The present invention relates to blinds and, more specifically, to a blind control apparatus and a control method for controlling the operation of a blind.

A variety of blinds including Venetian blinds, roller blinds, pleated blinds, honeycomb shades, accordion-like shades, Roman blinds, vertical blinds, curtains, and etc. are commercially available for use with a window to regulate the light, air, etc. A regular blind generally comprises a headrail fixedly fastened to the top side of the window, and a blind body (formed of a shade, or a set of slats and a bottom rail) provided at the bottom side of the headrail. The blind body is driven by an external driving force to change its window shading status. For example, the blind body of a roller blind, pleated blind, or Roman blind can be lifted or lowered; the blind body of a horizontal or vertical Venetian blind can be extended out/received and tilted; the two side panels of a curtain can be received sideways and extended out horizontally.

The control method of a blind may be achieved manually or electrically. A manually controlled blind has a linking mechanism provided in the headrail and coupled to the blind body, and a lift cord suspended from one end of the headrail for pulling by hand to drive the linking mechanism to move the blind body, and a tilt rod suspended from the end of the headrail for operation by hand to tilt the slats of the blind. Because the lift cord is not kept out of reach of children, children may pull the lift cord for fun. In case the lift cord is hung on a child's head, a fetal accident may occur (many similar accidents have been reported in different countries). In order to eliminate this problem, blinds without exposed lift cord are disclosed. These blinds commonly use spring means and the gravity weight of the blind body to keep the blind body at the adjusted elevational position. However these blinds are not durable in use because the provided spring means wears quickly with use. US Patent No. 6044889 teaches the use of the tension of two cord members to hold the bottom rail of a Venetian blind at the adjusted elevation. However, the cord members become loosened after a long use. Further, the presence of the cord members destroys the sense of beauty of the blind.

Further, an electrically controlled blind can easily be operated. Because an electrically controlled blind eliminates the use of a lift cord and a tilt rod, it has a nice outer looking and eliminates the tangling of the blind lift cord with the body of a person accidentally. However, an electrically controlled blind is expensive because is equipped with a motor, a power supply device, and a control circuit. Further, because the battery of the power supply device of an electrically controlled blind is normally installed in the headrail, it is inconvenient to replace the battery when battery power low.

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a blind control apparatus and blind control method, which has no cord member expose to the outside of the blind body, preventing tangling of a blind cord member with a person accidentally.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a blind control apparatus and blind control method, which eliminates the use of any exposed lift cord or tilt rod means, keeping the blind as neat as an electric blind.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a blind control apparatus and blind control method, which enables the user to conveniently regulate the blind either manually or electrically.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a blind control apparatus, which is inexpensive to manufacture.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a blind control apparatus, which is easy to install and to maintain.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a blind control apparatus and blind control method, which positively locks the blind body in position after each adjustment.

To achieve these objects of the present invention, the blind control apparatus comprises a linking mechanism mounted in a headrail of the blind to be controlled and an operating device detachably connected to the linking mechanism. The linking mechanism includes a rotatable driving force input unit and a driving force output portion which is rotated in connection with said driving force input unit when said driving force input unit rotates. The driving force input unit has a driving force receiving portion exposed outside the headrail, which is directly or indirectly coupled to said blind body of said blind and adapted to drive said blind body of said blind to change the window shading status of said blind body upon rotary motion of said driving force input unit. The operating device has an operating portion at one end thereof for operation by hand and an actuating portion at an opposite end thereof which is rotatable in relation to said operating portion for rotating said driving force input unit. The actuating portion has a coupling tip detachably connected to said driving force receiving portion of said driving force input unit such that the driving force input unit can be rotated by the actuation of the operating device.

• FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing showing the basic structure of the blind control apparatus according to the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing showing the basic structure of the blind control apparatus used in multiple blinds according to the present invention.
• FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing showing an application example of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing showing the arrangement of the linking mechanism of the blind control apparatus in the roller blind according to the present invention.
• FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.
• FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing showing the structure of the operating device of the blind control apparatus according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing showing an application example of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing showing the driving force input unit of the linking mechanism locked according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8.
• FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. 8 but showing the driving force input unit of the linking mechanism unlocked.
• FIG. 11 is a schematic drawing showing an application example of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 12 is a schematic drawing showing the arrangement of the linking mechanism in the headrail of the blind according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 13 is a schematic drawing shown an alternate form of the electrically controlled operating device for the blind control apparatus according to the present invention.
• FIG. 14 is a schematic drawing shown another alternate form of the electrically controlled operating device for the blind control apparatus according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a blind control apparatus 20 is installed in a blind 10 for controlling the blind 10 to regulate the light, air, etc. The blind 10 can be a horizontal Venetian blind, roller blind, pleated blind, honeycomb shade, accordion-like shade, Roman blind, vertical blind, curtain, or the like, comprising a headrail 11, and a blind body 12. The headrail 11 is fixedly fastened to the top side of window (not shown) in transverse direction. The blind body 12 is provided at the bottom side of the headrail 11, and opened or closed to regulate the light, air, etc.

The control apparatus 20 comprises a linking mechanism 21 mounted within the headrail 11, and a detachable operating device 25. The mechanical transmission mechanism 21 is comprised of a driving force input unit 22 and a driving force output portion 23. The driving force input unit 22 has a driving force receiving portion 24 extended to the outside (the bottom side) of the headrail 11 and rotatable by an external driving force. The driving force output portion 23 is connected to the blind body 12 directly or indirectly, and driven by the driving force input unit 22 to move the blind body 12, causing the blind body 12 to change its window shading status.

The operating device 25 is substantially a rod-like member not directly connected to the blind body 12 or the linking mechanism 21. The user can hold one end of the operating device 25 with the hand in a vertical position, keeping the other end of the operating device 25 at the elevation of the headrail 11. The operating device 25 has an operating portion 26 at its one end for the holding of the hand, and an actuating portion 27 at its other end. The actuating portion 27 has a coupling tip 28 detachably connectable to the driving force receiving portion 24 of the linking mechanism 21. After connection of the coupling tip 28 to the driving force receiving portion 24, the user can rotate the operating portion 26 with the hand, enabling the rotary driving force to be transmitted through the driving force receiving portion 24 of the driving force input unit 22 to the blind body 12 via the driving force output portion 23.

When wishing to regulate the blind 10, hold the operating portion 26 of the operating device 25 with the hand to force the coupling tip 28 of the actuating portion 27 into engagement with the driving force receiving portion 24 of the driving force input unit 22 of the linking mechanism 21, and then rotate the operating device 25 with the hand, enabling the rotary driving force to be transmitted through the mechanical transmission mechanism 21 to the blind body 12, and therefore the blind body 12 is regulated (lifted vertically, extended out or received horizontally, or tilted subject to the type of the blind body itself). After control, the user can remove the operating device 25 from the linking mechanism 21 (the headrail 11), and received in a proper storage place.

In general, the blind control apparatus of the present invention is comprised of a driven unit, a driving unit, and an interface unit. The driven unit is substantially formed of the aforesaid linking mechanism 21 mounted within the headrail 11, and can be driven by an external driving force to move the blind body 12. The driving unit is substantially formed of the aforesaid operating device 25 detachably connectable to the driven unit in the headrail 11, and can be held and operated by the user to output a driving force manually or electrically to the driven unit. The interface unit is formed of the aforesaid coupling tip 28 and driving force receiving portion 24, and adapted to connect the output end of the driving unit to the input end of the driven unit. The blind control method provided by the present invention enables the user to connect the driving unit to the driven unit in the headrail of the blind through the interface unit and then to operate the driving unit, causing the driven unit to move the blind body of the blind. After the blind body has been adjusted to the desired position, the user can remove the driving unit from the driven unit (the blind).

