Window blind assembly having an outer frame

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.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a window blind, more particularly to a window blind assembly that is framed and that is easy to operate.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional window blind includes a head rail 1, a bottom rail 2 opposite to the head rail 1, a plurality of horizontal slats 3 connected between the head rail 1 and the bottom rail 2, a rotary shaft 4 mounted in the head rail 1, two spaced-apart drums 5 mounted on the rotary shaft 4, two slat ladders 6 each connected between one of the drums 5 and the bottom rail 2, a slat angle adjustment rod 7 connected to the head rail 1 for rotating the rotary shaft 4, a cord-pressing seat 8 provided in the head rail 1, and a lift cord 9. The lift cord 9 has a loop portion extending through the cord-pressing seat 8, and two opposite ends connected to the bottom rail 2.

By operating the slat angle adjustment rod 7 so as to rotate simultaneously the rotary shaft 4 and the drums 5, the slat ladders 6 can rotate the slats 3 and adjust the angular position of the slats 3. Further, by operating the lift cord 9, the slats 3 can be raised or lowered.

Although the aforementioned conventional window blind can achieve its intended purpose, it has the following drawbacks:

1. The user has to operate separately the slat angle adjustment rod 7 and the lift cord 9 to accomplish adjusting the angular position of the slats 3 and the raising or lowering of the slats 3, respectively. This renders the conventional window blind inconvenient to use.

2. The slats 3 are exposed and unsecured so that they are not only easily covered with dust and dirt, but also, together with the bottom rail 2, are easily blown by the wind and bump into a window frame.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a window blind assembly that is capable of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

According to one aspect of this invention, a window blind assembly is adapted to be sandwiched between front and rear transparent plates. The window blind assembly comprises an outer frame, a blind unit, and a control device. The outer frame is adapted to be placed between the front and rear transparent plates, and includes a head rail, a bottom rail, and two opposite vertical rails one of which is connected to right ends of the head and bottom rails and the other one of which is connected to left ends of the head and bottom rails. The head rail defines a horizontally extending first receiving space. One of the vertical rails defines a vertically extending second receiving space in spatial communication with the first receiving space. The blind unit is disposed within the outer frame, and includes a plurality of slats, and a slat ladder supporting the slats. The control device includes a lift cord connected to the slats and extending into the first and second receiving spaces, and a control member mounted on said one of the vertical rails and having an interior sliding portion disposed within the second receiving space and connected to the lift cord, and an operating portion connected to the interior sliding portion and extending outwardly from the second receiving space. The operating portion is operable to slide the control member relative to said one of the vertical rails so as to raise or lower the slats.

According to another aspect of this invention, a window blind assembly is adapted to be sandwiched between front and rear transparent plates. The window blind assembly comprises an outer frame, a blind unit, and a control device. The outer frame is adapted to be placed between the front and rear transparent plates, and includes a head rail, a bottom rail, and two opposite vertical rails one of which is connected to right ends of the head and bottom rails and the other one of which is connected to left ends of the head and bottom rails. The head rail defines a horizontally extending first receiving space. One of the vertical rails defines a second receiving space in spatial communication with the first receiving space. The blind unit is disposed within the outer frame, and includes a plurality of slats, and a slat ladder supporting the slats. The control device includes a rotary shaft disposed within the head rail and connected to the slat ladder, a turning cord unit extending within the second receiving space and associated with the rotary shaft so as to turn the slats through the rotary shaft, a control member disposed in the second receiving space and connected to the turning cord unit and operable to slide upward and downward along the second receiving space so as to rotate the rotary shaft through the turning cord unit, and a limiting seat for limiting the rotary shaft to turn only within a predetermined angle.

