Patent Application
20130292066
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of window coverings and more specifically relates to the positioning of a window covering.
2. Related Art
Most homes and commercial buildings incorporate windows as a way to allow natural light to illuminate the interior space of the home or building. The introduction of natural light is generally viewed as a desirable aspect of an enjoyable and well-designed interior environment. Additionally, the use of windows allows for occupants of the building to view the surroundings located outside the building, including any scenery that may be present. This can add to the overall enjoyment of the structure as the occupants can appreciate the natural light and views available through the windows.
However, there are often times when it is desirable to have the windows covered, to prevent light from entering the structure and to prevent individuals on the outside from peering into the building from the exterior. For example, whenever privacy is desired, or during the evening hours, most people will cover the windows with some type of window covering to prevent passersby from viewing the interior of their home or building and to keep unwanted light from entering the structure. This has led to the development of many different approaches that can be used to selectively and temporarily cover the windows of a home or business.
For example, a wide variety of coverings such as venetian blinds, plantation shutters, curtains, vertical blinds, etc. have been developed and deployed to provide temporary cover for windows. Venetian blinds and plantation shutters generally employ a plurality of horizontal “louvers” or “slats” that can be selectively positioned in various orientations, including the “open” position so as to allow light to enter through the window or in the “closed” position, thereby covering the window so as to prevent light from entering the window. Interim positions are also possible. Similarly, vertical blinds employ a plurality of vertical “louvers” or “slats” that can be selectively positioned as desired to control the amount of light that enters through a window. Curtains are simply large pieces of material that can be selectively positioned over the window, thereby allowing the building occupants to determine when, and how much, light can enter through the window.
While various window coverings have been adopted with varying levels of success, present window coverings have certain limitations. For example, most venetian blinds and vertical blinds comprise a rotatable “wand” or pull chain/rope mechanism that can be used to adjust the angle of the slats in the window covering. However, this takes time and, where uniformity for the positioning of the slats in a number of different windows is desired, may take some trial and error. Plantation shutters, while providing an enhanced ability to quickly and accurately position the slats in the open or closed position, lack the ability to accurately provide uniformity of slat positions as well. Accordingly, without additional improvements in the variety and operation of window coverings, the ability to control and adapt the window covering to achieve the desired lighting effect will continue to be sub-optimal.
A window covering system with selectively positionable slats and a plurality of strategically positioned pairs of cooperating magnets. At least one magnet is embedded in or otherwise attached to predetermined locations on both the frame and the slats of the window covering. By aligning the magnets in the slats with the magnets in the frame, the slats can be quickly, reliably, and uniformly set to one or more desired positions.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements, and:
A window covering system with selectively positionable slats and a plurality of strategically positioned pairs of cooperating magnets. At least one magnet is embedded in or otherwise attached to predetermined locations on both the frame and the slats of the window covering. By aligning the magnets in the slats with the magnets in the frame, the slats can be quickly, reliably, and uniformly set to one or more desired positions.
In the most preferred embodiments of the present invention, the window covering system is based on a standard plantation shutter window covering that has been modified as disclosed herein. In the standard plantation shutter window covering, there are a plurality of horizontally positioned relatively flat and rectangular “slats” or “louvers” of uniform size that are spaced equidistant from each other. These slats are pivotably fixed in position in a frame. There is also a vertical adjustment bar that is pivotably attached to the front each of the slats. Since the adjustment bar is attached to each of the slats, any movement of the adjustment bar in a vertical direction (up or down) causes all of the slats to pivot about a pivot point and be positioned in a substantially identical orientation, relative to each other and the frame of the plantation shutter window covering.
By grasping the adjustment bar with your hand, and moving it upwards or downwards in a vertical direction, the position of the individual slats can be adjusted in unison. If the adjustment bar is moved to the extreme upward or extreme downward position, the slats will be placed in a substantially vertical orientation, thereby effectively blocking all or substantially all of the window opening. By positioning the adjustment bar in a position approximately midway between the extreme, positions, the slats are positioned so as to be substantially parallel to each other and floor of the room, thereby permitting the maximum amount of light to enter the room. Accordingly, by moving the adjustment bar and positioning the slats at various positions, the amount of light entering the room through the window can be adjusted to the desired level. For purposes of discussion, the term “affixed to” means attached to a surface of the frame or the slats or embedded beneath the surface of the frame or the slats.
Referring now to
It should be noted that the window covering system shown in
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Additionally, as shown in
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The number of magnets used, the size of the magnets, the strength of the magnets, and the positioning of the magnets, will be determined by the specific applications. Larger windows, with larger slats, will require larger magnets. It is not necessary to have a magnet associated with each slat, but it may be desirable to ensure the most effective magnetic positioning of the slats. For example, in the most preferred embodiments of the present invention, there will be a plurality of magnets in both the slats and the frame. In this application, there may be a pair of magnets in the frame that would attract the slats to a substantially closed position, both upwards and downwards. Additionally, there may be magnets positioned in the frame so as to attract the slats to the position where the angle with the horizontal plane depicted in
Referring now to
In summary, the present invention teaches a window covering system with selectively positionable or repositionable slats comprises a plurality of strategically positioned cooperating magnets. The magnets are affixed to, embedded in or otherwise attached to predetermined locations on both the slats of the window covering and the frame or housing for the slats. By aligning the magnets in the slats with the magnets in the frame, the slats can be quickly, reliably, and uniformly set to the desired position or positions.
From the foregoing description, it should be appreciated that window covering system disclosed herein presents significant benefits that would be apparent to one skilled in the art. Furthermore, while multiple embodiments have been presented in the foregoing description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations in the embodiments exist. Lastly, it should be appreciated that these embodiments are preferred exemplary embodiments only and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description provides those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in the exemplary preferred embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
