Abstract:
An insulated glass window assembly including an integral shade that can be raised and lowered at both its upper and lower edges. The assembly includes an insulated glass, a frame for mounting the insulated glass within a supporting structure, the shade within the glass, and operator bars outside the glass. The operator bars are magnetically coupled through the glass to the upper and lower edges of the shade. Accordingly, the upper and lower edges can both be raised and lowered independently to provide a wide variety of positioning options.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to window blinds, and more particularly to window blinds contained within insulated glass. 
     Insulated glass window assemblies with internal windows blinds are well known. The insulated glass includes two spaced glass panels sealed to a spacer frame to define a space between the panels. The window blind is positioned within the space and is operated by actuators that are outside of the insulated glass but magnetically coupled to the blind. An example of such a construction is illustrated in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/971,246 filed Oct. 4, 2001 by Sun et al, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. 
     While a wide variety of insulated glass window blinds are known, the market continually desires new concepts, constructions, and features. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aforementioned need is met by the present invention in which an insulated glass window covering (such as a blind or a shade) can be raised and lowered at both its upper and lower ends. More particularly, the covering within the insulated glass includes upper and lower inner bars at the top and bottom, respectively, of the covering. Upper and lower outer bars are positioned outside the insulated glass and are magnetically coupled to the upper and lower inner bars, respectively, inside the insulated glass. Both the top and bottom of the window covering can be raised and lowered independently of one another to permit a variety of opening, closing, and positional options. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the bars include rollers to facilitate the movement of the bars. 
     These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the insulated glass window assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line II—II in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a fragmentary exploded front perspective view of one end of the outer bar; 
         FIG. 4  is a fragmentary exploded rear perspective view of the same end of the outer bar; 
         FIG. 5  is a fragmentary perspective exploded view of the upper portion of the shade; 
         FIG. 6  is a fragmentary perspective view showing the upper outer bar in its fully raised position; 
         FIG. 7  is a fragmentary perspective view of a first alternative embodiment of the upper outer bar; 
         FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of the upper outer bar; 
         FIG. 9  is a rear perspective view of the second alternative embodiment of the upper outer bar; and 
         FIG. 10  is a fragmentary plan view of the upper portion of the insulated glass assembly including a third alternative embodiment of the upper outer bar. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An insulated glass window assembly constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6  and generally designated  10 . The insulated glass window assembly includes an insulated glass  12 , a frame  14 , a shade assembly  16 , and outer bars  18   a  and  18   b . The shade assembly  16  is contained within the insulated glass  12 . The insulated glass  12  is supported within a supporting structure D (see  FIG. 2 ) by the frame  14 . The outer bars  18   a  and  18   b  are magnetically coupled to the shade assembly  16  to enable the raising and lowering of the upper and lower portions of the shade. 
     The insulated glass  12  is of any type well known to those skilled in the art. The insulated glass includes a pair of glass panels  30  and  32  sealed to a common spacer  34 . 
     The frame  14  is of a type generally well known to those skilled in the art. In the preferred embodiment, the frame is injection molded of plastic. Alternative materials and manufacturing techniques may be used. The frame  14  includes two frame halves  40   a  and  40   b , which are interconnected using screws or other techniques well known to those skilled in the art. Each of the frame halves  40   a  and  40   b  has a visible surface or profile  38  providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The frame halves  40   a  and  40   b  can optionally be sealed, for example as illustrated at  42 , against the supporting structure D and/or the insulated glass  12 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the frame  14  supports the insulated glass  12  within a supporting structure D. In the disclosed embodiment, the window  10  is a doorlight specifically adapted for installation within a door. Consequently, the supporting structure D is a door. However, the invention is usable in conjunction with windows generally, including those supported by a building structure. 
     The window shade assembly  16  is illustrated most clearly in  FIGS. 2 and 5 . The shade assembly includes a pleated shade  50 , an upper inner bar  52 , and a lower inner bar (not visible) that is identical to, but inverted from, the upper bar  52 . The pleated shade  50  and its attachment to the inner bars are well known to those skilled in the window covering art. Although a pleated shade is disclosed, a wide variety of window coverings could be substituted therefor. For example, the pleated shade could be a slatted blind or a fabric. 
