Window coverings

• US 20080314530A1
• Filed: 06/22/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Li-Ming Cheng
• Original Assignee: Li-Ming Cheng
• Inventors: Cheng, Li-Ming
• Granted Patent: US 7,717,154 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 160/170
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/322 Details of operating devices, e.g. pulleys, brakes, spring drums, drives operating devices E06B9/68 ; devices of general interest specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material B65H75/34

Abstract

A window coverings includes an upper and a lower elongated members, a slat assembly, a first lift cord, a second lift cord and a lift cord retracting and releasing control means. The lift cord retracting and releasing control means is located at the upper elongated member and cooperative with the first and second lift cords to control movement of the slat assembly. The first lift cord has one end fastened to the lift cord retracting and releasing control means and other end threading through the upper elongated member. The second lift cord has one end fastened and wound around the lift cord retracting and releasing control means and threading through the upper elongated member. Through coupling relationship between the first and second lift cords and the lift cord retracting and releasing control means the slat assembly already rolled up or extended at a selected elevation can be altered to another elevation.

Claims

1. A window coverings, comprising at least:

an upper elongated member;

a lower elongated member spaced from the upper elongated member at a lower position;

a slat assembly which has slats and a lift cord means and an upper end fastened to the upper elongated member and a lower end fastened to the lower elongated member;

a lift cord winding and releasing control means located on the upper elongated member;

a first lift cord to control the lower elongated member to be extended downwards in a constant fashion having one end fastened to the lift cord winding and releasing control means and other end threading through the upper elongated member; and

a second lift cord to control the lower elongated member to be retracted upwards in a staged fashion having one end fastened and wound around the lift cord winding and releasing control means and other end threading through the upper elongated member.

2. The window coverings of claim 1, wherein the lift cord winding and releasing control means includes a ratchet and gear set, a driving spool, a movable member and an auxiliary gear set.

3. The window coverings of claim 2, wherein the movable member has an aperture at one end;

a locating bar and a trough on a bottom end, wherein the trough holding a spring.

4. The window coverings of claim 2, wherein the ratchet and gear set includes at least a winding spool, a stopper and an elastic element.

5. The window coverings of claim 4, wherein the winding spool is coupled on a shaft and has a gear on a upper end, a winding trough at a middle portion and a ratchet spool at a lower end, the winding trough being wound by the lift cord means.

6. The window coverings of claim 4, wherein the stopper is pivotally coupled on an anchor post and has a latch end at one end to form a latch condition with the ratchet spool and a boss at another end.

7. The window coverings of claim 4, wherein the elastic element has one end latched on the boss of the stopper and other end coupled on a strut.

8. The window coverings of claim 2, wherein the driving spool has a first axle run through the center that is movable in a slant rectangular opening.

9. The window coverings of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary gear set has a gear which has a winding trough at a middle portion and a groove on a lower end to hold an elastic element.

10. The window coverings of claim 1, wherein the lift cord winding and releasing control means has an auxiliary spool set and a latch spool set.

11. The window coverings of claim 10, wherein the auxiliary spool set includes at least a winding spool, an elastic element coupled on a boss of a spool seat, an axle sleeve and a roller.

12. The window coverings of claim 11, wherein the winding spool has a spool seat which has a boss formed thereon, the boss having a trough and a through hole running through the center of the spool seat and a latch trough formed on the periphery thereof.

13. The window coverings of claim 11, wherein the axle sleeve has an axle hole and is held in the through hole of the spool seat and in a center hole of the roller which has a groove.

14. The window coverings of claim 10, wherein the latch spool set includes at least a winding spool, a upper axle sleeve, a lower axle sleeve, a winding spool, a upper coupling member, a lower coupling member and a stopper.

15. The window coverings of claim 14, wherein the winding spool has a spool seat which has a winding groove for winding the second lift cord and a boss formed thereon, the boss having a trough and a through hole running through the center of the spool seat, and a latch trough formed on the periphery thereof to latch an outer end of an elastic element.

16. The window coverings of claim 14, wherein the upper axle sleeve and the lower axle sleeve are located in the through hole of the winding spool and the winding spool, and have respectively a portion engaged with each other and an axle hole in the center thereof, the upper axle sleeve having a shank at other end that has a latch end, the periphery of the shank being coupled with an arched detent member and having a slant latch trough at a lower half portion to allow a pin to move therein, the lower axle sleeve having a pin hole on the periphery close to the engaging portion to receive an locating bar to fix the lower axle sleeve on the winding spool.

17. The window coverings of claim 14, wherein the winding spool is located at the bottom of the winding spool and has a coupling opening in the center to hold the lower axle sleeve and a winding groove on the periphery to wind the lift cord means, and a ratchet spool at the bottom that has a recess at one end to hold a spring.

18. The window coverings of claim 14, wherein the upper coupling member is held in a coupling opening and has a flange at the top and a wedge boss extended at a lower position that has a housing trough.

19. The window coverings of claim 14, wherein the lower coupling member supports a spring.

20. The window coverings of claim 14, wherein the stopper is pivotally held in the second aperture and has a latch end at one end engaged with a ratchet spool located at the bottom of the winding spool, a hole close to the latch end to fasten to the first lift cord and an opening at another end to latch one end of an elastic element.