GB2424025A

GB2424025A - Guide roller seat for cord of window covering

Info

Publication number: GB2424025A
Application number: GB0521662A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shih-Ming Lin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-10-25
Filing date: 2005-10-25
Publication date: 2006-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 2025-10-25
Also published as: GB2424025B; GB0521662D0

Abstract

A guide roller seat 4 for a window covering includes a seat body 41, and a plurality of guide rollers 42 rotatably mounted in the seat body 41 to guide movement of a cord 21 which is extended between an automatic winding mechanism 2 and a covering body 3 of the window covering. Thus, the cord 41 is kept with a determined tension by the drawing action of the guide rollers 42, so that the cord 41 is drawn by guidance of the guide rollers 42 so as to fold or extend the covering body 3 smoothly and evenly, thereby preventing the covering body 3 from being tilted during the drawing action of the cord 41. In one preferred embodiment the seat body 41 of the guide roller seat 4 is arranged in a tangential direction of the automatic winding mechanism 2. In other preferred embodiments, the guide roller seat 4 comprises a number of tracks 411 for mounting the guide rollers 41. The guide roller seat 4 may be mounted in the top rail 1 or alternatively in the bottom rail 5 of the window covering.

Description

GUIDE ROLLER SEAT FOR CORD OF WINDOW COVERING

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a guide roller seat, and more particularly to a guide roller seat for guiding a cord of a window covering, such as a Venetian blind or the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional window covering 6 in accordance with the prior art shown in Fig. 9 comprises a headrail 60, an automatic winding mechanism 62 mounted on the headrail 60, a covering body 64 mounted on and extended from the headrail 60, a bottom rail 68 mounted on the bottom of the covering body 64, and a cord 66 extended between the automatic winding mechanism 62 and the covering body 64. The cord 66 is driven by the automatic winding mechanism 62 to fold or extend the covering body 64. However, the cord 66 is directly extended outward from the headrail 60 and attached to the covering body 64, so that the cord 66 is easily pulled by an external force. Thus, when the external force is not evenly distributed on the cord 66, the cord 66 at one side of the headrail 60 is pulled upward, while the cord 66 at another side of the headrail 60 is not pulled by the external force, so that the covering body 64 easily tilts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a guide roller seat, comprising a seat body, and a plurality of guide rollers rotatably mounted in the seat body to guide movement of a cord which is extended between an automatic winding mechanism and a covering body of a window covering.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a guide roller seat for guiding a cord of a window covering.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a guide roller seat, wherein the cord is kept at a normal state with a determined tension by a drawing action of the guide rollers of the guide roller seat, so that the cord has a determined tension to counteract an unevenly external force and to guide the unevenly external force to a correct direction, thereby preventing the cord at one side of the headrail from being pulled or loosened excessively due to the unevenly external force.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a guide roller seat, wherein the cord is drawn by guidance of the guide rollers of the guide roller seat so as to fold or extend the covering body smoothly and evenly, thereby preventing the covering body from being tilted, so that the covering body is kept at a horizontal state constantly during the drawing action of the cord, thereby facilitating a user operating the cord, and thereby enhancing the outer appearance of the covering body.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a guide roller seat, wherein when the position of the cord is changed by the automatic winding mechanism, each of the guide rollers is driven by the cord to move in the respective track, so that the cord is driven by the automatic winding mechanism smoothly by movement of the guide rollers to prevent the cord from being tangled on the automatic winding mechanism, thereby facilitating operation of the cord.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a guide roller seat, wherein the guide roller seat is arranged in a tangential direction of the automatic winding mechanism, and the cord is reeved through each of the guide rollers of the guide roller seat in a tangential direction thereof, thereby preventing the cord from slipping leftward and rightward relative to the guide rollers of the guide roller seat, so that the cord is moved smoothly, thereby facilitating a user operating the cord.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a window covering in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a guide roller seat in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the guide roller seat as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan cross-sectional view of the guide roller seat as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the guide roller seat as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a plan cross-sectional operational view of the guide roller seat as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a plan cross-sectional operational view of a guide roller seat in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a perspective operational view of a guide roller seat in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a conventional window covering in

accordance with the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to Fig. 1, a window covering in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a headrail 1, an automatic winding mechanism 2 mounted on the headrail 1, a covering body 3 mounted on and extended from the headrail 1, and a cord 21 extended between the automatic winding mechanism 2 and the covering body 3. The cord 21 is driven by the automatic winding mechanism 2 to fold or extend the covering body 3.

