Patent Application
20180073295
The present invention relates generally to a window blind, and more particularly to a composite ladder tape and a window blind with said composite ladder tape.
The structure of a window blind commonly includes a headrail, a bottom rail, and a plurality of slats horizontally arranged therebetween, wherein the headrail and the bottom rail are connected through ladder tapes. Each ladder tape includes two warps and a plurality of wefts, wherein the warps are respectively provided on the front and rear sides of the slats, with two ends thereof respectively connected to the headrail and the bottom rail. Two ends of each weft are respectively connected to one warp in a way that the wefts are arranged between two warps, with an interval provided between each two neighboring warps to allow one of the slats to rest thereon. When one of the warps is moved up and down relative to the other warp, the wefts tilt, so that the slats rest thereon are tilted as well. In this way, the slats can be rotated to a closed position.
Some window blinds further have wide bands provided between the headrail and the bottom rail. Such a band would have a certain width, and therefore is able to create a decorative effect. Furthermore, the through holes on the slats, the warps of the ladder tapes, and other control cords can be shielded by the bands, providing a beautiful and neat feeling. However, since the bands and the warps of the ladder tapes are made of different materials, they may have different extension rates. As a result, the relative positions of the bands and the warps tend to change after using for a long period of time. Moreover, even bands on different sides or ladder tapes on different sides may have inconsistent lengths depending on the habit preference of the user. In such a condition, the positions of the wefts which have slats rest thereon would be offset, which not only affects the degree of closure while closing the slats, but also causes wrinkles on the bands fixedly connected to the warps of the ladder tapes, for the relative positions of the bands and the ladder tapes are also changed, making the window blind less beautiful.
Thus, a conventional window blind may not look beautiful, and may not be able to provide good closure when the slats are closed.
In view of the above, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide a composite ladder tape and a window blind with said ladder tape, which could provide a good shielding effect when the slats are closed, and would look beautiful at the same time.
The present invention provides a composite ladder tape, including a first warp, a second warp, a plurality of wefts, a first band, and a connecting device. The second warp is parallel to and spaced apart from the first warp. The wefts are provided in a long axis direction of the first warp and a long axis direction of the second warp, with an interval provided between each two neighboring wefts, wherein two ends of each of the wefts are respectively connected to the first warp and the second warp. The first band is provided in the long axis direction of the first warp. The connecting device connects the first warp and the first band, wherein the first warp and the first band are movable relative to each other.
In an embodiment, the connecting device includes a cord member provided in a long axis direction of the first band. A plurality of silts are formed between the cord member and a surface of the first band, and the first warp passes through the slits.
In an embodiment, the cord member of the connecting device is a thread provided. The thread includes a plurality of first portions and a plurality of second portions, wherein the first portions and the second portions are respectively fixed on the first band, and are respectively located on two sides of the first warp. A segment of the thread between each of the first portions and the corresponding adjacent second portion forms a slit between said segment and the surface of the first band.
In an embodiment, the first portions are sewn into the first band, and each of the first portions has at least one first sewing point. The second portions are sewn into the first band, and each of the second portions has at least one second sewing point. The first warp is located between the first sewing points and the second sewing points.
In an embodiment, the cord member of the connecting device is composed of a plurality of first crossing threads, which are provided on the surface of the first band in the long axis direction thereof. An interval is provided between each two neighboring first crossing threads. One of the slits is formed between each of the first crossing threads and the surface of the first band.
In an embodiment, the cord member of the connecting device is composed of a plurality of second crossing threads, a plurality of fixing loops, and a fixing cord. The second crossing threads are provided on the first band in the long axis direction thereof, with an interval provided between each two neighboring second crossing threads. One of the slits is formed between each of the second crossing threads and the surface of the first band; the fixing loops are provided on the first warp in the long axis direction of the first band, with an interval provided between each two neighboring fixing loops. The fixing cord passes through the fixing loops and the slits.
In an embodiment, two ends of the fixing cord are respectively fixed on the first band.
In an embodiment, the first band is formed by interweaving a plurality of lengthwise yarns and a plurality of crosswise yarns. A part of the crosswise yarns is not interwoven with the lengthwise yarns, and constitutes said second crossing threads.
