Abstract:
Provided is a blind system including a head-rail; a first cord mechanism associated with a first blind portion via a first cord; a second cord mechanism associated with a second blind portion via a second cord; each blind portion includes a bottom rail; the first blind portion is interposed between the headrail and the second blind portion, where the second cord is also associated with the first blind portion.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates to control mechanisms for blinds, more particularly to a single controller mechanism used with dual-stage blinds. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Venetian blinds are very commonly used for shielding window and door openings to block the passage of light and to provide privacy. Generally, blinds comprise a plurality of horizontally extending members (slats in Venetian type blinds, pleats in Plisse or pleated blinds etc.), parallel to one another. 
         [0003]    Typically, raising and lowering of the slats is facilitated by pulling a cord attached to a mechanism that engages the cord to lock the location of the slats at a desired elevation. 
         [0004]    Conventional blinds incorporate a looped cord attached to a mechanism inside the blind that moves the slats/pleats, and can be pulled to selectively open or close the blind vanes. Such looped cords hang free from one side of the blind, and the necessary length of the looped cord depends on the width of the opening. 
         [0005]    Some blinds comprise two portions, each having different shading characteristics, allowing the user to choose the desired manner of shading. In particular, the arrangement is usually such that one of the portions can be raised/lowered while the other is maintained in a retracted position and vise versa. 
       GENERAL DESCRIPTION 
       [0006]    According to one aspect of the disclosed subject matter there is provided a blind system comprising a head-rail with a first cord mechanism associated with a first blind portion via a first cord and a second cord mechanism associated with a second blind portion via a second cord, each blind portion comprising a bottom rail, said first blind portion being interposed between said headrail and said second blind portion, wherein said second cord is also associated with said first blind portion. 
         [0007]    The bottom rail of the first blind portion can be interposed between slats/pleats of the first blind portion and slats/pleats of the second blind portion. 
         [0008]    Each of the cord mechanisms can be constituted by a spool on which the first and second cord are configured for winding respectively. The first and the second cord each have a proximal end fixedly attached to the respective spool and a distal end configured for attachment to a bottom rail of its respective blind portion. 
         [0009]    Each spool can assume a first, fully retracted position in which the cord is fully wound on the spool in a predetermined direction (either CW or CCW) so that the distal end of the respective cord is most adjacent to its respective spool and a second, fully deployed position in which the cord is fully unwound from the spool so that the distal end of the respective cord is most remote from its respective spool. 
         [0010]    Respectively, said bottom rail can also assume a first, proximal position in which it is at its most proximal location with respect to the headrail, and a second, distal position in which it is at its most distal location with respect to the headrail. As blinds are typically used in a vertical orientation and are facilitated by gravity and the weight of the bottom rail itself, in such a vertical configuration, the distal and proximal positions of the bottom rail are respectively a lowermost position and an upper most position. 
         [0011]    In addition, at least the first spool is configured for assuming a third, backward retracted position in which the cord is fully wound on the spool in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction (i.e. if in the first, fully retracted position the cord is wound in a CW direction, in the third, backward retracted position, the cord is fully wound on the spool in a CCW direction). It is important to note that in both the first and the third positions, the distal end of the first cord is also most adjacent to its respective spool. 
         [0012]    In connection with the above, it is appreciated that the first, second and third positions of at least the first spool are consecutive in operation, i.e. from the first, fully retracted position, rotation of the spool in the predetermined direction will bring the spool to its second, fully deployed position, and further rotation of the spool in the same direction will cause the cord to wind on the spool in the opposite direction, bringing it to the third, backward retracted position. 
         [0013]    The first cord and the second cord can be of different lengths, specifically, the second cord can be longer than the first cord, so that upon simultaneous rotation of both spools, the first spool reaches its second, fully deployed position before the second spool still has a portion of the second cord wound thereon. 
         [0014]    Thus, upon further rotation of the spools in the same direction, the first spool begins displacing from the second, fully deployed position to the third, backward retracted position, while the second spool is still in rotation to unwind the cord therefrom. 
         [0015]    The ratio between the lengths of the cords provides for a unique operation of the blind system, determining the timing of displacement between positions of the first and of the second spool. In particular, the arrangement can be such that the first cord is of length L while the second cord is of length 1.5 L, whereby when the first spool reaches its third, backward retracted position, the second spool reaches its second, deployed position. 
         [0016]    In operation, the arrangement can be such that during winding/unwinding of the cord, each cord progresses through an opening of the headrail, so as to bring the bottom rail, to which the distal end of the cord is attached, closer/farther from the headrail. 
         [0017]    The second cord, being longer than the first cord as suggested above, can be provided with a stopper disposed along the cord and configured for preventing a portion of the cord from being extracted through the opening of the headrail. Specifically, the stopper can be disposed between the distal end and the proximal end of the cord so as to divide the cord into an inner portion, defined between the proximal end and the stopper and an outer portion defined between the stopper and the distal end. 