Referring to Figs. 1-4, a guide roller seat 4 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the headrail 1 of the window covering to guide movement of the cord 21 of the window covering. The guide roller seat 4 comprises a seat body 41 mounted in the headrail 1, and a plurality of guide rollers 42 rotatably mounted in the seat body 41 to guide movement of the cord 21. The cord 21 is reeved through each of the guide rollers 42 of the guide roller seat 4 and extended outward from the seat body 41 of the guide roller seat 4.

In such a manner, the cord 21 is kept at a normal state with a determined tension by a drawing action of the guide rollers 42 of the guide roller seat 4, so that the cord 21 has a determined tension to counteract an unevenly external force and to guide the unevenly external force to a correct direction, thereby preventing the cord 21 at one side of the headrail 1 from being pulled or loosened excessively due to the unevenly external force.

Thus, the cord 21 is drawn by guidance of the guide rollers 42 of the guide roller seat 4 so as to fold or extend the covering body 3 smoothly and evenly, thereby preventing the covering body 3 from being tilted, so that the covering body 3 is kept at a horizontal state constantly during the drawing action of the cordS 21, thereby facilitating a user operating the cord 21, and thereby enhancing the outer appearance of the covering body 3.

Alternatively, the guide roller seat 4 can be mounted on a bottom rail of the window covering to guide movement of the cord 21 of the window covering.

Referring to Fig. 5, the guide roller seat 4 is arranged in a tangential direction of the automatic winding mechanism 2, and the cord 21 is reeved through each of the guide rollers 42 of the guide roller seat 4 in a tangential direction thereof, thereby preventing the cord 21 from slipping leftward and rightward relative to the guide rollers 42 of the guide roller seat 4, so that the cord 21 is moved smoothly, thereby facilitating a user operating the cord 21.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 6, the seat body 41 of the guide roller seat 4 has a plurality of tracks 411 for mounting the guide rollers 42. The tracks 411 of the guide roller seat 4 are directed toward different directions. Each of the guide rollers 42 is rotatably movable in the respective track 411. When the position of the cord 21 is changed by the automatic winding mechanism 2, each of the guide rollers 42 is driven by the cord 21 to move in the respective track 411, so that the cord 21 is driven by the automatic winding mechanism 2 smoothly by movement of the guide rollers 42 to prevent the cord 21 from being tangled on the automatic winding mechanism 2, thereby facilitating operation of the cord 21.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 7, the tracks 411 of the guide roller seat 4 are directed toward a direction perpendicular to, parallel with or inclined relative to a horizontal axis. In addition, each of the tracks 411 of the guide roller seat 4 has a linear path.

Referring to Fig. 8, each of the guide rollers 42 is pushed by an elastic member 43 mounted on the seat body 41, so that each of the guide rollers 42 is kept in an outer side of the respective track 411 at a normal state.

Thus, when the cord 21 has a larger tension, each of the guide rollers 42 is moved toward an inner side of the respective track 411, and when the cord 21 has a smaller tension, each of the guide rollers 42 is moved toward the outer side of the respective track 411 by the restoring force of the elastic member 43, thereby facilitating operation of the automatic winding mechanism 2. In addition, one of the tracks 411 of the guide roller seat 4 has a curved path.

