the
bracket (40) that is mounted in the top frame (10).
[0019] With further reference to FIG. 3, the reel device (5) is
mounted between the two roller devices (4) in the top frame (10)
and comprises a first reel (51), a second reel (52), a resilient
member (53) and an optional casing (50). The first reel (51) and
the second reel (52) are mounted rotatably in the casing (50). The
first reel (51) has a first gear (511) formed thereon, the second
reel (52) has a second gear (521) formed thereon and meshing with
the first gear (511) to provide synchronous rotation. The resilient
member (53) may be a rotary spring and connects the first reel (51)
with the second reel (52).
[0020] With reference to FIG. 4, one of the cords (60) is fastened
and wound on the first reel (51), and the other cord (60) fastened
and wound on the second reel (52). The cords (60) respectively
extend in opposite directions through the roller devices (4). Each
cord (60) is wound on the first roller (41) and the second roller
(42), then turned to the first roller (41) to counterbalance forces
added on the roller device (4) and extends downward through the
shade (30) to be fastened on the bottom bar (20).
[0021] With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, users can raise or lower
the bottom bar (20) to simultaneously concertina or spread out the
shade (30). When the counterbalanced blind is operated, the cords
(60) are pulled or released the same distance in opposite
directions because the first gear (511) meshes with the second gear
(521), so the bottom bar (20) maintains balanced. In addition, the
bottom bar (20) is held at a predetermined height when users stop
operating it, because the cord (60) wound on each roller device (4)
counterbalances the forces added on the roller device (4), so the
blind can be operated more easily without a pull string and for
improved safety.
[0022] Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the
present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description,
together with details of the structure and function of the
invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made
in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of
parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent
indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the
appended claims are expressed.
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