US20080185108A1

US20080185108A1 - Window covering device

Info

Publication number: US20080185108A1
Application number: US11/703,475
Authority: US
Inventors: Li-Ming Cheng
Original assignee: Zipshade Industrial BVI Corp Taiwan
Current assignee: Zipshade Industrial BVI Corp Taiwan; Zipshade Industrial BVI Corp USA
Priority date: 2007-02-07
Filing date: 2007-02-07
Publication date: 2008-08-07

Abstract

A window covering device has a top rail, a middle rail, and a bottom rail. A covering is connected with the middle rail and the bottom rail. Two cord controllers and two cord sets are provided in the top rail. The two cord sets are mounted respectively through the cord controllers. One cord set is connected with the middle rail, and the other cord set is connected with the bottom rail through the middle rail and the covering, thus the window covering is able to be opened from lower part or from upper part. The top rail, middle rail and the bottom rail are all made of plastic. The window covering device can be adjusted conveniently as people's desire.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a window covering device, and particularly relates to a window covering device that is capable of spreading and folding, and is mounted at window or French window, to adjust the indoor brightness.
2. Description of the Related Art
Window covering device is necessary as a part of a room nowadays. A conventional window covering device is normally opened and closed vertically or horizontally covering.
The window covering device opened and closed vertically above normally includes a top rail with a cord and a cord controller, a covering is connected to a bottom of the top rail, and a bottom rail is mounted at a bottom of the covering. The top rail is mounted at a top edge of a window frame, and the cord is able to control the bottom rail by the cord controller. The bottom rail brings the covering to spread or to be folded. However, the covering is fixed on the top rail, so the covering is only opened from bottom.
Another kind of window covering device is opened or closed from top or bottom, which includes a top rail, a middle rail and a bottom rail. A covering is connected between the middle rail and the bottom rail. Two cord controllers are provided at two ends of the top rail, and two cords are mounted respectively through the cord controllers. One cord is connected with the middle rail through one of the cord controllers, and the other cord is connected with the bottom rail through the top rail and the covering. When the window covering device is mounted on the window, the bottom rail is pulled to lower or rise by one cord. When the covering spreads fully, the middle rail is pulled to lower or rise by the other cord, thus the window covering is opened either from top or from bottom.
However, the window coverings in the market are normalized products, and not necessarily accord with different windows, so the rails have to be cut sometimes, which needs electric saw, and brings a lot of inconvenience.
Therefore, the invention provides a window covering to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a window covering device that can be adjusted conveniently.
A window covering device in accordance with the present invention comprises a top rail, a middle rail and a bottom rail. A covering is connected between the middle rail and the bottom rail. Two cord controllers are mounted in the top rail. A middle cord set and a bottom cord set are mounted respectively through the cord controllers. The middle cord set includes two first cords, which are both mounted through one of the cord controllers and are connected to the middle rail. The bottom cord set includes two second cords, which are both mounted through the other cord controller, the middle rail, the covering and are connected to the bottom rail.
The top rail, the middle rail, and the bottom rail are all hollow and are made of plastic material. At least a longitudinal hole is defined on a top face of the top rail, two mounting holes are defined near two ends of the top rail respectively, the two cord controllers are mounted respectively in the two mounting holes of the top rail.
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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a window covering device in accordance with the present invention spreading fully;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional top view of the cord controllers of the window covering device in FIG. 1 mounted in the middle rail;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional top view of the cord controllers of the window covering device in FIG. 2 in the top rail; and