According to still another aspect of this invention, a window blind assembly is adapted to be sandwiched between front and rear transparent plates. The window blind assembly comprises an outer frame, a blind unit, and a control device. The outer frame is adapted to be placed between the front and rear transparent plates, and includes ahead rail, a bottom rail, and two opposite vertical rails one of which is connected to right ends of the head and bottom rails and the other one of which is connected to left ends of the head and bottom rails. The head rail defines a horizontally extending first receiving space. One of the vertical rails defines a vertically extending second receiving space in spatial communication with the first receiving space. The blind unit is disposed within the outer frame, and includes a plurality of slats, and a slat ladder supporting the slats. The control device includes a lift cord for raising and lowering the slats, a turning cord unit for turning the slats, and a control member connected to both of the lift cord and the turning cord unit. The control member is operable to slide upward and downward along the second receiving space so as to control both of the lift cord and the turning cord unit, and has an interior sliding portion disposed slidably within the second receiving space, and an operating portion projecting outwardly from said one of the vertical rails.

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 window blind;

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a window blind assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view, illustrating the window blind assembly of the present invention, front and rear transparent plates, two retaining units, and a window frame;

FIG. 4 is an assembled schematic view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a control member of a control device of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a sectional side view of the control member;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line X-X of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line XI-XI of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line XII-XII of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view, illustrating a fixed seat and a limiting seat of the control device of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line XV-XV of FIG. 13, illustrating the limiting seat in a limited position;

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 15, but illustrating the limiting seat in a non-limited position;

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 15, but illustrating the limiting seat being rotated counterclockwise to another limited position;

FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but with the control member being moved slightly downward;

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18, but with the control member being moved half-way downwardly;

FIG. 20 is a partially exploded perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of a window blind assembly according to the present invention; and

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view 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. 2 to 17, the first preferred embodiment of a window blind assembly according to the present invention is adapted to be sandwiched between a front transparent plate 500 and a rear transparent plate 600. The front transparent plate 500 has two vertically extending lateral ends 520, 530. In this embodiment, the front and rear transparent plates 500, 600 are made of glass. The front and rear transparent plates 500, 600 and the window blind assembly of the present invention can be positioned on a frame, such as a window frame 800, through two sets of retaining units 700.

The window blind assembly of the present invention comprises an outer frame 100, a blind unit 200, and a control device 300.

The outer frame 100 is adapted to be placed between the front and rear transparent plates 500, 600, and includes ahead rail 10, a bottom rail 20, a first vertical rail 30, a second vertical rail 40 opposite to the first vertical rail 30, a cord guide 50 (see FIG. 7) provided in the head rail 10, a front face 60 formed on the head and bottom rails 10, 20 and the first and second vertical rails 30, 40, and a rear face 70 opposite to the front face 60 and formed on the head and bottom rails 10, 20 and the first and second vertical rails 30, 40.

The head rail 10 includes a head rail seat 11, an elongated hollow top rod 12 connected to the head rail seat 11, a first corner member 13 connected to a right end of one of the head rail seat 11 and the top rod 12, a second corner member 14 connected to a left end of one of the head rail seat 11 and the top rod 12, and a horizontally extending first receiving space 15 (see FIG. 5) defined cooperatively by the head rail seat 11 and the top rod 12. In this embodiment, the head rail seat 11 is made up of two elongated L-shaped members 111. A cord holder 131 (see FIG. 7) is connected to the first corner member 13, and is disposed within the first receiving space 15.

The bottom rail 20 includes a bottom rail seat 21, an elongated hollow bottom rod 22 connected to the bottom rail seat 21, a third corner member 23 connected to a right end of one of the bottom rail seat 21 and the bottom rod 22, and a fourth corner member 24 connected to a left end of one of the bottom rail seat 21 and the bottom rod 22.

The first vertical rail 30 is connected to the right ends of the head and bottom rails 10, 20, and has a first vertical rail seat 31, a hollow first vertical rod 32 connected to the first vertical rail seat 31, and a vertically extending second receiving space 33 defined cooperatively by the first vertical rail seat 31 and the first vertical rod 32. In this embodiment, the second receiving space 33 is in spatial communication with the first receiving space 15. The first vertical rail seat 31 has a vertically extending wall 301 bounding the second receiving space 33 and adapted to abut against the front transparent plate 500, and an elongated aperture 34 formed in the wall 301 and communicated with the second receiving space 33.