FIG. 2 shows another application example of the blind control apparatus according to the present invention. According to this application example, the blind control apparatus comprises a plurality of linking mechanisms 21 respectively installed in the headrail 11 of each of a number of blinds 10, and an operating device 25 selectively detachably connectable to the linking mechanism 21 in the headrail 11 of each of the blinds 10. When in use, the user can hold the operating device 25 with the hand and then force the coupling tip 28 of the operating device 25 into engagement with the driving force receiving portion 24 of the linking mechanism 21 in the headrail 11 of each blind 10 to be regulated.

FIGS. 3∼6 show the first preferred embodiment of the blind control apparatus used in a roller blind 10A. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the linking mechanism 30 of the blind control apparatus comprises a driving force input unit 31, a worm gear 34, a transmission gear set 35, and a roller 36. The driving force input unit 31 is formed of a rod-like member fastened pivotally with the inside of the right end of the headrail 11A for free rotation on its own axis, having a bottom end terminating in a driving force receiving portion 32 disposed outside the headrail 11A and a top end terminating in a double-screw worm 33 suspending inside the headrail 11A. The driving force receiving portion 32 is formed of a tapered hole and a hexagonal hole. The worm gear 34 is fastened pivotally with the inside of the headrail 11A and meshed with the worm 33. The transmission gear set 35 is a gear train formed of a series of gears of different diameters and adapted to accelerate rotary driving force of the worm gear 34 and to transfer rotary driving force of the worn gear 34 leftwards. The roller 36 is fastened pivotally with the headrail 1A in a transverse (horizontal) position, and coupled to the output end of the transmission gear set 35. The blind body (shade body) 12A of the roller blind 10A has one end (the fixed end) fixedly fastened to the periphery of the roller 36. When the roller 36 rotated, it rolls up or lets off the blind body 12A, i.e., the periphery of the roller 36 forms a driving force output portion 37. The operating device 40, as shown in FIG. 6, comprises a first handgrip 41, an elongated actuating portion 42 fastened pivotally with the front end of the first handgrip 41 and terminating in a hexagonal coupling tip 43, which can be inserted through the tapered hole of the driving force receiving portion 32 into engagement with the hexagonal hole of the driving force receiving portion 32, a crank 44 fastened pivotally with the first handgrip 41 and coupled to the elongated actuating portion 42, and a second handgrip 45 fixedly fastened to one end of the crank 44 remote from the first handgrip 41. The crank 44 and the second handgrip 45 form the operating portion 46 of the operating device 40. When in use, the user can hold the first handgrip 41 with one hand and rotate the second handgrip 45 with the other hand. When rotating the second handgrip 45, the elongated actuating portion 42 is rotated with the crank 44 and the second handgrip 45 relative to the first handgrip 41.

When wishing to roll up or extend out the roller blind 10A, attach the hexagonal coupling tip 43 to the driving force receiving portion 32, and then operate the operating portion 46 of the operating device 40 to rotate the driving force input unit 31 of the linking mechanism 30 clockwise or counter-clockwise, thereby causing the worm 33, the worm gear 34 and the transmission gear set 35 to work, and therefore the roller 36 is rotated to roll up or extend out the blind body 12A of the roller blind 10A. According to this embodiment, the worm and worm gear mechanism has an one-way transmission characteristic (i.e., the worm 33 rotates the worm gear 34 when receiving an external torsional force, and stops the worm gear 34 from rotation when receiving a torsional force from the worm gear 34). Therefore, the user can use the operating device 40 to rotate the roller 36 in the headrail 11A. When the user removed the operating device 40 from the roller blind 10A after the blind body 12A of the roller blind 10A had been adjusted to the desired elevation, the self-locking effect of the worm and worm gear mechanism locks the roller 36, keeping the blind body 12A in the adjusted position.

