Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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WINDOW BLIND ASSEMBLY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a window blind
assembly, more particularly to a window blind assembly
that is aesthetically pleasing, structurally simple,
and easily taken apart for cleaning.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are different types of conventional window
blinds, including the roller blind and the roman blind.
The conventional roller blind has a roller blind cloth
and a roller rod mounted to a window. The roller blind
cloth is connected to the roller rod, and may be wound
around and unwound from the roller rod by rotating the
roller rod, thereby either covering or uncovering the
window.
The roman blind has a curtain cloth mounted to an
inner side of a window, and one side of the curtain cloth
is provided with some guide rings. Some cords extend
through the guide rings, and are then connected to a
bottom portion of the curtain cloth. Manipulation of
the cords results in folding and unfolding of the curtain
cloth.
However, the conventional roller blind has an
unsophisticated appearance. The conventional roman
blind, on the other hand, is not easily taken apart for
cleaning. There is a need fora new curtain structurethat
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deals with these issues.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the object of the present invention is
to provide a window blind assembly, which combines
aspects of a roller blind and a roman blind, has a
structure that is simple, and is low in cost.
Accordingly, a window blind assembly of the present
invention is adapted for being mounted to a window. The
window blind assembly comprises a roller blind unit,
a curtain member unit, and a clamping unit.
The roller blind unit includes a roller rod that
extends horizontally and that is rotatably mounted at
or in proximity to an upper edge portion of the window,
and a roller blind cloth a top edge of which is connected
to the roller rod and which is able to be wound around
and extended from the roller rod.
The curtain member unit includes a folding curtain
cloth a top edge of which is mounted at or around the
upper edge of the window.
The clamping unit includes a connecting clamp that
extends horizontally, and has a first clamping portion
that clamps onto the folding curtain cloth and a second
clamping portion that clamps onto the roller blind cloth.
When the roller blind unit is manipulated such that
the roller blind cloth is wound around the roller rod,
a section of the folding curtain cloth clamped by the
first clamping portion of the connecting clamp is
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displaced upwardly, such that the folding curtain cloth
is folded.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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:
Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a window blind
assembly according to a first preferred embodiment of
the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side view of the window blind assembly
of the first preferred embodiment;
Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the window
blind assembly of the first preferred embodiment;
Figure 4 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view
of a connecting clamp, a folding curtain cloth, and a
roller blind cloth of the first preferred embodiment;
Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but
illustrating an assembly of the connecting clamp, the
folding curtain cloth, and the roller blind cloth of
the first preferred embodiment in an assembled state;
Figure 6 is view similar to Figure 1, but illustrating
a roller blind unit in a partially wound state and the
folding curtain cloth in a partially folded state;
Figure 7 is view similar to Figure 6, but illustrating
the roller blind unit in a fully wound state and the
folding curtain cloth in a fully folded state;
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Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 2, but
illustrating the roller blind unit in a fully wound state
and the folding curtain cloth a fully folded state; and
Figure 9 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view
of the connecting clamp, the folding curtain cloth, and
the roller blind cloth according to a second preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, a first preferred
embodiment of a window blind assembly of the present
invention is adapted for being mounted to a window 2.
The window blind assembly includes a roller blind unit
3, a curtain member unit 4, and a clamping unit 5 disposed
between and interconnecting the roller blind unit 3 and
the curtain member unit 4.
The roller blind unit 3 includes a roller rod 32,
a roller blind cloth 34, a horizontal frame 31, a
weighting rod 35, and a cord 33.
The roller rod 32 extends horizontally and is
rotatably mounted at or in proximity to an upper edge
portion of the window 2.
The roller blind cloth 34 has a top edge connected
to the roller rod 32, and the roller blind cloth 34 is
able to be wound around and extended from the roller
rod 32.
The horizontal frame 31 is mounted at least partially
surrounding the roller rod 32.
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The weighting rod 35 extends horizontally and is
connected to a bottom edge of the roller blind cloth
34. The weighting rod 35 pulls down on the roller blind
cloth 34 to flatten the same by virtue of its weight.
5 The cord 33 is coupled to the roller rod 32 for
controlling rotation of the same such that the roller
blind cloth 34 is wound around or extended from the roller
rod 32.As described above, the roller blind unit 3 is
manipulated by pulling the cord 33 to drive the roller
rod 32 such that the roller blind cloth 34 is wound around
the roller rod 32 or extended downwardly. During the
winding of the roller blind cloth 34 around the roller
rod 32, a section of the curtain member unit 4 clamped
by the connecting clamp 50 is displaced upwardly, such
that the curtain member unit 4 is folded. This will be
described in greater detail below.
The roller rod 32 may be driven by the cord 33 as
described above, or can be driven by a motor (not shown) ,
or can be driven through a spring mechanism (not shown)
Therefore, the driving method is not limited to the
embodiment described herein. The curtain member unit
4 includes a folding curtain cloth 41, a fastening member
42, and a rod 43.
The folding curtain cloth 41 has a top edge mounted
at or around the upper edge of the window 2, and the
folding curtain cloth 41 is disposed in front of the
roller blind cloth 34.
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The fastening member42interconnectsthehorizontal
frame 31 and the top edge of the folding curtain cloth
41. As an example, the horizontal frame 31 may be made
of a fabric material, the fastening member 42 may be
a hook fastener, such as that found in a Velcro fastener,
and the fastening member 42 may attach to the fabric
material of the horizontal frame 31 through a
hook-and-loop engagement with the horizontal frame 31.
The rod 43 horizontally extends and is connected to
a bottom edge of the folding curtain cloth 41.
