US20130042985A1

US20130042985A1 - Window Blind Assembly

Info

Publication number: US20130042985A1
Application number: US13/211,201
Authority: US
Inventors: Tai-Ping Liu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-08-16
Filing date: 2011-08-16
Publication date: 2013-02-21

Abstract

A blind assembly includes a head box, an axle, a lift lock, a blind, a tube set, a rod and an effort-saving unit. The axle is located in the head box. The lift lock is provided on the head box. The blind includes a bottom rail and at least one rope. The rope is inserted through the lift lock and tied to the bottom rail at an end. The tube set is connected to the head box. The rope is located in the tube set. The rod is inserted in the tube set. The effort-saving unit for connecting the rope to the rod so that the bottom rail is lifted as the rod is pulled.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a window covering and, more particularly, to a window blind assembly.
2. Related Prior Art
There are various window coverings for keeping sun light and/or noise outside rooms, keeping privacy in the rooms and/or decorating the rooms. Window coverings can be classified into two types, i.e., curtains that are movable horizontally and blinds that are movable vertically. The blinds include roman blinds, pleated blinds and venetian blinds.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a conventional blind assembly including a blind 10 and a head box 16. The head box 16 is attached to a wall, above a window. An axle 18 is inserted in the head box 16. Two rollers 14 are provided on the axle 18. A handle 19 is located outside the head box 16. The handle 19 is connected to the axle 18 through a joint 17. With the joint 17, a user can rotate the axle 18 by turning the handle 19.
The blind 10 is a venetian blind as shown. The blind 10 may however be a roman blind or a pleated blind. The blind 10 includes slats 11, a bottom rail 15, a first rope 12, a second rope 12, a first group of ropes 13 and a second group of ropes 13. Each of the ropes 12 is provided in the form of a loop including an upper point tied to a related one of the rollers 14, a lower point located beneath the bottom rail 15, and two substantially vertical sections between the upper and lower points thereof. In the first group, each of the ropes 13 is in the form of a loop including a point tied to one of the vertical section of the first rope 12 and an opposite point tied to the other vertical section of the first rope 12. In the second group, each of the ropes 13 is in the form of a loop including a point tied to one of the vertical section of the second rope 12 and an opposite point tied to the other vertical section of the second rope 12. Each of the slats 11 is inserted in the loop formed by a related one of the ropes 13 in the first group and the loop formed by a related one of the ropes 13 in the second group.
As discussed above, the slats 11 are supported on the ropes 13. The ropes 13 are tied to the ropes 12. The ropes 12 are tied to the rollers 14. The rollers 14 are supported on the axle 18. The axle 18 is supported by the head box 16. Furthermore, the axle 18 is connected to the handle 19 through the joint 17. By turning the handle 19, the user can rotate the axle 18 and the rollers 14 to lift one of the ropes 12 and lower the other rope 12, thus tilting the ropes 13 and the slats 11.
A rope 20 includes two sections inserted through the slats 11 and tied to the bottom rail 15. The sections of the rope 20 are inserted through a lift lock 21 located in the head box 16. The sections of the rope 20 can be pulled down to lift the bottom rail 15 and the slats 11, one after another. The sections of the rope 20 can be biased to a direction relative to the lift lock 21 so that the former are locked by the latter, i.e., the bottom rail 15 and the slats 11 are kept in a lifted position. The sections of the rope 20 can be biased to an opposite direction relative to the lift lock 21 so that the former are released from the latter, thus allowing the bottom rail 15 and the slats 11 to be lowered because of weight.
The rope 20 is long and therefore visible. The rope 20 often attracts kids' attention. Kids could not help but play with the rope 20 and might get strangled by the rope 20, and this is not desirable.
The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a safe blind assembly.
To achieve the foregoing objective, the blind assembly includes a head box, an axle, a lift lock, a blind, a tube set, a rod and an effort-saving unit. The axle is located in the head box. The lift lock is provided on the head box. The blind includes a bottom rail and at least one rope. The rope is inserted through the lift lock and tied to the bottom rail at an end. The tube set is connected to the head box. The rope is located in the tube set. The rod is inserted in the tube set. The effort-saving unit for connecting the rope to the rod so that the bottom rail is lifted as the rod is pulled.
In an aspect, the tube set includes a first tube connected to the head box and a second tube connected to the first tube. The rod extends beyond the second tube.
In another aspect, the effort-saving unit is located in the second tube.
In another aspect, the blind assembly further includes a cap fit in an end of the second tube and formed with an aperture through which the rod is inserted, thus avoid pivoting of the rod in the second tube.
In another aspect, the second tube includes a first shell and a second shell joined to the first shell so that the effort-saving unit is located in the second tube.
In another aspect, the first shell includes two ribs formed on an external side, wherein the second shell includes two grooves defined in an internal side for receiving the ribs, thus joining together the first and second shells.
