Top and bottom stacking blind
In a top down, bottom up blind with a fixed headrail as well as an intermediate or moving rail and bottom rail at least one spring is provided in the headrail or in the intermediate rail and is connected to the lift cords that raise and lower the intermediate rail. When the intermediate rail is fully raised to abut the headrail, the spring or springs pulls a portion of each lift cord into the headrail or intermediate rail. Consequently, the spring or springs compensate for the slippage of the lift cords that control the intermediate rail and there is no gap between the headrail and the fully raised intermediate rail.
This invention relates to blinds that can be stacked and deployed from the top down as is common, or stacked and deployed from the bottom up.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMany types of window coverings have a top rail, also called a headrail, and a bottom rail between which a window covering material is attached. These include venetian blinds, pleated shades, cellular shades and some Roman shades. In most of these blinds lift cords are attached to the bottom rail and extend into the headrail. The lift cords are used to raise and lower the bottom rail.
Another type of window covering, known as a top-down, bottom up blind, has an intermediate rail, also called a moving rail, between the headrail and the bottom rail and a second set of lift cords that operate the intermediate rail. The window covering material is connected between the intermediate rail and the bottom rail. The window covering material can be stacked at the bottom of the window by fully lowering both the bottom rail and the intermediate rail. The window covering material can be stacked at the top of the window by fully raising both the bottom rail and the intermediate rail. Examples of top down, bottom up blinds can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,408 to Bohrer, U.S. Pat. No. 12,695, to Rose, U.S. Pat. No. 2,283,640 to Kwon, U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,468 to Fraser, U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,108 to Levert et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,494 to Judkins.
The lift cords that raise and lower the intermediate or moving rail typically are routed through a cord lock in the headrail, but they could be wound on an axle or spools within the headrail. Most cord locks have a cam, pawl, or dogleg that bites into the lift cords to prevent the cords from moving. Some slippage of the lift cords occurs as the cord lock is engaged. When one fully raises the intermediate rail to abut the headrail in a top down, bottom up blind the slippage of the lift cords in the cord lock results in a small gap between the headrail and the intermediate rail. Light can pass through this gap between the headrail and the intermediate rail. Prior to the present invention the art has provided a valance on the headrail or on the window that covers this gap. However, use of a valance increases the cost of the blind. A valance on the headrail makes the headrail taller and can detract from the appearance of the blind. Attaching a valance to the window frame increases the installation time and requires careful alignment between the valance and the blind. Consequently, there is a need for a top down, bottom up blind that utilizes lift cords and a cord lock to operate the intermediate rail but does not have a gap between the headrail and a fully raised intermediate rail.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONWe provide a top down, bottom up blind with a fixed headrail as well as an intermediate or moving rail and bottom rail in which at least one spring is provided in the headrail or in the intermediate rail and is connected to the lift cords that raise and lower the intermediate rail. When the intermediate rail is fully raised to abut the headrail, the spring or springs pulls a portion of each lift cord into the headrail or intermediate rail. Consequently, the spring or springs compensate for the slippage of the lift cords that control the intermediate rail and there is no gap between the headrail and the fully raised intermediate rail.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
In a typical a top-down-bottom-up shade of the prior art, shown in
A first present preferred embodiment of our top down, bottom up shade 20, shown in
Although we prefer to use two springs, one attached to each lift cord 26 and each attached to the headrail, one could use a single spring. For example, the two springs shown in
In the embodiment shown in
A second present preferred embodiment 30 shown in
In another present preferred embodiment, shown in
In each of the preferred embodiments there were two lift cords connected to the intermediate rail for rails for raising and lowering the intermediate rail. If desired, additional intermediate lift cords may be provided. Should such additional lift cords be used, it may not be necessary to attach a spring to the additional intermediate rail lift cords to achieve a tight abutment between the headrail and a fully raised intermediate rail.
Although we have shown and described certain present preferred embodiments of our top down, bottom up blind it should be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. An improved top down, bottom up blind of the type comprised of an intermediate rail located between a headrail and a bottom rail, window covering material connected between the intermediate rail and the bottom rail, a first set of lift cords connected to the bottom rail and passing into the headrail, and a second set of lift cords connected to the intermediate rail and passing through a cord lock in the headrail wherein the improvement comprises at least one spring connected to the headrail or the intermediate rail and connected to at least one of the lift cords in the second set of lift cords.
2. The improved top down, bottom up blind of claim 1 wherein the window covering material is selected from the group consisting of pleated shade material, cellular material, roman shade material and a set of slats on at least two ladders.
3. The improved top down, bottom up blind of claim 1 also comprising a second window covering material connected between the headrail and the intermediate rail.
4. The improved top down, bottom up blind of claim 3 wherein the window covering material is selected from the group consisting of pleated shade material, cellular material, roman shade material and a set of slats on at least two ladders.
5. The improved top down, bottom up shade of claim 1 wherein the at least one spring is a single spring located within the intermediate rail in which the one end of the spring is connected to one of the lift cords in the second set of lift cords and an opposite end is connected to a second lift cord in the second set of lift cords.
6. The improved top down, bottom up blind of claim 1 wherein the at least one spring is a pair of springs located in the headrail, each spring having one end attached to the headrail and an opposite end containing an eye through which at least one lift cord of the second set of lift cords passes.
7. The improved top down, bottom up blind of claim 1 wherein the at least one spring is a pair of springs located in the intermediate rail, each spring having one end attached to the intermediate rail and an opposite end containing an eye through which at least one lift cord of the second set of lift cords passes.
8. The improved top down, bottom up blind of claim 1 wherein the second set of the lift cords is comprised of a first lift cord and a second lift cord, the second set of lift cords being connected to the intermediate rail by the at least one spring, and wherein the at least one spring is comprised of a first spring having one end attached to the intermediate rail and an opposite end attached to the first lift cord, and a second spring having one end attached to the intermediate rail and an opposite end attached to the second set of lift cords.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 14, 2005
Publication Date: Oct 19, 2006
Inventors: William Whyte (Palm Coast, FL), James Tyner (Clermont, FL), David Burnett (St. Augustine, FL)
Application Number: 11/106,073
International Classification: A47H 5/00 (20060101);