The invention relates generally to window blinds, and more particularly to systems and methods for constructing the blinds such that various configurations of open and closed sections of the blinds in a single panel can be achieved.
Generally, curtains and blinds are hung on windows of houses and other dwellings to block lights or maintain privacy inside of the home. However, some drawbacks can be present in existing systems. When the blind is opened, light can enter the house and heat and light up the interior, but this can be unpleasant if the light is too bright or causes glare. When the blind is fully closed, all light may be effectively blocked, but people may then need to turn on interior lights. Users may have a need for some light coming in from the exterior while also having a need for privacy. When the blinds are oriented such that light can enter through the gaps between the blades of the blinds, the size of the blade gap cannot be controlled by the user. This can lead to situations where there is too little or too much light, or too little or too much coverage for privacy. Furthermore, another major drawback of some existing blinds systems is that the blind only has limited operations for obtaining limited shading effects. For example, the user can only control the opening and closing operations of the blinds and the rotation of the blades (also referred to herein as “slats”) of the blinds system without being able to control partially open and partially closed positioning of the blades, wherein these options are selectable by the user based on their needs. Therefore, there is a need for a solution to the above problems.
The aspects or the problems and the associated solutions presented in this section could be or could have been pursued; they are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches presented in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their presence in this section of the application.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In some embodiments, a window blinds system is provided which comprises at least an upper section and a lower section. In such embodiments, the upper section is configured to provide a double blade gap.
The above aspects or examples and advantages, as well as other aspects or examples and advantages, will become apparent from the ensuing description and accompanying drawings.
For exemplification purposes, and not for limitation purposes, aspects, embodiments or examples of the invention are illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:
What follows is a description of various aspects, embodiments and/or examples in which the invention may be practiced. Reference will be made to the attached drawings, and the information included in the drawings is part of this detailed description. The aspects, embodiments and/or examples described herein are presented for exemplification purposes, and not for limitation purposes. It should be understood that structural and/or logical modifications could be made by someone of ordinary skills in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined by the accompanying claims and their equivalents.
It should be understood that, for clarity of the drawings and of the specification, some or all details about some structural components or steps that are known in the art are not shown or described if they are not necessary for the invention to be understood by one of ordinary skills in the art.
For the following description, it can be assumed that most correspondingly labeled elements across the figures (e.g., 105 and 205, etc.) possess the same characteristics and are subject to the same structure and function. If there is a difference between correspondingly labeled elements that is not pointed out, and this difference results in a non-corresponding structure or function of an element for a particular embodiment, example or aspect, then the conflicting description given for that particular embodiment, example or aspect shall govern.
In some embodiments, the blinds systems provided herein comprise a first set of cords 16a and a second set of cords 16b. In such embodiments, each set of cords may comprise a first (outer) supporting cord 233a running along a front and back side of the blinds system, a second (inner) supporting cord 233b running along a front and back side of the blinds system, a plurality of transverse cords 132 along the supporting cords, and a lift cord 11. As described above, the blinds systems provided herein may comprise two lift cords 11a and 11b, wherein each of the lift cords are accessible to the user, generally on a first side (which could be a left side) 17a of the blinds system via a free-hanging section of the lift cords, generally indicated by 11c. The first lift cord 11a may be received into an interior section of the headrail 70, and next extend out of the headrail on a first side of the blinds system 17a, and makes up a center portion of the first set of cords 16a (not clearly visible in
In some embodiments, the blinds systems provided herein comprise a first section 222 containing the double slats 224, and a second section 223 containing the single slats 225. In such embodiments, each double slat 224 comprises a pair of slats, which may generally comprise the same shape, size, width, and so on of each of the single slats 225.