In an embodiment, the connecting device includes a plurality of buckles, which are provided on the first band in a long axis direction thereof. An interval is provided between each two neighboring buckles. Each of the buckles has a ring portion. The first warp passes through the ring portions of the buckles.
In an embodiment, a plurality of first loops are provided on the first warp, on the first band, or on the connecting device in a long axis direction of the first band, with an interval provided between each two neighboring first loops.
In an embodiment, a plurality of second loops are provided on the second warp near each of the weft in a long axis direction of the first band.
In an embodiment, a second band is further provided in the long axis direction of the second warp.
The present invention further provides a window blind, including a headrail, a bottom rail, a plurality of slats, at least one composite ladder tape, and at least one second cord. The slats are horizontally provided between the headrail and the bottom rail, wherein each of the slats has a through hole provided thereon. The at least one composite ladder tape connects the headrail and the bottom rail. The at least one second cord is adapted to raise and lower the window blind. Each of the at least one composite ladder tape includes a first warp, a second warp, a plurality of wefts, a first band, a connecting device, and a plurality of second loops. The second warp is spaced apart from the first warp, wherein the first and the second warps are respectively provided on a front side and a rear side of the slats. Two ends of the first warp and two ends of the second warp are respectively connected to the headrail and the bottom rail. The wefts are provided in a long axis direction of the first warp and a long axis direction of the second warp, with an interval provided between each two neighboring wefts, wherein two ends of each of the wefts are respectively connected to the first warp and the second warp. Each of the wefts has one of the slats resting thereon. The first band is provided in the long axis direction of the first warp. The connecting device connects the first warp and the first band, wherein the first warp and the first band are movable relative to each other. The second loops are provided on the second warp near each of the wefts in a long axis direction of the first band, wherein each of the second loops passes through one of the through holes of the slats, and the second cord passes through the second loops.
In an embodiment, the window blind further includes at least one first cord adapted to raise and lower the window blind, wherein a plurality of first loops are provided on the first warp, on the first band, or on the connecting device in the long axis direction of the first band, with an interval provided between each two neighboring first loops. The at least one first cord passes through the first loops.
In an embodiment, the connecting device includes a cord member provided in the long axis direction of the first band. A plurality of silts are formed between the cord member and a surface of the first band. The first warp passes through the slits.
In an embodiment, the cord member of the connecting device is a thread. The thread includes a plurality of first portions and a plurality of second portions, wherein the first portions and the second portions are respectively fixed on the first band, and are respectively located on two sides of the first warp. A segment of the thread between each of the first portions and the corresponding adjacent second portion forms one of the slits between said segment and the first band.
In an embodiment, the first portions are sewn into the first band, and each of the first portions has at least one first sewing point. The second portions are sewn into the first band, and each of the second portions has at least one second sewing point. The first warp is located between the first sewing points and the second sewing points.
In an embodiment, the cord member of the connecting device is composed of a plurality of first crossing threads, which are provided on the surface of the first band in the long axis direction thereof. An interval is provided between each two neighboring first crossing threads. One of the slits is formed between each of the first crossing threads and the surface of the first band.
In an embodiment, the cord member of the connecting device is composed of a plurality of second crossing threads, a plurality of fixing loops, and a fixing cord. The second crossing threads are provided on the first band in the long axis direction thereof, with an interval provided between each two neighboring second crossing threads. One of the slits is formed between each of the second crossing threads and the surface of the first band; the fixing loops are provided on the first warp in the long axis direction of the first band, with an interval provided between each two neighboring fixing loops. The fixing cord passes through the fixing loops and the slits.
In an embodiment, the window blind further includes at least one first cord adapted to raise and lower the window blind, wherein the at least one first cord passes through the fixing loops and the slits.
In an embodiment, two ends of the fixing cord are respectively fixed on the first band.
In an embodiment, wherein the connecting device includes a plurality of buckles, which are provided on the first band in the long axis direction thereof. An interval is provided between each two neighboring buckles. Each of the buckles has a ring portion. The first warp passes through the ring portions of the buckles.
In an embodiment, the window blind further includes a second band provided in the long axis direction of the second warp.
With the aforementioned design, the first band could effectively shield the first warp without hindering the movement of the first warp. As a result, the composite ladder tape could maintain a good shielding effect when the slats are closed. Furthermore, the bands would not be extensively pulled by the warps, and therefore fewer wrinkles would be created on the bands, making the bands look beautiful.