In this embodiment, two arms of the first corner member 13 are inserted respectively into the right end of the top rod 12 and a top end of the first vertical rod 32, and two arms of the third corner member 23 are inserted respectively into the right end of the bottom rod 22 and a bottom end of the first vertical rod 32.

The second vertical rail 40 is connected to left ends of the head and bottom rails 10, 20, and includes a second vertical rail seat 41, and a hollow second vertical rod 42 connected to the second vertical rail seat 41. In this embodiment, two arms of the second corner member 14 are inserted respectively into the left end of the top rod 12 and a top end of the second vertical rod 42, and two arms of the fourth corner member 24 are inserted respectively into the left end of the bottom rod 22 and a bottom end of the second vertical rod 42.

The cord guide 50 (see FIG. 7) is provided on the first corner member 13, and is disposed within the first receiving space 15. The cord guide 50 has two guide holes 51, and a guide wall 52 connected continuously to the guide holes 51.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, the front transparent plate 500 is disposed on the front face 60 of the outer frame 100, while the rear transparent plate 600 is disposed on the rear face 70 of the outer frame 100.

The blind unit 200 is disposed within the outer frame 100, and includes a plurality of slats 210, a bottom bar 220, and two slat ladders 230 connected to the head rail 10 and the bottom bar 220 to support the slats 210.

The control device 300 includes a control member 310, a lift cord 320, a first positioning member 330 (see FIG. 6), a second positioning member 340, a rotary shaft 350, two spaced-apart fixed seats 360, a limiting seat 370, an upper reel member 380, a lower reel member 381, and a turning cord unit 390.

With reference to FIGS. 6 to 11, the control member 310 is mounted on the first vertical rail 30, and has an interior sliding portion 311 disposed within the second receiving space 33, an operating portion 312 connected to the interior sliding portion 311 and extending outwardly from the second receiving space 33 and out of the aperture 34, a slide groove 313 extending between the interior sliding portion 311 and the operating portion 312, and a bridge part 3131 interconnecting the interior sliding portion 311 and the operating portion 312 and extending across the slide groove 313. The operating portion 312 may be operated by a user to slide the control member 310 upward or downward relative to the first vertical rail 30 so as to lower or raise the slats 210 and the bottom bar 220. The slide groove 313 provides a space 3132 between the operating portion 312 and the wall 301 of the first vertical rail seat 31. The space 3132 is adapted to permit the lateral end 520 of the front transparent plate 500 to be inserted thereinto when the window blind assembly of the present invention is installed between the front and rear transparent plates 500, 600. The bridge part 3131 extends past the wall 301 to project the operating portion 312 outward.

The control member 310 further has top and bottom ends, two spaced-apart through holes 314 proximate respectively to the top and bottom ends of the control member 310, two spaced-apart through slots 315 formed in a top end of the interior sliding portion 311, two spaced-apart through slots 315′ formed in a bottom end of the interior sliding portion 311, and a cutout portion 316 formed in an intermediate section of the interior sliding portion 311. A metal plate 317 is disposed in the cutout portion 316 so as to divide the cutout portion 316 into two receiving parts (316a, 316b). The interior sliding portion 311 has a cord passage (see FIG. 12) extending from the top and bottom ends thereof and defined cooperatively by the through slots 315, 315′ and the cutout portion 316.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 5, and 7, the lift cord 320 extends into the first receiving space 15 and the second receiving space 33 (see FIG. 6), and has first and second portions 321, 322 connected to the slats 210 and the bottom bar 220, and a fold 323 between the first and second portions 321, 322. In this embodiment, the lift cord 320 is arranged as follows:

The fold 323 is attached to the cord holder 131, and is proximate to the cord guide 50. The first and second portions 321, 322 extend into the second receiving space 33 from the cord holder 131, pass through the through hole 314 (see FIG. 8) that is proximate to the top end of the control member 310, and then turn upward from the control member 310 to pass over the guide wall 52 and to extend through the respective guide holes 51. The first and second portions 321, 322 then extend into the first receiving space 15 from the respective guide holes 51, and are separated to extend out of the head rail 11, and to thread through the slats 210 and the bottom bar 220 in a conventional manner.