In another aspect, each of the first and second shells includes a hook formed thereon. The first tube includes two slots defined therein for receiving the hooks of the first and second shells, thus joining together the first and second tubes.
In another aspect, each of the first and second shells includes a lip formed thereon. The lips of the first and second shells together form an annular structure for easy insertion into the first tube.
In another aspect, the effort-saving unit includes a frame movably located in the second tube, upper and lower movable pulleys supported on the frame, and a belt sequentially wound on the lower movable pulley, and tied to the second tube at an end and tied to the rod at another end. The rope is wound on the upper movable pulley and tied to the head box at another end.
In another aspect, the effort-saving unit includes a stationary pulley secured to the second tube, wherein the belt is further wound on the stationary pulley.
In another aspect, the effort-saving unit includes another stationary pulley secured to the second tube. The belt is sequentially wound on the stationary pulleys and the lower movable pulley.
In another aspect, the blind assembly further includes a grip and a lock unit. The rod is inserted through the grip. The lock unit is movable between a locking position and a releasing position. In the locking position, the lock unit locks the grip to the rod. In the releasing position, the lock unit releases the grip from the rod.
In another aspect, the lock unit includes a button and a lock. The button is provided on the grip. The lock includes a first section pivotally connected to the grip and a second section abutted against the button. Thus, the lock is moved to the releasing position from the locking position as the button is pushed.
In an alternative aspect, the lock unit includes only a lock. The lock includes a first section pivotally connected to the grip and a second section inserted through the grip. Thus, the lock is moved to the releasing position from the locking position as the second section of the lock is pushed.
Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of three embodiments versus the prior art referring to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional venetian blind assembly;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, partial, perspective view of the conventional venetian blind assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial, perspective view of a venetian blind assembly in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, partial, perspective view of the venetian blind assembly shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partial, perspective view of the venetian blind assembly shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a device for concealing and pulling a rope operable to expand and shrink a venetian blind of the venetian blind assembly shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a partial, cross-sectional view of the rope concealing and pulling device shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, partial, cross-sectional view of the rope concealing and pulling device in another position than shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, partial, cross-sectional view of the rope concealing and pulling device in another position than shown in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial, cross-sectional view of a rope concealing and pulling device in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial, cross-sectional view of a rope concealing and pulling device in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 3 through 9, there is shown a blind assembly in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The blind assembly of the present invention includes substantially all of the elements of the conventional blind assembly addressed in the RELATED PRIOR ART and a device for concealing and pulling the rope 20. The Related Prior Art is incorporated in this DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS. Hence, the elements that are common to the conventional blind assembly and the blind assembly of the present invention will not be described again for the briefness and clarity of the specification.
The rope concealing and pulling device includes a connective unit, a tube set 40, an effort-saving unit 60, a grip 70 and a lock unit 80. The connective unit includes a bracket 30, a connector 31 and two hangers 32 and 33. The bracket 30 is made of a strip of metal for engagement with the head box 16. The hangers 32 and 33 are connected to the bracket 30. The sections of the rope 20 that are located outside the head box 16 through the lift lock 21 are tied to the first hanger 32. The connector 31 includes a hook extending from an upper section and two bosses 34 transversely extending from a lower section. The hook of the connector 31 is used to hook the second hanger 33. The use of the bosses 34 will be described later.
The tube set 40 includes a first tube 41 and a second tube 50. The first tube 41 includes two opposite apertures 42 defined therein near an upper end and two slots 43 defined therein near a lower end.
The second tube 50 consists of two shells 51 and 52. Each of the shells 51 and 52 includes two horizontal edges, two vertical edges, a lip 53 extending from the first horizontal edge, and a hook 54 formed thereon near the lip 53. The first shell 51 further includes two ribs 58 formed on an external side near the vertical edges and three sockets formed on an internal side. The second shell 52 further includes two grooves 59 defined in an internal side near the vertical edges. The second shell 52 further includes upper, lower and middle pins 55 formed on the internal side. The second shell 52 further includes two upper hooks 56 and two lower hooks 56 formed on the internal side near the upper pin 55 and the lower pin 55, respectively. Each of the pins 55 is formed with a reduced tip.