Accordingly, the cord 21 is kept at a normal state with a determined tension by a drawing action of the guide rollers 42 of the guide roller seat 4, so that the cord 21 has a determined tension to counteract an unevenly external force and to guide the unevenly external force to a correct direction, thereby preventing the cord 21 at one side of the headrail 1 from being pulled or loosened excessively due to the unevenly external force. In addition, the cord 21 is drawn by guidance of the guide rollers 42 of the guide roller seat 4 so as to fold or extend the covering body 3 smoothly and evenly, thereby preventing the covering body 3 from being tilted, so that the covering body 3 is kept at a horizontal state constantly during the drawing action of the cord 21, thereby facilitating a user operating the cord 21, and thereby enhancing the outer appearance of the covering body 3. Further, when the position of the cord 21 is changed by the automatic winding mechanism 2, each of the guide rollers 42 is driven by the cord 21 to move in the respective track 411, so that the cord 21 is driven by the automatic winding mechanism 2 smoothly by movement of the guide rollers 42 to prevent the cord 21 from being tangled on the automatic winding mechanism 2, thereby facilitating operation of the cord 21. Further, the guide roller seat 4 is arranged in a tangential direction of the automatic winding mechanism 2, and the cord 21 is reeved through each of the guide rollers 42 of the guide roller seat 4 in a tangential direction thereof, thereby preventing the cord 21 from slipping leftward and rightward relative to the guide rollers 42 of the guide roller seat 4, s that the cord 21 is moved smoothly, thereby facilitating a user operating the cord 21.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A guide roller seat, comprising: a seat body; a

plurality of guide rollers rotatably mounted in the seat body to guide movement of a cord which is extended between an automatic winding mechanism and a covering body of a window covering.
2. The guide roller seat in accordance with claim 1, wherein the guide roller seat is arranged in a tangential direction of the automatic winding mechanism.
3. The guide roller seat in accordance with claim 1, wherein the seat body of the guide roller seat has a plurality of tracks for mounting the guide rollers, and each of the guide rollers is rotatably movable in the respective track.
4. The guide roller seat in accordance with claim 3, wherein the tracks of the guide roller seat are directed toward a direction perpendicular to, parallel with or inclined relative to a horizontal axis.
5. The guide roller seat in accordance with claim 3, wherein each of the guide rollers is pushed by an elastic member mounted on the seat body, so that each of the guide rollers is kept in an outer side of the respective track at a normal state.
6. The guide roller seat in accordance with claim 1, wherein the seat body is mounted in a headrail of the window covering.
7. The guide roller seat in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cord of the window covering is reeved through each of the guide rollers and extended outward from the seat body.
8. The guide roller seat in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cord is kept at a normal state with a determined tension by a drawing action of the guide rollers, so that the cord has a determined tension.
9. A window covering substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

9. The guide roller seat in accordance with claim 1, wherein the seat body is mounted on a bottom rail of the window covering.

10. The guide roller seat in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cord is reeved through each of the guide rollers in a tangential direction thereof.

11. The guide roller seat in accordance with claim 3, wherein the tracks are directed toward different directions.

12. The guide roller seat in accordance with claim 3, wherein each of the tracks has a linear path.

13. The guide roller seat in accordance with claim 3, wherein one of the tracks has a linear path.

14. The guide roller seat in accordance with claim 3, wherein each of the tracks has a curved path.

15. The guide roller seat in accordance with claim 3, wherein one of the tracks has a curved path.

16. A guide roller seat for a window covering substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

17. A window covering which includes a guide roller seat as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

Amendments to the claims have been tiled as follows Claims:- 1. A window covering that includes a winding mechanism, a covering body, a cord extending between the winding mechanism and the covering body, and a guide roller seat arranged in a tangential direction of the winding mechanism, the guide roller seat comprising a seat body and a plurality of guide rollers rotatably mounted in tracks formed in the seat body, the guide rollers serving to guide movement of the cord and the tracks extending in a number of different directions.

2. A window covering as claimed in Claim 1, in which the tracks have linear paths.

3. A window covering as claimed in Claim 1, in which at least one of the tracks has a curved path.

4. A window covering as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which each of the guide rollers is acted on by an elastic member mounted on the seat body.

5. A window covering as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the cord is reeved through each of the guide rollers in a tangential direction thereof.

6. A window covering as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes three guide rollers.

7. A window Covering as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the seat body is mounted in a headrail of the window Covering.

8. A window covering as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the seat body is mounted on a bottom rail of the window covering.