In the preferred embodiment, the folding curtain
cloth 41 has a sheltering portion 411 and three sleeving
portions 416. Each of the sleeving portions 416 extends
horizontally, and is connected to a rear surface of the
sheltering portion 411 of the folding curtain cloth 41.
The sheltering portion 411 has a first cloth segment
412, a second cloth segment 413, a third cloth segment
414, and a fourth cloth segment 415, which are arranged
vertically in this order. The sleeving portions 416
horizontally extend, and are respectively disposed at
connecting portions between the first cloth segment 412
and the second cloth segment 413, between the second
cloth segment 413 and the third cloth segment 414, and
between the third cloth segment 414 and the fourth cloth
segment 415.
Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5, in the preferred
embodiment, the clamping unit 5 includes three
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connecting clamps 50 and three connecting tubes 53. The
connecting clamps 50 extend horizontally and are
vertically spaced apart from each other.
In an effort to simplify the discussion to follow
immediately below, the structure as it relates only to
one of the connecting clamps 50 and one of the connecting
tubes 53 will be described.
The connecting clamp 50 has a first clamping portion
51 that clamps onto the folding curtain cloth 41 and
a second clamping portion 52 that clamps onto the roller
blind cloth 34.
The connecting tube 53 extends horizontally on a rear
surface of the roller blind cloth 34, and is connected
to a respective one of the second clamping portions 52
of the connecting clamps 50.The first clamping portion
51 of the connecting clamp 50 has a front rod 511 and
a rear rod 512 which are disposed adjacent to each other
and end portions of which are connected to each other.
The front rod 511 and the rear rod 512 of the first clamping
portion 51 define a first slot 513 for clamping onto
the folding curtain cloth 41. In this embodiment, the
front rod 511 of the first clamping portion 51 is inserted
into a respective one of the sleeving portions 416, such
that the first clamping portion 51 clamps onto the
sleeving portion 416.
The second clamping portion 52 has a front rod 521
and a rear rod 522 disposed adjacent to each other and
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end portions of which are connected to each other. The
front rod 521 and the rear rod 522 of the second clamping
portion 52 define a second slot 523 for clamping onto
the roller blind cloth 34.
In this embodiment, the front rod 521 of the second
clamping portion 52 is coupled to the rear rod 512 of
the first clamping portion 51. In some embodiments, a
metal rod can be bent to form the connecting clamp 50.
In other embodiments, the connecting clamp 50 can be
formed using plastic material. Hence, the present
invention is not limited with respect to the material
and fabricating method used for the connecting clamp
50.
The connecting tube 53 is sleeved on the rear rod
522 of the second clamping portion 52 of the connecting
clamp 50. End portions of the connecting tube 53 of the
clamping unit 5 are formed with slits 532 that extend
horizontally and facilitate inserting of the rear rod
522 of the second clamping portion 52 into the connecting
tube 53. An inner surface of the connecting tube 53 of
the clamping unit 5 is formed with a plurality of
lengthwise ribs 533. The ribs 533 are used for enhancing
the strength of the connecting tube 53 so as to prevent
the same from being bent when in use.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, the roller blind
cloth 34 of the roller blind unit 3 and the folding curtain
cloth 41 of the curtain member unit 4 are respectively
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unwound and unfolded downwardly when the window 2 is
covered. On the other hand, the roller blind cloth 34
of the roller blind unit 3 is wound upwardly by pulling
the cord 33 of the roller blind unit 3 which results
in rotation of the roller rod 32. When the roller blind
cloth 34 is wound around the roller rod 32, the weighting
rod 35 moves upwardly to first push against the lowest
connecting clamp 50 and the lowest connecting tube 53,
and to subsequently displace the lowest connecting clamp
50 and the lowest connecting tube 53 in an upward
direction. As a result, the third cloth segment 414 is
folded as shown in Figure 6. Referring to Figures 3 and
6, this process is repeated with the continued winding
of the roller blind cloth 34, such that the roller blind
cloth 34 is fully wound around the roller rod 32, and
the second cloth segment 413 and the first cloth segment
412 are eventually folded upwardly as shown in Figures
7 and 8.
Figures 7 and 8 show that the folded curtain member
unit 4 has a sophisticated, classic appearance.
In the present invention, the roller blind unit 3
is provided with the folding curtain cloth 41 and the
clamping unit 5 is mounted between the curtain member
unit 4 and the roller blind unit 3. Hence, the result
is a style resembling a roman blind, a structure that
allows for mounting that is simple, and an overall design
in which the cost thereof is reduced.
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Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 4, the folding curtain
cloth 41 uses the fastening member 42 for attachment
to the horizontal frame 31. Accordingly, by simply
removing the fastening member 42 and the connecting
5 clamps 50, the folding curtain cloth 41 can be removed
for cleaning or for replacement with another folding
curtain cloth 41 with a different style. In addition,
the slit 532 of the connecting tube 53 of the clamping
unit 5 allows for convenient insertion of the rear rod
10 522 of the connecting clamp 50 into the connecting tube
53.
Figure 9 illustrates a second preferred embodiment
of the window blind assembly according to the present
invention. The second preferred embodiment differs from
the first preferred embodimentinthefollowingaspects.
The connecting tube 53 of each of the connecting
clamps 50 extends into a respective one of the sleeving
portions 416, and is sleeved on the front rod 511 of
the first clamping portion 51 of the corresponding
connecting clamp 50. During the process of being folded
upwardly, the connecting tube 53 can horizontally
support the folding curtain cloth 41.
While the present invention has been described in
connection with what are 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
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within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications
and equivalent arrangements.
