US20100263809A1

US20100263809A1 - Window blind assembly with a releasable curtain-drawing mechanism

Info

Publication number: US20100263809A1
Application number: US12/536,283
Authority: US
Inventors: Shih-Ming Lin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-04-20
Filing date: 2009-08-05
Publication date: 2010-10-21
Also published as: TW201038810A

Abstract

A window blind assembly includes a top rail, a drawable curtain, and a releasable curtain-drawing mechanism. The drawable curtain has an upper section hung from the top rail, and a lower section extending downwardly from the upper section. The releasable curtain-drawing mechanism includes a pull cord for drawing up and lowering the drawable curtain, and at least one magnetic connecting unit for connecting releasably the pull cord to the lower section of the drawable curtain. The magnetic connecting unit includes a first magnetic member connected to the pull cord, and a second magnetic member connected to the lower section of the drawable curtain. The second magnetic member is releasably connected to the first magnetic member via a magnetic force therebetween.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 098112976, filed on Apr. 20, 2009.

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 provided with a releasable curtain-drawing mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional window blind assembly is exemplified as a roman blind 1 that includes a top rail 11 adapted to be disposed at a top edge of a window, a drawable light-blocking curtain 12 hung from the top rail 11, and a pull cord 14 for drawing up and lowering the drawable light-blocking curtain 12. The drawable light-blocking curtain 12 is provided with a plurality of assembly pockets 122 vertically spaced apart from each other. The roman blind 1 further includes: a plurality of horizontal rods 131 disposed in the assembly pockets 122, respectively; two sets of vertically aligned connecting straps 132 connected to a rear side of the drawable light-blocking curtain 12, and vertically spaced apart from each other; and two sets of buckles 133 connected to a corresponding set of the vertically aligned connecting straps 132, respectively. The pull cord 14 includes an operating section 143 disposed in front of the drawable light-blocking curtain 12 for allowing a user to draw up or lower the drawable light-blocking curtain 12, and a pair of connecting sections 144. Each of the connecting sections 144 of the pull cord 14 extends through a corresponding set of the buckles 133, and is attached to a lowest one of the buckles 133 in the corresponding set.
Generally, the connecting sections 144 are fixedly attached to the lowest ones of the buckles 133 so as to prevent release of the pull cord 14 from the drawable light-blocking curtain 12. However, such an arrangement is dangerous for children playing with the pull cord 14. In particular, the arrangement as such can lead to strangulation when the pull cord 14 is wound on the neck of a child playing with the pull cord 14.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a window blind assembly provided with a releasable curtain-drawing mechanism to enhance safety and convenience during use.
Accordingly, a window blind assembly of this invention comprises a top rail, a drawable curtain, and a releasable curtain-drawing mechanism. The drawable curtain has an upper section hung from the top rail, and a lower section extending downwardly from the upper section. The releasable curtain-drawing mechanism includes a pull cord for drawing up and lowering the drawable curtain, and at least one magnetic connecting unit for connecting releasably the pull cord to the lower section of the drawable curtain. The magnetic connecting unit includes a first magnetic member connected to the pull cord, and a second magnetic member connected to the lower section of the drawable curtain. The second magnetic member is releasably connected to the first magnetic member via a magnetic force therebetween.
The magnetic force is sufficient to bear the weight of the drawable curtain so as to maintain connection between the first and second magnetic members and thus between the pull cord and the lower section of the drawable curtain when the drawable curtain is lowered from the top rail. The pull cord is released from the lower section of the drawable curtain when a pulling force that is sufficient to release the first magnetic member from the second magnetic member is applied to the pull cord while the drawable curtain is in a fully drawn up state.