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 10, the first positioning member 330 is fixed to the control member 310, and has two stacked magnets 331 disposed in the receiving part (316b) of the interior sliding portion 311 facing the first vertical rod 32 and stuck to the metal plate 317 by magnetic attraction.

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the second positioning member 340 is provided on one side of the first vertical rod 32 facing the first vertical rail seat 31, and is disposed fixedly within the second receiving space 33. In this embodiment, the second positioning member 340 is an elongated iron bar.

The first and second positioning members 330, 340 are adhered magnetically to each other so as to restrict sliding movement of the control member 310. Hence, when the control member 310 is not moved upward or downward by a user, the magnets 331 are magnetically held by the second positioning member 340 so that the control member 310 is prevented from freely falling downward by gravity.

With reference to FIGS. 13, 14, and 15, the fixed seats 360 are disposed within the first receiving space 15, and are mounted on the head rail seat 11. One of the fixed seats 360 has a limit pin 361 projecting outwardly from the corresponding fixed seat 360.

With reference to FIGS. 7, 13, and 14, the rotary shaft 350 has a first shaft section 351 mounted rotatably on the first corner member 13, a second shaft section 352 extending into the first receiving space 15 (see FIG. 5), and two spaced-apart drums 353 mounted on the second shaft section 352. The second shaft section 352 is mounted rotatably on the fixed seats 360, and the drums 353 are rotatable along with the second shaft section 352. Each slat ladder 230 has a top end 231 extending into the first receiving space 15 and fixed to the corresponding drum 353 after passing through a respective fixed seat 360.

With reference again to FIGS. 13 to 17, the limiting seat 370 is fixed to the second shaft section 352 of the rotary shaft 350 so as to rotate along with the rotary shaft 350, and is disposed adjacent to a right side of the fixed seat 360 that is proximate to the second corner member 14. The limiting seat 370 has two limit faces 373, 374 that are spaced-apart angularly from each other at an angular distance of 180°, and a limiting groove 371 formed between the limit faces 373, 374. The limit pin 361 of the fixed seat 360 projects axially into the limiting groove 371. The limiting seat 370 is turnable limitedly within an angular distance of 180°, so that the rotary shaft 350 is limited to rotate only by an angle of 180°, thereby preventing the slats 210 from turning excessively. In other words, the limiting seat 370 is used to limit the slats 210 to turn within an angle of 180° from a first closed state shown in FIG. 15 to a second closed state shown in FIG. 17. In particular, when the rotary shaft 350 and the limiting seat 370 rotate to turn the slats 210 to the first closed state (see FIG. 15), the limit face 373 abuts against the limit pin 361, thereby preventing the rotary shaft 350 from further rotation. When the rotary shaft 350 and the limiting seat 370 rotate counterclockwise by 90° from the first closed state, the slats 210 are turned to an open state (see FIG. 16), and the limit face 373 moves away from the limit pin 361. When the rotary shaft 350 and the limiting seat 370 further rotate counterclockwise from the open state, the slats 210 reach the second closed state (see FIG. 17), and the limit face 374 abuts against the limit pin 361, thereby preventing the rotary shaft 350 from further rotation.

With reference again to FIG. 7, the upper reel member 380 is fixed to the first shaft section 351 of the rotary shaft 350, and is proximate to the first vertical rail 30. The lower reel member 381 is opposite to the upper reel member 380, and is mounted rotatably on the third corner member 23 of the bottom rail 20 proximate to the first vertical rail 30.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 7, 9, and 12, the turning cord unit 390 is disposed in the second receiving space 33, and is looped to pass over the upper and lower reel members 380, 381 so as to rotate the rotary shaft 350 for turning the slats 210. The turning cord unit 390 has a first end 394 fixed to the top end of the interior sliding portion 311, and a second end 395 fixed to the bottom end of the interior sliding portion 311 so as to form a loop. The turning cord unit 390 includes a first cord 391 having the first end 394, and a second cord 393 having the second end 395. A coiled spring 392 is disposed between the interior sliding portion 311 and the lower reel member 381. The first end 394 of the first cord 391 passes through the through slots 315, and is tied to the top end of the interior sliding portion 311. The first cord 391 extends upward from the first end 394 to pass over the upper reel member 380, then extends downward to pass through the cord passage 319, and passes over the lower reel member 381.

