Abstract: A louver blade for a louvered window includes: a longitudinal blade body having opposite first and second surfaces that extend along a longitudinal axis of the blade body, two transverse surfaces that extend along a first transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and two pivot holes formed respectively in the transverse surfaces and aligned with the longitudinal axis; and a longitudinal reinforcing plate disposed within the blade body. The reinforcing plate includes an intermediate bent portion, and two end portions extending from the intermediate bent portion. The reinforcing plate has a minimum distance from the longitudinal axis, which is larger than the radii of the pivot holes.

Abstract: A pull cord device for controlling raising and lowering of a base rail of a window covering includes a locking wheel having a toothed segment turnable between locked and unlocked positions to engage and disengage from a cord spool, respectively, a cord-release controlling member having a cord retaining region to engage a pull cord to be movable along a linear running path when the pull cord is pulled in the unlocked position, a guideway disposed in the locking wheel, and including an angularly extending first route and a looped route, a guided member having a key end disposed in the guideway, and a linkage coupling the controlling member with the locking wheel such that when the controlling member is moved, the locking wheel is turned from the locked position to the unlocked position, and such that, in the unlocked position, the cord retaining region remains unmoved in each of regions in the looped route.

Abstract: A window blind assembly includes an outer frame, a blind unit, and a control device. The outer frame includes a head rail defining a first receiving space, and two opposite vertical rails one of which defines a second receiving space in spatial communication with the first receiving space. The blind unit includes a plurality of slats and a slat ladder supporting the slats. The control device includes a lift cord connected to the slats, and a control member having an operating portion that extends outwardly from the second receiving space and that is operable to slide the control member relative to the outer frame so as to raise or lower the slats.

Abstract: A cord-releasing safety device includes a casing having a receiving space extending from top to bottom open-end portions thereof, a damping seat inserted into the receiving space and slidable upward and downward relative to the casing, a limiting unit associated with the top open-end portion and the damping seat to limit upward and downward movement of the damping seat relative to the casing, an urging element disposed in the receiving space for urging the damping seat to move upward, and a coupling member connected detachably to a lower connecting portion of the damping seat and adapted to be connected with a pull cord of the window blind.

Abstract: A cord-releasing safety device includes a casing having a receiving space extending from top to bottom open-end portions thereof, a damping seat inserted into the receiving space and slidable upward and downward relative to the casing, a limiting unit associated with the top open-end portion and the damping seat to limit upward and downward movement of the damping seat relative to the casing, an urging element disposed in the receiving space for urging the damping seat to move upward, and a coupling member connected detachably to a lower connecting portion of the damping seat and adapted to be connected with a pull cord of the window blind.

Abstract: A cord-winding device for winding of cords of a window blind includes first and second reel members adapted to wind and unwind the cords, respectively, two first gears connected coaxially and respectively to the reel members for simultaneous rotation, and two torsion springs connected coaxially and respectively to the reel members for urging the reel members to rotate in a winding direction. A synchronizing wheel unit includes a second gear disposed between and meshed with the first gears, and a roller connected between the torsion springs for pulling the torsion springs against spring forces of the torsion springs. A press unit has an engaging member to engage releasably and to stop rotation of the synchronizing wheel unit.

Abstract: A window blind assembly includes top and bottom fixing seats adapted to be fixed to a support and having a first engaging portion, a headrail, a bottom rail, and a blind unit. Each of the headrail and bottom rail includes a pair of first and second clamp plates having opposite inner faces, and protrusion-and-groove engagement surfaces formed on the inner faces. One of the first and second clamp plates further has a first retaining portion to engage the first engaging portion. The blind unit has top and bottom end portions. Each of the top and bottom end portions is clamped detachably between the inner faces and between the protrusion-and-groove engagement surfaces of one of the headrail and the bottom rail.

Abstract: A foamable composition including 100 parts by weight of a plastic material, 4 to 125 parts by weight of coal ash, and a foaming agent, is disclosed. A method for making a foam material, and an architectural material made from the foam material are also disclosed.

Abstract: A slat tilting device for tilting slats of a window covering includes a mounting seat having a horizontal surface and a bearing wall for rotatably supporting a journal segment about a first rotating axis that extends rearwardly and downwardly toward the horizontal surface. The journal segment is connected to a driving shaft and a pulley roller. A driven wheel is rotated by the driving shaft so as to drive a tilt shaft to turn, thereby tilting the slats. An operating cord is wound on the pulley roller, and has two pulled segments that extend downwardly and that are pulled to result in rotation of the pulley roller so as to enable the driving shaft to turn the tilt shaft. A joined gripped end of the operating cord is disposed forwardly and away from the slats to avoid hindrance caused by the slats during the pulling operation.

Abstract: A lockable cord pulling device includes a mounting member having a vertically extending abutment wall, and a pulley roller rotatably mounted on the mounting member, a pull cord trained on the pulley roller to form an underlying region that cooperates with the abutment wall to define a moving route oriented in a vertical direction, and a lock roller movable along the moving route. When the pull cord is pulled to bring the underlying region into frictional engagement with the lock roller, subsequent downward pulling of the pull cord in an upright direction to tense the underlying region will cause the lock roller to roll to a locked position, where the lock roller is stuck between the pulley roller and the abutment wall. The lock roller is allowed to fall into an unlocked position by virtue of gravity once the pull cord is pulled leftwards.