The present invention will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of some illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which
As shown in
The first band 10 has an appropriate width, and is provided in a long axis direction of the first warp 22. An end of the first band 10 is connected to the headrail 2, while another end thereof is connected to the bottom rail 3.
The first warp 22 and the second warp 24 are provided in parallel, and are both in parallel with a long axis direction of the first band 10 as well. The warps 22, 24 are respectively provided on the front side and the rear side of the slat 4, wherein two ends of each of the warps 22, 24 are respectively connected to the headrail 2 and the bottom rail 3.
The wefts 30 are provided between the first warp 22 and the second warp 24 with an interval provided between each two neighboring wefts 30, wherein two ends of each of the weft 30 are respectively connected to the first warp 22 and the second warp 24 to allow one of the slats 4 to rest thereon. In other words, the slats 4 are supported by the wefts 30.
The connecting device is connected to the first band 10, whereby the first warp 22 is connected to the first band 10, and the first warp 22 is movable relative to the first band 10. For example, the first warp 22 could move or slide relative to the first band 10 in the long axis direction of the first band 10.
In the first embodiment, said connecting device includes a cord member, which is a thread 40 provided in the long axis direction of the first band 10, wherein the thread 40 includes a plurality of first portions 42 and a plurality of second portions 44. The first portions 42 and the second portions 44 are respectively fixed on the first band 10, which are respectively located on two sides of the first warp 22. The first portions 42 are sewn into the first band 10, each of which has a first sewing point thereon. Similarly, the second portions 44 are also sewn into the first band 10, each of which has a second sewing point thereon. As shown in
With the aforementioned design, the first band 10 could effectively shield the first warp 22 to create a decorative effect. Furthermore, with the design of the connecting device, the first warp 22 could be slightly movable in each of the slits S, so that the first warp 22 could move or slide relative to the long axis direction of the first band 10. In this way, when the slats 4 are tilted through the first warp 22 or the second warp 24 to adjust the shielding effect of the window blind 1, the movement of the first warp 22 would not affect the closure of the slats 4 even though the first warp 22 and the first band 10 may have different extension rates. Furthermore, the first band 10 would not be extensively pulled by the warps 22, 24 while in use. Therefore, the first band 10 would not have fewer wrinkles created thereon, and would look more beautiful.
In other embodiments, said cord member of the connecting device could be composed of more than one thread sewn on the first band 10, wherein each thread could be connected to another thread or not.
It is worth mentioning that, said composite ladder tape 100 could be further provided with a plurality of first loops and a plurality of second loops. For example, a plurality of first loops 23 could be provided on the first warp 22, on the first band 10, or on the thread 40 in the long axis direction of the first band 10, with an interval provided between each two neighboring first loops 23; a plurality of second loops 25 could be provided on the second warp 24 near each of the wefts 30 in the long axis direction of the first band 10, with an interval provided between each two neighboring second loops 25.
The first loops 23 are adapted to be passed through by the first cord 5, whereby the position and the movable range of the first cord 5 could be reasonably limited or positioned. Similarly, the second loops 25 are adapted to be passed through by the second cord 6, whereby the position and the movable range of the second cord 6 could be reasonably limited or positioned. Preferably, the first loops 23 and the second loops 25 could have excellent flexibility, so that they could perfectly match the corresponding cords 5, 6. However, the flexibility of the first loops 23 and the second loops 25 is not a limitation of the present invention. In practice, the first cord 5 and the second cord 6 could also provide different functions.
In another embodiment, a through hole 4a is provided on each of the slats 4 near a lateral edge thereof. A perimeter of each of the second loop 25 is greater than that of each of the first loop 23. Each of the second loops 25 respectively passes through the through hole 4a on one of the slats 4, and the second cord 6 passes through a part of each of the second loops 25 which extends out of the corresponding through hole 4a.
The aforementioned relation between the second loops 25 and the through holes 4a of the slats 4 could make the second warp 24, the slats 4, and the second cord 6 contain each other, restricting a lateral movable range of these components, whereby said components would not be easily disengaged from where they are, nor be excessively displaced. In addition, the advantages of providing the through holes 4a near the lateral edges of the slats 4 is that, when the window blind 1 is closed, each of the through holes 4a would be shielded by the overlapped part of the lateral edges of two neighboring slats 4, whereby the through holes 4a would not be exposed, enhancing the beauty and the degree of concealment of the window blind 1.