The second end 395 of the second cord 393 loops around the through hole 314 that is proximate to the bottom end of the control member 310, and is tied to the bottom end of the interior sliding portion 311. The first and second cords 391, 393 are further tied to two opposite ends of the coiled spring 392. Hence, the first and second cords 391, 393 are connected to the control member 310 and are formed into a loop that passes over the upper and lower reel members 380, 381, so that the control member 310 can control the rotary shaft 350.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, in combination with FIGS. 13, 15, 16, and 17, when the control member 310 is slid downward along the aperture 34 from a position at the top end of the aperture 34, the slats 210 are closed, as shown in FIG. 15, and the bottom bar 220 is in the vicinity of the bottom rail 20. During the sliding of the control member 310, the first cord 391 of the turning cord unit 390 activates the upper reel member 380 to rotate, and the lift cord 320 lifts the slats 210 and the bottom bar 220. The upper reel member 380, in turn, rotates the rotary shaft 350 and the limiting seat 370. During the rotation of the rotary shaft 350 and the limiting seat 370, the slats 210 are first turned counterclockwise by 90° from the position shown in FIG. 15 to the open state shown in FIG. 16. When the control member 310 is slid further downward, the slats 210 are turned further counterclockwise by another 90° to reach the second closed state shown in FIG. 17. In this state, since the limit pin 361 abuts against the limit face 374, continued downward sliding of the control member 310 and the continued movement of the first cord 391 cannot rotate the upper reel member 380 and the rotary shaft 350, so that the first cord 391 can slide over the upper reel member 380. Hence, with the slats 210 remaining in the second closed state, the slats 210 are lifted continuously by the lift cord 320 until the control member 310 is slid downward to reach a bottom end of the aperture 34. The slats 210 and the bottom bar 220 reach the head rail 10 when the control member 310 is at the bottom end of the aperture 34.

If the slats 210 and the bottom bar 220 are not to be raised to the head rail 10, the control member 310 may be stopped at a position (A) (see FIG. 19) above the bottom end of the aperture 34 by means of the magnetic attraction between the magnets 331 of the first positioning member 330 and the second positioning member 340. The control member 310 maybe stopped at any position between the top and bottom ends of the aperture 34 in this manner.

If the slats 210 are to be re-opened at this stage, the control member 310 may be slightly slid upward so as to reverse the direction of the turning cord unit 390. The rotary shaft 350 and the limiting seat 370 will therefore rotate in a reverse direction, and the limit face 374 will move away from the limit pin 361. As such, the slats 210 can return to the open state shown in FIG. 16 and the first closed state shown in FIG. 15.

Therefore, the advantages of the window blind assembly of the present invention can be summarized as follows:

1. The user only needs to operate the control member 310 to raise or lower the slats 210 and to adjust the angular position of the slats 210, so that the present invention is very convenient to use.

2. The slats 210 and the bottom bar 220 are disposed in a space defined by the outer frame 100 and the front and rear transparent plates 500, 600. As such, not only are the slats 210 and the bottom bar 220 prevented from being covered with dust and dirt, but the slats 210 and the bottom bar 220 are also prevented from being blown by the wind so that the slats 210 and the bottom bar 220 cannot bump into the window frame 800 to produce noise.

3. The lift cord 320 has the fold 323 hung on the cord holder 131 and the first and second portions 321, 322 passing through the through hole 314 that is proximate to the top end of the interior sliding portion 311 and connected to the bottom bar 220 in a spaced-apart manner. Hence, when the control member 310 is slid upward/downward, the bottom bar 220 moves twice the distance that the control member 310 moves. That is to say, the distance that the control member 310 has to be moved to lower or raise the slats 210 and the bottom bar 220 is only half the length that the bottom bar 220 is moved. Therefore, the slats 210 and the bottom bar 220 can be quickly moved upward/downward to the desired height by operating the control member 310.