Abstract: A vertical window blind includes a headrail, a plurality of carriers, a plurality of vertical slats, a decorative curtain, and a plurality of connecting devices. The curtain includes a curtain body having a plurality of mounting portions and covering portions that are alternately arranged along a longitudinal direction of the headrail. Each of the connecting devices includes a first connecting unit disposed at a respective one of the carriers, and a second connecting unit disposed at a respective one of the mounting portions of the decorative curtain and connected removably to the first connecting unit. Gaps between the slats are completely screened by the covering portions of the decorative curtain.

Abstract: A pull cord device for controlling raising and lowering of a base rail of a window covering includes a locking wheel having a toothed segment turnable between locked and unlocked positions to engage and disengage from a cord spool, respectively, a cord-release controlling member having a cord retaining region to engage a pull cord to be movable along a linear running path when the pull cord is pulled in the unlocked position, a guideway disposed in the locking wheel, and including an angularly extending first route and a looped route, a guided member having a key end disposed in the guideway, and a linkage coupling the controlling member with the locking wheel such that when the controlling member is moved, the locking wheel is turned from the locked position to the unlocked position, and such that, in the unlocked position, the cord retaining region remains unmoved in each of regions in the looped route.

Abstract: An automatic slat-forming machine includes a collecting unit, a plurality of cutting units, a plurality of punching units and a control unit. When the control unit is operated, a plate is moved from the collecting unit into the cutting units and the punching units, and is cut and punched to form a window blind slat under automatic control of the control unit.

Abstract: A vertical window blind includes a headrail, a plurality of carriers, a plurality of vertical slats, a decorative curtain, and a plurality of connecting devices. The curtain includes a curtain body having a plurality of mounting portions and covering portions that are alternately arranged along a longitudinal direction of the headrail. Each of the connecting devices includes a first connecting unit disposed at a respective one of the carriers, and a second connecting unit disposed at a respective one of the mounting portions of the decorative curtain and connected removably to the first connecting unit. Gaps between the slats are completely screened by the covering portions of the decorative curtain.

Abstract: A carrier-positioning device for a vertical blind includes an end cover attached fixedly to an end of a headrail, and a positioning member connected fixedly to the end cover. The positioning member has a hook end including two hooks, each of which is formed with a vertical retaining slot that has a closed upper end and an open lower end and that engages a respective one of two wheel pins on two opposite sides of a carrier so as to prevent movement of the carrier within the headrail. An operable portion of the positioning member is connected fixedly to the hook end, and has an exposed section that is exposed within a space between two supporting walls of the headrail so that it can be pushed upwardly to remove the hooks from the wheel pins, thereby permitting separation of the carrier from the end cover.

Abstract: A carrier-positioning device for a vertical blind includes an end cover attached fixedly to an end of a headrail, and a positioning member connected fixedly to the end cover. The positioning member has a hook end including two hooks, each of which is formed with a vertical retaining slot that has a closed upper end and an open lower end and that engages a respective one of two wheel pins on two opposite sides of a carrier so as to prevent movement of the carrier within the headrail. An operable portion of the positioning member is connected fixedly to the hook end, and has an exposed section that is exposed within a space between two supporting walls of the headrail so that it can be pushed upwardly to remove the hooks from the wheel pins, thereby permitting separation of the carrier from the end cover.

Abstract: A window blind includes a housing, slats, and a bottom rail. A shaft is journalled in the housing. A pair of pull ropes extends through the housing and the slats, and connects the shaft to the bottom rail. A drive cord is coupled to the shaft. An operating device includes a pulling unit, a braking unit, and a positioning unit. The pulling unit permits extension of the drive cord therethrough, has the drive cord secured thereto, and is operable so as to rotate the shaft for raising the bottom rail. The braking unit provides a braking force that is transmitted to the shaft so as to retain the bottom rail at a desired vertical distance relative to the housing. The positioning unit permits extension of the drive cord therethrough and is operable so as to release the braking force for lowering the bottom rail.

Abstract: A window blind includes a head rail, a bottom rail, and an expandable window covering. A pair of pull cords interconnect the head rail, the bottom rail and the expandable window covering. A spring motor includes a drive drum, a pair of cord spools, a spiral spring, and a friction imposing mechanism. The drive drum is mounted rotatably on the head rail. Each of the cord spools is mounted to rotate with and is disposed on a respective side of the drive drum, and is connected to a respective one of the pull cords. The spiral spring provides a biasing force acting on the drive drum. The friction imposing mechanism provides a friction force acting on one of the drive drum and the pull cords. The biasing force and the friction force cooperate to retain the bottom rail at a desired vertical distance relative to the head rail.

Abstract: A window blind includes a housing, slats, and a bottom rail. A shaft is journalled in the housing. A pair of pull ropes extends through the housing and the slats, and connects the shaft to the bottom rail. A drive cord is coupled to the shaft. An operating device includes a pulling unit, a braking unit, and a positioning unit. The pulling unit permits extension of the drive cord therethrough, has the drive cord secured thereto, and is operable so as to rotate the shaft for raising the bottom rail. The braking unit provides a braking force that is transmitted to the shaft so as to retain the bottom rail at a desired vertical distance relative to the housing. The positioning unit permits extension of the drive cord therethrough and is operable so as to release the braking force for lowering the bottom rail.

Abstract: A venetian blind includes a clamp element having a recess portion, an insert element insertable fittingly into the recess portion of the clamp element, a shade cloth having a portion inserted and pressed into the recess portion of the clamp element by the insert element, and a slat having an end portion connected to one of the clamp element and the insert element.