FIGS. 7∼9 show the second preferred embodiment of the blind control apparatus of the present invention used in a Venetian blind 10B. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the linking mechanism 50 of the blind control apparatus comprises a driving force input unit 51, a spring member 56, and two pulleys 57. The driving force input unit 51 is comprised of a bobbin 52 and a rod member 53 coaxially and fixedly fastened to the bottom side of the bobbin 52. The rod member 53 has a driving force receiving portion 54 in the bottom end thereof (the structure of the driving force receiving portion 54 is similar to the driving force receiving portion 32 shown in FIG. 4), and a toothed portion 55 around the periphery (see FIG. 9). The driving force input unit 51 is fastened pivotally with the inside of the right end of the headrail 11B of the Venetian blind 10B, letting the rod member 53 be extended out of a bottom round hole 13 of the headrail 11B. The headrail 11B has a toothed portion 14 provided around the bottom round hole 13. The toothed portion 55 can be set into engagement with the toothed portion 14 from the top side of the round hole. The spring member 56 is connected between the top side of the bobbin 52 and the top sidewall of the headrail 11B to impart a downward pressure to the bobbin 52 and the rod member 53, keeping the toothed portion 55 of the rod member 53 meshed with the toothed portion 14 (see FIG. 8). The pulleys 57 are fastened rotatably with the inside the headrail 11B and symmetrically located on the left and right ends of the headrail 11B. The Venetian blind 10B comprises two lift cords 15 symmetrically inserted through the slats 16 of the blind body 12B. The lift cords 15 each have a bottom end fixedly connected to the bottom rail 17 of the blind body 12B, and a top end inserted upwardly into the inside of the headrail 11B and extended over the periphery of the corresponding pulley 57 and then fastened to the periphery of the bobbin 52 of the driving force input unit 51. When rotating the driving force input unit 51, the bobbin 52 is rotated to roll up or let off the lift cords 15, and therefore the blind body 12B is lifted or lowered to the desired elevation, i.e., the periphery of the bobbin 52 forms a driving force output portion 58.

The user can operate the operating device 40 shown in FIG. 6 to adjust the Venetian blind 10B. When in use, force the coupling tip 43 of the actuating portion 42 of the operating device 40 into engagement with the driving force receiving portion 54 of the driving force input unit 51 (see FIG. 10), and then push the operating device 40 to move the rod member 53 and the bobbin 52 upwards against the spring member 56 and to disengage the toothed portion 55 from the toothed portion 14, and then operating the operating device 40 to rotate the driving force input unit 51, causing the bobbin 52 to roll up or let off the lift cords 15, and therefore the blind body 12B is lifted or lowered to the desired elevation. After the blind body 12B has been adjusted to the desired elevation, disengage the operating device 40 from the driving force receiving portion 54, for enabling the driving force input unit 51 to be lowered to the position shown in FIG. 8 where the toothed portion 55 of the driving force input unit 51 is meshed with the toothed portion 14 of the headrail 11B, and therefore the bobbin 52 is locked and, the blind body 12B is fixed in position.

According to this embodiment, the linking mechanism 50 controls the lifting action of the blind body 12B of the Venetian blind 10B. The Venetian blind 10B further comprises a tilt control mechanism formed of two ladder tapes 18 and a tilt control rod 19. The ladder tapes 18 are fastened to the slats 16 and bottom rail 17 of the blind body 12B and a respective drum at a horizontal tilt rod (not shown) in the headrail 11B. The tilt control rod 19 is suspended from one end of the headrail 11B, and coupled to one end of the tilt rod inside the headrail 11B through a worm gear and tilter set (not shown). When rotating the tilt control rod 19, the tilt rod is rotated to move the ladder tapes 18 and, to further tilt the slats 16 of the blind body 11B of the Venetian blind 10B. Since the title control mechanism is a known art, no further details will be necessary to describe hereunder.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show the third preferred embodiment of the blind control apparatus of the present invention. This embodiment is used in a Venetian blind 10C. The linking mechanism 60 is capable of lifting the blind body and tilting the slats of the blind body. The linking mechanism 60 uses the same mechanism of the aforesaid second preferred embodiment to lift the blind body. The linking mechanism 60 further comprises a worm 61 and a worm gear 62 adapted to rotate a tilt rod 63, causing it to move two ladder tapes 18C and to further control the tilt angle of the slats of the blind body of the Venetian blind 10C. The worm 61, the worm gear 62, the tilt rod 63, and the ladder tapes 18C form a slat tilting control unit that controls the tilting angle of the slats of the blind body of the Venetian blind 10C. The worm 61 has a driving force receiving portion 64 in the bottom end for receiving the coupling tip 43 of the operating device 40 shown in FIG. 6. In general, the linking mechanism 60 has two independent driving force input units (driving force receiving portions and two driving force output portions so that the user can couple the operating device 40 to the driving force input units selectively, and operate the operating device 40 to lift the blind body of the Venetian blind 10C to the desired elevation or, to adjust the tilting angle of the slats of the blind body of the Venetian blind 10C.