The positions of the first loops and the second loops mentioned in the above embodiment could be exchanged in another embodiment. In other words, there could be a plurality of second loops 25 provided on the first warp 22, on the first band 10, or on the thread 40 near each of the wefts 30 in the long axis direction of the first band 10, while a plurality of first loops 23 could be provided on the second warp 24 in the long axis direction of the first band 10, with an interval provided between each two neighboring first loops 23, wherein the first loops 23 are adapted to be passed through by the second cord 6. In such an embodiment, the perimeter of each of the first loops 23 is no greater than that of each of the second loops 25, and said through holes 4a could be also disposed at lateral edges of the slat 4 near the first warp 22. Whereby, the through holes 4a could be passed through by the second loops 25, and the second loops 25 could be passed through by the first cord 5. However, such design is not a limitation of the present invention.
As shown in
As shown in
It is worth mentioning that, though the number of the first sewing points of each first portion equals the number of the second sewing points of each second portion in the above embodiments, they are not necessary to be the same. For example, in another embodiment, it is possible that each first portion has only a first sewing point, while each second portion has a plurality of second sewing points, or the other way around. In yet another embodiment, the number of the first sewing points of each first portion could be further different from the number of the second sewing points of each second portion. However, the numbers of the first and the second sewing points, whether they are identical or not, are not limitations of the present invention.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
With the aforementioned design, the relative positions among the first band 610, the fixing cord 650, and the first warp 620 could be effectively confined, wherein the first warp 620 and the first band 610 could be moved relative to each other. As a result, when the first warp 620 is manipulated to adjust the tilt angle of the slats, the movement of the first warp 620 would not likely be restricted by the first band 610, whereby the slats could be perfectly closed. Furthermore, the first band 610 would not be excessively pulled by the warp 620, and therefore the first band 610 would not easily have unpleasant wrinkles created thereon. It is worth mentioning that, the design mentioned above could also prevent the first warp 620 and the fixing cord 650 from forming loops of different sizes when pulled outward.
It is also worth mentioning that, in an alternative embodiment shown in
Furthermore, in addition to the above embodiment with the fixing cord 650 and the first cord 5 both pass through the fixing loops 622, yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in
With the design of the fixing loops 722, the fixing cord 750, and the second crossing threads 712, the first warp 720 and the first band 710 would be connected together and still able to move or slide relative to each other. In addition, a plurality of first loops 724 are provided on the first warp 720 in a long axis direction of the first band 710, with an interval provided between each two neighboring first loops 724, and the first cord 5 passes through the first loops 724. Whereby, the first cord 5 could be connected to the first warp 720 in a way that the first cord 5 could be still movable relative to the first warp 720, so that the movable range of first cord 5 could be properly limited while being pulled, which ensures the safety of the user without interfering with the movements between the warps and the cords.
It is worth mentioning that, though there is only one single band exemplified in the aforementioned embodiments, this is not a limitation in practice. For example, as shown in
It is worth mentioning that, though the design of the bands (i.e., the first band 812 and the second band 814) of the composite ladder tape 800 of the aforementioned seventh embodiment is disclosed as mentioned above, in any embodiment which includes two or even more than two bands, both the connecting devices used to connect the first warp and the first band and used to connect the second warp and the second band could be carried out as any type of design disclosed in the first to the sixth embodiments.
Each composite ladder tape provided in the present invention could effectively shield the warp with the band to create a decorative effect. Furthermore, by connecting the band and the warp through the connecting device, the warp and the band would not interfere with each other while in use. Therefore, while adjusting or changing the shield effect created by the slats, the slats could be closed more perfectly. In addition, the band would not be easily pulled by the warp, whereby fewer wrinkles would be created on the band, which makes the window blind look more beautiful. It is also worth mentioning that, with the aforementioned design of the connecting device and the loops, the movable ranges of said warps and cords would be restricted while being pulled, which could reduce the risk that a user might get hurt by being wound by the warps or the cords.
It must be pointed out that the embodiments described above are only some preferred embodiments of the present invention. All equivalent structures which employ the concepts disclosed in this specification and the appended claims should fall within the scope of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201621054750.8 | Sep 2016 | CN | national |