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:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional roman blind;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the conventional roman blind shown in FIG. 1, illustrating a state where a drawable light-blocking curtain of the conventional roman blind is fully drawn up;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a window blind assembly with a releasable curtain-drawing mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a magnetic connecting unit of the releasable curtain-drawing mechanism of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the magnetic connecting unit of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a window blind assembly with a releasable curtain-drawing mechanism of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a magnetic connecting unit of the second preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the first preferred embodiment of a window blind assembly of the present invention is shown to be in the form of a roman blind adapted to be installed at a top edge of a window. The roman blind of this embodiment includes a top rail 2 adapted to be disposed at the top edge of the window, a light-blocking unit 3 hung from the top rail 2, and a releasable curtain-drawing mechanism 4 for drawing up and lowering the light-blocking unit 3.
The light-blocking unit 3 includes a drawable curtain 31 capable of blocking light. The drawable curtain 31 has an upper section 310 hung from the top rail 2, a lower section 311 extending downwardly from the upper section 310, and a plurality of assembly pockets 312 disposed horizontally at the drawable curtain 31 and vertically spaced apart from each other. The light-blocking unit 3 further includes a plurality of horizontal rods 321 respectively disposed in the assembly pockets 312, two sets of vertically aligned connecting straps 322 connected to a rear side of the drawable curtain 31, and a plurality of buckles 323, 323′. The connecting straps 322 are vertically spaced apart from each other, and are disposed adjacent to a corresponding one of the assembly pockets 312. Each of the buckles 323, 323′ is connected to a corresponding one of the connecting straps 322, and the lowest two of the buckles 323′ are respectively connected to the lowest two of the connecting straps 322 disposed at a top edge of the lower section 311 of the drawable curtain 31.
In this embodiment, the releasable curtain-drawing mechanism 4 includes a pull cord 41 extending through the top rail 2 for drawing up and lowering the drawable curtain 31, and a pair of magnetic connecting units 5 for connecting releasably the pull cord 41 to the lower section 311 of the drawable curtain 31. Each of the magnetic connecting units 5 includes a first magnetic member 51 connected to the pull cord 41, and a second magnetic member 52 connected to a corresponding one of the lowest buckles 323′ on the lower section 311 of the drawable curtain 31. The second magnetic member 52 is releasably connected to the first magnetic member 51 via a magnetic force therebetween. The pull cord 41 includes an operating section 411 disposed in front of the drawable curtain 31, and a pair of connecting sections 412 disposed behind the drawable curtain 31 and spaced apart from each other in a left-right direction. Each of the connecting sections 412 extends through a corresponding one of the buckles 323, and has a connecting end 413 attached to the first magnetic member 51 of a corresponding one of the magnetic connecting units 5.
For each of the magnetic connecting units 5, the first magnetic member 51 includes a first block 511 made of plastic, and a first magnetic component 512 disposed at the first block 511. The first block 511 has a first top end 518 and a first bottom end 517 opposite to the first top end 518, and is formed with a first through hole 516 adjacent to the first top end 518 for coupling with a corresponding one of the connecting ends 413 of the connecting sections 412 of the pull cord 41. The second magnetic member 52 includes a second block 521 made of plastic, and a second magnetic component 522 disposed at the second block 521. The second block 521 has a second top end 527 and a second bottom end 528 opposite to the second top end 527. The second block 521 is formed with a second through hole 526 adjacent to the second bottom end 528 for coupling with a corresponding one of the lowest buckles 323′. The first magnetic component 512 is a made of a magnetically attracting material, such as a permanent magnet, and the second magnetic component 522 is made of the magnetically attracting material or a magnetically attracted material, i.e., a material that can be attracted by a magnet.
The magnetic force between the first and second magnetic components 512, 522 can be designed according to particular requirements. The magnetic force is sufficient to bear the weight of the drawable curtain 31 so as to maintain connection between the first and second magnetic members 51, 52 and thus between the pull cord 41 and the lower section 311 of the drawable curtain 31 when the drawable curtain 31 is lowered from the top rail 2.
In this embodiment, the second top end 527 of the second block 521 is configured with a frustoconical mate coupling part 529 that projects toward the first bottom end 517 of the first block 511, and that is formed with a second recess 525 for retaining the second magnetic component 522 therein. The first bottom end 517 of the first block 511 is formed with a female coupling part 519 that complements the male coupling part 529, that is formed with a first recess 515 for retaining the first magnetic component 512 therein, and that receives removably the male coupling part 529. The second top end 527 has an annular top surface 523, and the male coupling part 529 of the second block 521 has an inclined outer surrounding surface 524 upwardly and inwardly extending from the annular top surface 523. The first bottom end 517 has an annular bottom surface 513 corresponding to the annular top surface 523. The female coupling part 519 of the first block 511 has an inclined inner surrounding surface 514 engaging the outer surrounding surface 524 of the male coupling part 529 and converging from the annular bottom surface 513 to the first recess 515. Therefore, the second magnetic member 52 can be automatically guided into alignment with the first magnetic member 51 when the second magnetic member 52 is connected to the first magnetic member 51.
It should be noted that the pull cord 41 is released from the lower section 311 of the drawable curtain 31 when a pulling force that is sufficient to release the first magnetic member 51 from the second magnetic member 52 is applied to the pull cord 41 while the drawable curtain 31 is in a fully drawn up state. Therefore, when the pull cord 41 is wound on the neck of a child playing with the same, the pull cord 41 will be instantly and automatically released from the drawable curtain 31 due to the weight of the child that is certainly sufficient to release the first magnetic member 51 from the second magnetic member 52, thereby alleviating accidental strangulation.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the second preferred embodiment of the window blind assembly of this invention is shown to be similar to the first preferred embodiment. In this embodiment, each of the magnetic connecting units 5 further includes a cord section 53 having one end connected to the second block 521 at the second through hole 526 and an opposite end connected to the corresponding one of the lowest buckles 323′. By virtue of the cord sections 53, the magnetic members 51, 52 of the magnetic connecting units 5 can be disposed spacedly from the lower section 311 of the drawable curtain 31.
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 within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A window blind assembly comprising:

a top rail;

a drawable curtain that has an upper section hung from said top rail, and a lower section extending downwardly from said upper section; and

a releasable curtain-drawing mechanism including a pull cord for drawing up and lowering said drawable curtain, and at least one magnetic connecting unit for connecting releasably said pull cord to said lower section of said drawable curtain, said magnetic connecting unit including a first magnetic member connected to said pull cord, and a second magnetic member connected to said lower section of said drawable curtain, said second magnetic member being releasably connected to said first magnetic member via a magnetic force therebetween;

wherein the magnetic force is sufficient to bear the weight of said drawable curtain so as to maintain connection between said first and second magnetic members and thus between said pull cord and said lower section of said drawable curtain when said drawable curtain is lowered from said top rail; and

wherein said pull cord is released from said lower section of said drawable curtain when a pulling force that is sufficient to release said first magnetic member from said second magnetic member is applied to said pull cord while said drawable curtain is in a fully drawn up state.

2. The window blind assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first magnetic member includes a first block and a first magnetic component disposed at said first block, and said second magnetic member includes a second block and a second magnetic component disposed at said second block and releasably connected to said first magnetic component via the magnetic force therebetween.

3. The window blind assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said first block of said first magnetic member has a first top end and a first bottom end opposite to said first top end, said first bottom end being formed with a first recess for retaining said first magnetic component therein; and

said second block of said second magnetic member has a second top end and a second bottom end opposite to said second top end, said second top end being formed with a second recess for retaining said second magnetic component therein.

4. The window blind assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein one of said first bottom end and said second top end is configured with a frustoconical male coupling part projecting toward the other one of said first bottom end and said second top end and formed with one of said first and second recesses,

the other one of said first bottom end and said second top end being formed with a female coupling part that complements said male coupling part, that is formed with the other one of said first and second recesses, and that receives removably said male coupling part.

5. The window blind assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein one of said first and second magnetic components is a made of a magnetically attracting material, and the other one of said first and second magnetic components is made of a magnetically attracted material.

6. The window blind assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said first and second magnetic components is made of a magnetically attracting material.

7. The window blind assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said drawable curtain further includes a pair of buckles disposed on said lower section;

said pull cord includes a pair of connecting sections disposed behind said drawable curtain and spaced apart from each other in a left-right direction; and

said releasable curtain-drawing mechanism includes a pair of said magnetic connecting units, each of said magnetic connecting units releasably interconnecting one of said connecting sections of said pull cord and one of said buckles.

8. The window blind assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said first magnetic member of each of said magnetic connecting units includes a first block and a first magnetic component disposed at said first block, said first block having a first top end and a first bottom end opposite to said first top end, said first bottom end being formed with a first recess for retaining said first magnetic component therein, said first block being further formed with a first through hole for coupling with a corresponding one of said connecting sections of said pull cord; and

said second magnetic member of each of said magnetic connecting units includes a second block and a second magnetic component disposed at said second block and releasably connected to said first magnetic component via the magnetic force therebetween, said second block having a second top end and a second bottom end opposite to said second top end, said second top end being further formed with a second recess for retaining said second magnetic component therein, said second block being formed with a second through hole for coupling with a corresponding one of said buckles.

9. The window blind assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein one of said first bottom end and said second top end is configured with a frustoconical male coupling part projecting toward the other one of said first bottom end and said second top end and formed with one of said first and second recesses,

10. The window blind assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of said magnetic connecting units further includes a cord section having one end connected to said second block at said second through hole and an opposite end connected to the corresponding one of said buckles.

11. The window blind assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of said magnetic connecting units further includes a cord section having one end connected to said second block at said second through hole and an opposite end connected to the corresponding one of said buckles.