The linking mechanism can also be made having one single driving power input unit to simultaneously control the lifting of the blind body and tilting of the slats of the Venetian blind. For example, the teaching disclosed in US Patent Application No. 10/143330 filed by the applicant of the present invention can be applied to the linking mechanism of the blind control apparatus.

Basically, the linking mechanisms of conventional blinds commonly use (or can use) a rotary action to achieve blind body lifting/lowering or extending/receiving control and slats tilting control. Therefore, the blind control apparatus of the present invention can be used in any of a variety of blinds.

FIG. 13 shows an alternate form of the operating device. According to this design, the operating device, referenced by 70 is an electrically controlled device comprising a casing 71, a rod-like actuating portion 72 forwardly extended out of the front side of the casing 71, a motor (not shown) mounted inside the casing 71 and adapted to rotate the rod-like actuating portion 72, a battery power supply (not shown) mounted inside the casing 71 and electrically connected to the motor, a control panel 74 located on the outside wall of the casing 71 and formed of a set of control buttons 73 adapted to control on/off status and forward/backward rotation of the motor, and a protective sleeve 75 fixedly fastened to the front side of the casing 71 around the rod-like actuating portion 72. The rod-like actuating portion 72 has a front end extended out of the front end of the protective sleeve 75 and terminating in a coupling tip 76.

FIG. 14 shows another alternate form of the electrically controlled operating device. According to this embodiment, the operating device, referenced by 80 comprises a tubular main body 81, a motor 82 mounted in the front end of the tubular main body 81, a rod-like actuating portion 83 coupled to the output shaft of the motor 82 and extended out of the tubular main body 81, and control buttons 84 located on the tubular main body 81 near its rear end remote from the motor 82 and the rod-like actuating portion 83 and electrically connected to the motor 82.

As indicated above, the invention has the advantages as follows:

• 1. Because the invention does not use any lift cord or like means to achieve blind body lifting control, it eliminates the possibility of the hanging of the head of a person (more particularly a child) on the lift cord accidentally.
• 2. Because the blind control apparatus of the present invention has no control member exposed to the outside of the blind, the sense of beauty of the blind is maintained intact.
• 3. Because conventional electric blinds have an independent motor, power adapter, control circuit, and etc., their manufacturing cost is high. The invention can use one electrically controlled operating device to control the mechanical linking mechanism of each of a number of blinds. Therefore, the invention greatly reduces the installation cost of multiple blinds in one house.
• 4. According to conventional electric blinds, the battery is installed in the headrail. When replacing the battery, the user needs to use a chair or ladder so as to access to the battery in the headrail. This battery replacing job is inconvenient to achieve. According to the present invention, the battery is installed in the operating device, which is separated from the blind. Therefore, the user can replace the battery of the operating device conveniently.
• 5. Because the invention does not use the spring power of a spring member or the tension of a cord member to hold the blind body at the desired elevation, the invention can control and maintain the position status of the blind body stably.