4. As the coiled spring 392 is connected between the first and second cords 391, 393, an appropriate amount of tension in the first cord 391 is ensured so that the first cord 391 can properly rotate the upper reel member 380.

Referring to FIGS. 20 and 21, the second preferred embodiment of a window blind assembly according to the present invention is shown to be similar to the first preferred embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the second vertical rail seat 41 defines a third receiving space 43 communicated with the first receiving space 15 (see FIG. 5). Besides the control member 310, an additional control member 410 is disposed slidably within the third receiving space 43. A third positioning member 420 is fixed to the control member 410, and a fourth positioning member 430 is provided on one side of the second vertical rod 42 facing the second vertical rail seat 41 and disposed within the third receiving space 43. The control member 310 is connected only to the lift cord 320.

The construction of the control member 410 is similar to that of the control member 310. Particularly, the control member 410 includes an interior sliding portion 411 disposed within the third receiving space 43, an operating portion 412 connected to the interior sliding portion 411 and projecting outwardly from the third receiving space 43, a slide groove 413 extending between the interior sliding portion 411 and the operating portion 412, and a bridge part 4141 interconnecting the interior sliding portion 411 and the operating portion 412. The interior sliding portion 411 has a cord passage 419 extending from top to bottom ends thereof for extension of a portion of the first cord 391 therethrough. The slide groove 413 provides a space (not shown) between the operating portion 412 and a wall 401 of the second vertical rail seat 41 (described below). The space is adapted to receive the lateral end 530 of the front transparent plate 500 (see FIG. 3).

The second vertical rail seat 41 has the vertically extending wall 401 bounding the third receiving space 43 and adapted to abut against the front transparent plate 500, and an elongated aperture 44 formed in the wall 401 and communicated with the third receiving space 43.

The operating portion 412 extends outwardly from the third receiving space 43 and out of the aperture 44, and may be operated by a user to slide the control member 410 upward or downward relative to the second vertical rail 40 so as to lower or raise the slats 210 and the bottom bar 220.

The connecting method of the lift cord 320 with the control member 310 is similar to that described in the first preferred embodiment, and the lift cord 320 is similarly controlled by the control member 310.

The third positioning member 420 is similar to the first positioning member 330, i.e., the third positioning member 420 includes two stacked magnets 421 mounted in the interior sliding portion 411. The fourth positioning member 430 is similar to the second positioning member 340, and is disposed in the second vertical rod 42 in a manner similar to that of the second positioning member 340 in the first vertical rod 32.

The first shaft section 351 of the rotary shaft 350, in this embodiment, is mounted rotatably on the second corner member 14.

The upper reel member 380 is fixed to the first shaft section 351 of the rotary shaft 350, and is proximate to the second corner member 14.

The lower reel member 381 is mounted rotatably on the fourth corner member 24, and is proximate to the second vertical rail 40.

The turning cord unit 390 is disposed in the third receiving space 43, and is hung in a manner similar to that described in the first preferred embodiment. The turning cord unit 390, in this embodiment, is connected to the control member 410 so as to be controlled by the same.

When the control member 310 is slid upward/downward by the user, the lift cord 320 lowers/raises the slats 210 and the bottom bar 220. When the control member 410 is slightly moved upward or downward, the first cord 391 activates simultaneous rotation of the upper reel member 380, the rotary shaft 350, and the limiting seat 370, which results in rotation of the slat ladders 230. Rotation of the slat ladders 230, in turn, actuates the slats 210 to turn to a desired angular position. The control member 410 may be stopped by virtue of the magnets 421 being attracted to the fourth positioning member 430, thereby allowing the control member 410 to be positioned at the desired location.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is 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 adapted to be sandwiched between a front transparent plate and a rear transparent plate, said window blind assembly comprising:

an outer frame adapted to be placed between the front and rear transparent plates, and including a head rail, a bottom rail, and two opposite vertical rails one of which is connected to right ends of said head and bottom rails and the other one of which is connected to left ends of said head and bottom rails, said head rail defining a horizontally extending first receiving space, one of said vertical rails defining a vertically extending second receiving space in spatial communication with said first receiving space;

a blind unit disposed within said outer frame, and including a plurality of slats, and a slat ladder supporting said slats; and

a control device including a lift cord connected to said slats and extending into said first and second receiving spaces, and a control member mounted on said one of said vertical rails and having an interior sliding portion disposed within said second receiving space and connected to said lift cord, and an operating portion connected to said interior sliding portion and extending outwardly from said second receiving space, said operating portion being operable to slide said control member upward or downward relative to said one of said vertical rails so as to lower or raise said slats.