FIG. 4 is a side view in partial section of the cord controller of the window covering device in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is an operational perspective view of the window covering device in FIG. 1 with the middle rail descending.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, a preferred embodiment of the window covering device in accordance with present invention has a top rail (10), a middle rail (50), a bottom rail (60), a covering (70), two cord controllers (20), a middle cord set (30), and a bottom cord set (40).
The top rail (10) is hollow and is made of plastic material. At least one longitudinal hole (11) is defined on a top face of the top rail (10). Two mounting holes (15) are defined near two ends of the top rail (10) respectively. The top rail (10) has at least a through hole defined in a bottom face of the top rail (10). In a preferred embodiment, two through holes are defined in the bottom face of the top rail (10), and two end caps (14) respectively cover the two ends of the top rail (10).
The middle rail (50) is hollow, is made of plastic material, and is mounted movably below the top rail (10). The bottom rail (60) is hollow, is made of plastic material, and is mounted movably below the middle rail (50). The covering is shutter-like in this embodiment and is connected with the middle rail (50) and the bottom rail (60).
The two cord controllers (20) are mounted respectively in the two mounting holes (15) of the top rail (10), and each cord controller (20) includes a location seat (21), a roller (22), and a brake wheel (23). The location seat (21) is mounted in the mounting hole (15) aslant and has a chamber (211) defined therein, a front port (212) and a back port (213). The front and back ports (212, 213) communicate with the chamber (211). A tooth portion (214) is formed on an inner sidewall in the chamber near one end of the top rail (10) and extends toward the back port (213) and inclines away from the end of top rail (10). A pole (215) is mounted at the back port (215) away from the tooth portion (214). The roller (22) has an axle hole defined in the middle, and is mounted pivotally on the pole (215). The brake wheel (23) is mounted movably in the chamber (211). An outer edge of the brake wheel (23) has a gear portion (231), which is engaged with the tooth portion (214).
The middle cord set (30) includes two first cords (32). Each first cord (32) has a first connecting end (33). The two first cords (32) are both mounted through one of the cord controllers (20) of the top rail (10) and are caught between the roller (22) and the brake wheel (23) in the cord controller (20) through which the first cords (32) are mounted. The two first connecting ends (33) are fixed on two ends of the middle rail (50) through the two through holes defined in the bottom face of the top rail (10).
The bottom cord set (40) includes two second cords (42). Each second cord (42) has a second connecting end (43). The two second cords (42) are both mounted through the other cord controller (20), and the two second connecting ends (43) are mounted respectively through the through holes in the top rail, are mounted through the middle rail (50), the covering (70), and are fixed at two ends of the bottom rail (60). The second cords (42) are caught between the roller (22) and the brake wheel (23) of the cord controller (20) through which the second cords are mounted. The longitudinal hole (11) defined on the top rail (10) is used for facilitating the extending of the first and second cords (32, 42).
Each of the cord controllers (20) has a recess (216) defined in the front port (212) of the cord controller (20), as shown in FIG. 3. Two cord connectors (24) are U″-shaped, are mounted respectively in the recesses (216) to provide a smooth face for the first and second cords (32, 42), and reduce the friction between the cord controllers (20) and the first and second cords (32, 42).
The top rail (10) of the window covering device is fixed on a top edge of a window frame, the bottom cord set (40) is pulled to escape from the catch of the roller (22) and the brake wheel (23). When the bottom cord set (40) is released, the covering (70) spreads downward. When the bottom cord set (40) is pulled downward, the covering (70) is folded upward. When the covering (70) needs to stay at a specific level, a weight of the bottom rail (60) will bring the second cords (42) to move backward. Then, the brake wheel (23) is driven to roll backward along the tooth portion (214), and the brake wheel (23) and the roller (22) catches the second cords (42). In addition, when the covering spreads fully, the middle cord set is pulled to escape from the catch of the roller (22) and the brake wheel (23). When the middle cord set (30) is released, the middle rail (50) will fall down. When the middle cord set (30) is pulled downward, the middle rail (50) will go upward, as shown in FIG. 5, and upper part of the covering (70) will descend or rise. When the upper part of the covering (70) stays at a specific level, the weight of the middle rail (60) will bring the first cords (32) to move backward, and the brake wheel (23) is driven to roll backward along the tooth portion (214). The brake wheel (23) and the roller (22) catches the first cords (32). In this way, the window covering device can be opened from lower part or from upper part, which is able to adjust the brightness of the room. Therefore, the window covering device can be adjusted conveniently as people's desire.
It is to be understood, however, that 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 the details, 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.

Claims

1. A window covering device comprising

a top rail;

a middle rail;

a bottom rail;

a window covering connected with the middle rail and the bottom rail, two cord controllers mounted in the top rail;

a middle cord set including two first cords mounted through one of the cord controller and connected to the middle rail; and

a bottom cord set including two second cords mounted through the other cord controller, the middle rail, the covering and connected to the bottom rail;

wherein the top rail, the middle rail, and the bottom rail are hollow and are made of plastic material, at least a longitudinal hole is defined on a top face of the top rail, two mounting holes are defined near two ends of the top rail, the two cord controllers are mounted respectively in the two mounting holes of the top rail.

2. The window covering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the each cord controller includes a location seat, a roller, and a brake wheel, the location seat is mounted in the mounting hole aslant and has a chamber defined therein, a front port and a back port communicate with the chamber, a tooth portion is formed on an inner sidewall near one end of the top rail, the roller is mounted pivotally at the back port away from the tooth portion, the brake wheel is mounted movably in the chamber, and an outer edge of the brake wheel has a gear portion, which is engaged with the tooth portion, the first is caught between the roller and the brake wheel in one of the cord controllers and the second cord is caught between the roller and the brake wheel of the other cord controller.

3. The window covering as claimed in claim 1, wherein each cord controller further has a cord connector mounted in the front port of the location seat of the cord controller.

4. The window covering as claimed in claim 3, wherein the each cord controller further has a recess defined in the front port and two cord connectors are mounted respectively in the recesses of the cord controllers.