The effort-saving unit 60 includes upper and lower stationary pulleys 61, two restraining elements 57, a movable gear and a belt or cord 62. Each of the restraining elements 57 includes a middle section and two lateral sections transversely extending from the middle section. A groove is defined in each of the lateral sections of each of the restraining elements 57. The movable gear includes upper and lower movable pulleys 65 supported on a movable H-shaped frame 66. The belt 62 is formed with two ends 63 and 64.
The grip 70 includes an enlarged upper section 71, two opposite slots 72 and 73 defined in the enlarged upper section 71, a cavity 74 defined in an internal side, and a tunnel 75 longitudinally defined therein. The internal diameter of the enlarged upper section 71 of the grip 70 is marginally larger than the external diameter of the second tube 50.
The lock unit 80 includes a lock 81 and a button 85. The lock 81 is a bent element including two sections 82 and 86. The first section 82 of the lock 81 includes a reduced tip formed thereon and an aperture 83 defined therein. The button 85 is formed with an enlarged end 87.
In assembly, the bosses 34 are inserted in the apertures 42, thus connecting the connector 31 to the first tube 41. The ribs 58 are inserted in the grooves 59, thus joining together the first shell 51 and the second shell 52, thus forming the second tube 50. The lips 53 together form a tubular element that is inserted in the first tube 41 and the hooks 54 are inserted in the slots 43, thus connecting the second tube 50 to the first tube 41.
The sections of the rope 20, which are located outside the head box 16, are wound on the upper movable pulley 65. The upper stationary pulley 61 is supported on the upper pin 55 while the lower stationary pulley 61 is supported on the lower pin 55. The first end 63 of the belt 62 is tied to the middle pin 55. The belt 62 is wound on the upper and lower stationary pulleys 61 and the lower movable pulley 65, sequentially. The second end 64 of the belt 62 is inserted through an aperture 45 defined in a rod 44 near an upper end and tied to the upper end of the rod 44.
The reduced tip of the upper pin 55 is inserted through an aperture defined in the middle section of the upper restraining element 57 while the upper hooks 56 are inserted through the grooves defined in the lateral sections of the upper restraining element 57 and engaged with the middle section of the upper restraining element 57. The reduced tip of the lower pin 55 is inserted through an aperture defined in the middle section of the lower restraining element 57. The lower hooks 56 are inserted through the grooves defined in the lateral sections of the lower restraining element 57 and engaged with the middle section of the lower restraining element 57. The reduced tips of the pins 55 are inserted in the sockets. Thus, the belt 62 is restrained on the upper and lower stationary pulleys 61.
The reduced tip of the first section 82 of the lock 81 is inserted through the slot 73. Thus, the lock 81 can be pivoted between a locking position and a releasing position. The rod 44 is inserted through the aperture 83 and a compression spring 84 compressed between the first section 82 of the lock 81 and the internal side of the grip 70. An end of the compression spring 84 is inserted in the cavity 74. The lock 81 is biased to the locking position by the compression spring 84. The enlarged end 87 of the button 85 is in contact with the second section 86 of the lock 81. An opposite end of the button 85 is located outside the grip 70.
The rod 44 is further inserted through the tunnel 75. A screw 46 is driven into a lower end of the rod 44 through a washer 47. Thus, the grip 70 is retained on the rod 44.
Referring to FIG. 7, the lock 81 is retained in the locking position by the compression spring 84. As the lock 81 is in the locking position, the edge of the aperture 83 is abutted against the rod 44 so that the grip 70 is locked to the rod 44.
Referring to FIG. 8, the grip 70 is lowered, and so is the rod 44. Thus, the belt 62 is pulled. The movable gear, which including the upper and lower movable pulleys 65 and the H-shaped frame 66, is lowered. Thus, the sections of the rope 20 are pulled. Hence, the lower rail 15 and the slats 11 are lifted, one after another.
Referring to FIG. 9, the button 85 is pushed so that the lock 81 is pivoted to the releasing position against the compression spring 84. As the lock 81 is in the releasing position, the edge of the aperture 83 is not abutted against the rod 44 so that the grip 70 can be lowered along the rod 44.
Referring to FIG. 10, there is shown a blind in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is like the first embodiment except including a cap 90 attached to a lower end of the second tube 50. The cap 90 includes an aperture 91 through which the rod 44 is inserted. Thus, the rod 44 is restrained by the cap 90 so that is cannot be pivoted in the tube set 40.
Referring to FIG. 11, there is shown a blind in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is like the first embodiment except two things. Firstly, the button 85 is saved. The first section 82 of the lock 81 is elongated and inserted through the slot 72 so that it can be pushed like a button.
The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A blind assembly including