2. The window blind assembly of claim 1, wherein said control device further includes a first positioning member fixed to said control member, and a second positioning member disposed fixedly within said second receiving space, said first and second positioning members being attracted magnetically to each other so as to restrict sliding movement of said control member.

3. The window blind assembly of claim 2, wherein one of said first and second positioning members is made of a magnet and the other one of said first and second positioning members is magnetically attractable.

4. The window blind assembly of claim 1, wherein said one of said vertical rails further has a vertically extending wall bounding said second receiving space and adapted to abut against the front transparent plate, said control member further having a slide groove extending between said interior sliding portion and said operating portion, and a bridge part interconnecting said interior sliding portion and said operating portion and extending across said slide groove, said bridge part extending through said wall to project said operating portion outward, said slide groove providing a space between said operating portion and said wall, said space being adapted to permit a lateral end of the front transparent plate to be inserted therein.

5. The window blind assembly of claim 1, wherein said outer frame further includes a cord holder and a cord guide both of which are disposed within said first receiving space, said lift cord having first and second portions, and a fold between said first and second portions, said fold being attached to said cord holder, said first and second portions extending into said second receiving space from said cord holder to connect with said control member, turning upward from said control member to pass over said cord guide, turning into said first receiving space from said cord guide, and extending downward from said first receiving space for connection with said slats.

6. The window blind assembly of claim 5, wherein said cord guide has two guide holes and a guide wall, said first and second portions of said lift cord passing over said guide wall and extending through said guide holes, respectively, for extension into said first receiving space and for connection with said slats.

7. The window blind assembly of claim 5, wherein said control member further has top and bottom ends, and a through hole proximate to said top end of said control member, said first and second portions of said lift cord extending through said through hole to connect with and to turn upward from said control member.

8. The window blind assembly of claim 1, wherein said control device further includes at least one fixed seat disposed within said first receiving space, a rotary shaft mounted rotatably on said fixed seat and extending within said first receiving space, an upper reel member fixed on said rotary shaft and proximate to said one of said vertical rails, a lower reel member rotatably mounted within said bottom rail and proximate to said one of said vertical rails, and a turning cord unit disposed in said second receiving space and being looped to pass over said upper and lower reel members so as to rotate said rotary shaft, said slat ladder being connected to said rotary shaft, said control member being connected to said turning cord unit to control said rotary shaft.

9. The window blind assembly of claim 8, wherein said interior sliding portion of said control member has top and bottom ends, said turning cord unit having a first end fixed to said top end of said interior sliding portion, and a second end fixed to said bottom end of said interior sliding portion, whereby said turning cord unit is looped.

10. The window blind assembly of claim 9, wherein said turning cord unit includes a first cord having said first end, a second cord having said second end, and a coiled spring disposed between said bottom end of said interior sliding portion and said lower reel member and connected between said first and second cords.

11. The window blind assembly of claim 8, wherein said control device further includes a limiting seat fixed to said rotary shaft proximate to said fixed seat so as to rotate along with said rotary shaft and having two limit faces that are spaced apart angularly from each other, and a limiting groove formed between said limit faces, said fixed seat having a limit pin projecting axially into said limiting groove to limit said limiting seat to turn limitedly.