In some embodiments, sets of transverse cords 132 are provided along the lift cords 11 at regular intervals, and may be equally spaced apart from neighboring transverse cords. In some embodiments, each double slat 224 is spaced along the lift cords 11 such that a set of transverse cords 132 are appear between neighboring double slats, wherein a distance 121 between neighboring double slats 224 can be created in certain shading arrangements. In some embodiments, the distance 121, having a set of transverse cords between double slats, is referred to as a “double view,” meaning that the amount of light and the visible view through the gap is larger than that of the gap between single slats. In some embodiments, each single slat 225 is spaced along the lift cords 11 such that a single slat is spaced apart from the lowest or bottommost double slat 224B, with a set of transverse cords 132 in between the single slat and the bottommost double slat 224B and neighboring single slats 225 are spaced along the lift cords 11 such that each single slat occurs along each set of transverse cords 132. In other words, empty sets of transverse cords generally do not occur in between single slats 225.
As shown as an example in
As will be discussed in further detail when referring to
Each set of transverse cords 132 may extend between the supporting cords. In such embodiments, each set of transverse cords 132 comprises two transverse cords 132A and 132B. In such embodiments, each double slat 224 is supported by the transverse cords in a manner such that a top (or first) transverse cord 132A supports the top double slat 224C, and a bottom (or second) transverse cord 132B supports the bottom double slat 224D. In such embodiments, both the top (or first) transverse cord 132A and the bottom (or second) transverse cord 132B support a single slat 225. Although the two transverse cords do not adopt a top and bottom orientation when supporting a single slat together, it should be understood that the two transverse cords may be of a similar configuration, shape, size, and so on of the transverse cords supporting the double slats.
In some embodiments, the top transverse cord 132A is associated with the outer supporting cord 233a, such that the top transverse cord 132A is connected on one end to the outer supporting cord 233a on the front side of the blinds system and connected on a second end to the outer supporting cord 233a on the back side of the blinds system. In some embodiments, the bottom transverse cord 132B is associated with the inner supporting cord 233b, such that the bottom transverse cord 132B is connected on one end to the inner supporting cord 233b on the front side of the blinds system and connected on a second end to the inner supporting cord 233b on the back side of the blinds system.
The supporting cords are associated with the wheel units shown in
It may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used in this patent document. The term “couple” and its derivatives refer to any direct or indirect communication between two or more elements, whether or not those elements are in physical contact with one another. The term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or. The phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like.
Further, as used in this application, “plurality” means two or more. A “set” of items may include one or more of such items. Whether in the written description or the claims, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of,” respectively, are closed or semi-closed transitional phrases with respect to claims.
If present, use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed. These terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements. As used in this application, “and/or” means that the listed items are alternatives, but the alternatives also include any combination of the listed items.
Throughout this description, the aspects, embodiments or examples shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than limitations on the apparatus or procedures disclosed or claimed. Although some of the examples may involve specific combinations of method acts or system elements, it should be understood that those acts and those elements may be combined in other ways to accomplish the same objectives.
Acts, elements and features discussed only in connection with one aspect, embodiment or example are not intended to be excluded from a similar role(s) in other aspects, embodiments or examples.
Aspects, embodiments or examples of the invention may be described as processes, which are usually depicted using a flowchart, a flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may depict the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged. With regard to flowcharts, it should be understood that additional and fewer steps may be taken, and the steps as shown may be combined or further refined to achieve the described methods.
If means-plus-function limitations are recited in the claims, the means are not intended to be limited to the means disclosed in this application for performing the recited function, but are intended to cover in scope any equivalent means, known now or later developed, for performing the recited function.
Claim limitations should be construed as means-plus-function limitations only if the claim recites the term “means” in association with a recited function.
If any presented, the claims directed to a method and/or process should not be limited to the performance of their steps in the order written, and one skilled in the art can readily appreciate that the sequences may be varied and still remain within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Although aspects, embodiments and/or examples have been illustrated and described herein, someone of ordinary skills in the art will easily detect alternate of the same and/or equivalent variations, which may be capable of achieving the same results, and which may be substituted for the aspects, embodiments and/or examples illustrated and described herein, without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of this application is intended to cover such alternate aspects, embodiments and/or examples. Hence, the scope of the invention is defined by the accompanying claims and their equivalents. Further, each and every claim is incorporated as further disclosure into the specification.
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