     The upper inner bar  52  is extruded of plastic and defines a slot  54  facing the glass panel  32 . Magnets  55  are secured within the inner end caps  84  in the slots  54  in the upper inner bar  52  and the lower bar (not visible). Rollers  82  are rotatably supported within the inner end caps  84  in the slots  54  in the upper and lower inner bars. The rollers ride against the glass panel to facilitate the movement of the inner bars. 
     The upper outer bar  18   a  ( FIGS. 1-4  and  6 ) is located outside of the insulated glass  12 . The upper bar includes an extrusion  60  and a pair of end caps  62 . The extrusion defines a channel  66  within which the end caps  62  are received. The upper outer bar  18   a  extends horizontally between the opposite sides of the frame  14  for vertical movement. 
     Each end cap  62  is injection-molded plastic and defines roller pockets  73  and three magnet pockets  74 . The end cap  62  is shaped and sized to fit closely within the extrusion  60 . Magnets  76  are secured within the magnet pockets  74 . A steel back plate  83  is attached to the magnets  76  to improve magnetic attraction. A roller  82  is snap-fitted within the roller pocket  73  to provide rolling engagement, and thereby reduced friction, between the bar and the glass. The end cap  62  further includes a side flange  80  which rides within a groove defined by the frame  14  between the glass  12  and the frame as disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/971,246 filed Oct. 4, 2001, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. Alternatively, the side flange  80  could ride within a metal track (not shown). 
     The magnets  76  on the outer bars  18  are magnetically coupled to the magnets  55  on the inner bars  52  so that movement of the outer bars results in movement of the inner bars (and hence the shade  16 ) within the insulated glass  12 . 
     The upper portion of the pleated shade  16  can be raised and lowered by moving the upper outer bar  18   a  upwardly or downwardly. To do so, the user places her fingers on the outer bar  18  and provides upward or downward pressure. The magnetic coupling between the bars  18   a  and  52  is adequate so that the bar  52  follows the bar  18   a  throughout its extent of movement. 
     Similarly, the lower portion of the shade  16  can be raised and lowered by moving the bottom outer bar  18   b . This bar is moved in the same fashion as the upper bar  18   a . Again, the magnetic attraction between the lower outer bar  18   b  and the lower pleated shade bar is sufficient to cause the lower shade bar to follow the lower outer bar  18   b  throughout its extent of travel. By moving the lower outer bar  18   b  upwardly as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the lower portion of the window can be exposed. 
     As described, the shade assembly  16  can be moved entirely to the top of the window assembly  10 , entirely to the bottom of the window assembly, or to any point in between. The upper and lower outer bars  18   a  and  18   b  are independently adjustable to position the upper and lower portions of the blind at selected locations. 
     ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     A first alternative embodiment  118   a  is illustrated in FIG.  7 . This embodiment includes an extrusion  160  and an end cap  162 . The extrusion  160  is aluminum and the end cap  162  is injection molded plastic. As in the previously described embodiment, the end of the extrusion  160  and the end cap  162  are cooperatively shaped to provide a close fit when the end cap  162  is mounted on the extrusion  160 . The end cap  162  includes a gripping portion  163  comprising a plurality of ribs of low-durometer material. The gripping portion  163  can be co-molded with the end cap  162  or applied in a subsequent operation. The outer bar  118   a  is actuated by grasping the gripping portions  163 . 
     A second alternative embodiment  218   a  of the upper outer bar is illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . The bar  218   a  is injection molded as an integral piece and includes integral finger pocket  270  and magnet pockets  274 . The geometry of the ends of the bar  218   a  is nearly identical with that of the bar  18   a  to interfit with the window frame  14 . 
     A third alternative embodiment of the upper bar  318   a  is illustrated in FIG.  10 . In this embodiment, a pair of metal tracks  320  are secured to the window frame  314  to provide the grooves in which the opposite ends of the bar  318   a  travel. 
     The above descriptions are those of preferred embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principals of patent law, including the Doctrine of Equivalents.