12. The window blind assembly of claim 1, wherein the other one of said vertical rails defines a third receiving space communicated with said first receiving space, said control device further including an additional control member disposed slidably within said third receiving space, at least one fixed seat disposed within said first receiving space, a rotary shaft mounted rotatably on said fixed seat and extending within said first receiving space, an upper reel member fixed to said rotary shaft and proximate to said other one of said vertical rails, a lower reel member rotatably mounted within said bottom rail and proximate to said other one of said vertical rails, and a turning cord unit disposed in said third receiving space, said turning cord unit being looped to pass over said upper and lower reel members so as to rotate said rotary shaft, said slat ladder being connected to said rotary shaft, said additional control member being connected to said turning cord unit to control said rotary shaft.

13. A window blind assembly adapted to be sandwiched between a front transparent plate and a rear transparent plate, said window blind assembly comprising:

an outer frame adapted to be placed between the front and rear transparent plates, and including a head rail, a bottom rail, and two opposite vertical rails one of which is connected to right ends of said head and bottom rails and the other one of which is connected to left ends of said head and bottom rails, said head rail defining a horizontally extending first receiving space, one of said vertical rails defining a second receiving space in spatial communication with said first receiving space;

a blind unit disposed within said outer frame, and including a plurality of slats, and a slat ladder supporting said slats; and

a control device including a rotary shaft disposed within said head rail and connected to said slat ladder, a turning cord unit extending within said second receiving space and associated with said rotary shaft so as to turn said slats through said rotary shaft, a control member disposed in said second receiving space and connected to said turning cord unit and operable to slide upward and downward along said second receiving space so as to rotate said rotary shaft through said turning cord unit, and a limiting seat for limiting said rotary shaft to turn only within a predetermined angle.

14. The window blind assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein said control device further includes a fixed seat disposed within said first receiving space, said rotary shaft being mounted rotatably on said fixed seat, said limiting seat being fixed to said rotary shaft proximate to said fixed seat, said fixed seat having a limiting element to project to said limiting seat so as to control said limiting seat to turn only within the predetermined angle.

15. The window blind assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein said control device further includes upper and lower reel members disposed respectively in said first receiving space and said bottom rail, said rotary shaft being fixed to said upper reel member, said turning cord unit being looped to pass over and to move said upper and lower reel members, said control member being operable to move said turning cord unit.

16. A window blind assembly adapted to be sandwiched between a front transparent plate and a rear transparent plate, said window blind assembly comprising:

an outer frame adapted to be placed between the front and rear transparent plates, and including a head rail, a bottom rail, and two opposite vertical rails one of which is connected to right ends of said head and bottom rails and the other one of which is connected to left ends of said head and bottom rails, said head rail defining a horizontally extending first receiving space, one of said vertical rails defining a vertically extending second receiving space in spatial communication with said first receiving space;

a blind unit disposed within said outer frame, and including a plurality of slats, and a slat ladder supporting said slats; and

a control device including a lift cord for raising and lowering said slats, a turning cord unit for turning said slats, and a control member connected to both of said lift cord and said turning cord unit, said control member being operable to slide upward and downward along said second receiving space so as to control both of said lift cord and said turning cord unit, said control member having an interior sliding portion disposed slidably within said second receiving space, and an operating portion projecting outwardly from said one of said vertical rails.

17. The window blind assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein said interior sliding portion has top and bottom ends, said turning cord unit being attached to said top and bottom ends of said interior sliding portion to form a loop, said lift cord being attached to said top end of said interior sliding portion.

18. The window blind assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein said one of said vertical rails further has a vertically extending wall bounding said second receiving space and adapted to abut against the front transparent plate, and an elongated aperture formed in said wall and communicated with said second receiving space, said control member further including a slide groove that extends from a top end to a bottom end of said control member between said interior sliding portion and said operating portion, and a bridge part interconnecting said interior sliding portion and said operating portion and extending across said slide groove, said bridge part extending through said aperture to project said operating portion outwardly of said wall, said slide groove providing a space between said wall and said operating portion, said space being adapted to permit a lateral end of the front transparent plate to be inserted therein.

19. The window blind assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein said control device further includes a first positioning member attached to said control member, a second positioning member fixed within said second receiving member, said first and second positioning members being magnetically attracted to each other so as to prevent said control member from falling downward freely by gravity.