a head box;

an axle located in the head box;

a lift lock located in the head box;

a blind including:

a bottom rail; and

at least one rope inserted through the lift lock and tied to the bottom rail at an end;

a tube set connected to the head box;

a rod inserted in the tube set; and

an effort-saving unit for connecting the rope to the rod so that the bottom rail is lifted as the rod is pulled.

2. The blind assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the tube set includes a first tube connected to the head box and a second tube connected to the first tube, wherein the rod extends beyond the second tube.

3. The blind assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein the effort-saving unit is located in the second tube.

4. The blind assembly in accordance with claim 3, further including a cap fit in an end of the second tube and formed with an aperture through which the rod is inserted, thus avoid pivoting of the rod in the second tube.

5. The blind assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein the second tube includes a first shell and a second shell joined to the first shell so that the effort-saving unit is located in the second tube.

6. The blind assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein the first shell includes two ribs formed on an external side, wherein the second shell includes two grooves defined in an internal side for receiving the ribs, thus joining together the first and second shells.

7. The blind assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein each of the first and second shells includes a hook formed thereon, wherein the first tube includes two slots defined therein for receiving the hooks of the first and second shells, thus joining together the first and second tubes.

8. The blind assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein each of the first and second shells includes a lip formed thereon, wherein the lips of the first and second shells together form an annular structure for easy insertion into the first tube.

9. The blind assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein the effort-saving unit includes:

a frame movably located in the second tube;

upper and lower movable pulleys supported on the frame; and

a belt sequentially wound on the lower movable pulley, and tied to the second tube at an end and tied to the rod at another end;

wherein the rope is wound on the upper movable pulley and tied to the head box at another end.

10. The blind assembly in accordance with claim 9, wherein the effort-saving unit includes a stationary pulley secured to the second tube, wherein the belt is further wound on the stationary pulley.

11. The blind assembly in accordance with claim 10, wherein the effort-saving unit includes another stationary pulley secured to the second tube, wherein the belt is sequentially wound on the stationary pulleys and the lower movable pulley.

12. The blind assembly in accordance with claim 10, wherein the second shell includes a pin formed thereon for supporting the stationary pulley.

13. The blind assembly in accordance with claim 12, further including a restraining element located against the stationary pulley, wherein the second shell includes two hooks formed thereon for hooking the restraining element.

14. The blind assembly in accordance with claim 1, further including:

a grip provided around the rod; and

a lock unit movable between a locking position for locking the grip to the rod and a releasing position for allowing movement of the grip along the rod.

15. The blind assembly in accordance with claim 14, wherein the lock unit includes:

a button provided on the grip; and

a lock including a first section pivotally connected to the grip and a second section abutted against the button so that the lock is moved to the releasing position from the locking position as the button is pushed.

16. The blind assembly in accordance with claim 15, wherein the first section of the lock includes an aperture through which the rod is inserted, wherein the edge of the aperture is abutted against the rod when the lock is in the locking position.

17. The blind assembly in accordance with claim 15, wherein lock unit includes a compression spring compressed between the first section of the lock and an internal portion of the grip so that the lock is biased toward the locking position by the compressed spring.

18. The blind assembly in accordance with claim 14, wherein the lock unit includes a lock including a first section pivotally connected to the grip and a second section inserted through the grip so that the lock is moved to the releasing position from the locking position as the second section of the lock is pushed.

19. The blind assembly in accordance with claim 18, wherein the first section of the lock includes an aperture through which the rod is inserted, wherein the edge of the aperture is abutted against the rod when the lock is in the locking position.

20. The blind assembly in accordance with claim 18, wherein lock unit includes a compression spring compressed between the first section of the lock and an internal portion of the grip so that the lock is biased toward the locking position by the compressed spring.