         [0018]    The arrangement can be such that the stopper is located within the headrail so as to allow full extraction of the outer portion of the cord outside the headrail and preventing extraction of the inner portion from the headrail, maintaining it therein. However, it is noted that the stopper does not prevent the second cord from being unwound from the second spool. 
         [0019]    In addition, the headrail and spool can be provided with a winding mechanism configured for preventing entanglement of the inner portion of the second cord within the headrail when the second spool is in its second, fully deployed position. 
         [0020]    In particular, the winding mechanism can be constituted by a spool shell having block elements extending from the shell towards the spool. The block elements are configured for preventing entanglement of the inner portion of the cord when the spool in unwound. 
         [0021]    More particularly, owing to the above arrangement, the second spool is also configured for assuming a third, backward position in which the inner portion of the cord is wound in the opposite direction on the spool. When the stopper has reached the opening of the headrail (i.e. the outer portion is outside the headrail), further rotation of the spool will cause not only unwinding of the inner portion from the spool but also winding of the same inner portion on the spool in the opposite direction. Specifically, the end of the inner portion fixed to the stopper begins unwinding while the end of the inner portion fixed to the spool begins winding in the opposite direction. 
         [0022]    According to a particular example, the stopper can be disposed on the second cord to divide it such that the outer portion of the second cord is of a 2:1 ratio, i.e. the outer portion is 1.5 times as long as the inner portion. Under this example, the distal end of both the first cord and of the second cord can reach an equivalent maximal distance L from the headrail, entailing an equivalent maximal distance of the bottom rail of each of the blind portions from the headrail. 
         [0023]    In operation, from an initial position in which both the first spool and the second spool are in their first, fully retracted position, the blind system can perform at least the following stages (for a first cord of length L and a second cord of length 1.5 L): 
         [0024]    Initial deployment—both spools are rotated in order to unwind their respective cords, gradually displacing from the first, fully retracted position towards the second, deployed position, until the first spool reaches its second, fully deployed position. At the end of the initial deployment, the distal end of the first cord is at its maximal distance from the headrail, and both bottom rails of each of the blind portions are at a distance L from the headrail; 
         [0025]    First retraction—upon further rotation of the spools in the same direction, the first cord is wound on the first spool in a direction opposite to the initial direction of winding, while the inner portion of the second cord begins winding on the second spool in the opposite direction. In this position, the bottom rail of the first blind portion gradually progresses towards the headrail, while the bottom rail of the second blind portion remains in place, due to the stopper preventing further extraction of the second cord through the headrail. This is performed until the first spool reaches its third, backward retracted position, which, due to the length ratios is timed with the third, backward position of the second spool; 
         [0026]    Initial retraction—both spools are rotated in an opposition direction, leading to displacement of the first spool from the third, backward retracted position back to the second, fully deployed position, and displacement of the inner portion of the second cord from the third, backward position to the second, unwound position. Consequently, the bottom rail of the first blind portion is displaced to its most remote position from the headrail; and 
         [0027]    Full retraction—upon further rotation of the spools, both the first and the second cord are wound on their respective spools, bringing both, simultaneously, to the first, fully retracted position. 
         [0028]    The first blind portion can be provided with a plurality of first blind elements (e.g. slats/pleats) extending between the first bottom rail and the headrail and the second blind portion can be provided with a plurality of second blind elements (slats/pleats) extending between the first bottom rail and the second bottom rail. 
         [0029]    The plurality of first blind elements and second blind elements can be of different characteristics, whereby each of the blind portions has different shading characteristics. For example, the first blind portion can be a pleated blind configured for allowing passage of a predetermined amount of light and the second blind portion can be a double-pleated blind configured for obstructing more light than the first portion. 
         [0030]    The arrangement can be such that the second cord extends from the second spool to the second bottom rail via designated openings in the first bottom rail, whereby displacement of the second bottom rail towards the headrail entails displacement of the first bottom rail towards the same upon contact between the bottom rails. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    In order to understand the disclosure and to see how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0032]      FIGS. 1A to 1C  are schematic isometric, front and side views of a blind system according to the subject matter of the present application; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2A  is a schematic enlarged isometric views of detail A shown in  FIGS. 1A to 1C , depicting a cord mechanism used in the blind system; 
           [0034]      FIG. 2B  is a schematic enlarged view of a portion of a headrail of the blind system shown in  FIGS. 1A to 1C ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 2C  is a schematic enlarged isometric view of detail B shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 3A  is a schematic isometric view of the blind system shown in  FIGS. 1A to 1C , with half the each of the top and of the bottom blind portion being removed; 
           [0037]      FIG. 3B  is a schematic isometric view of the blind system shown in  FIG. 3A , with a top and a bottom portion of the blind being removed as well; 
           [0038]      FIGS. 4A to 4D  are schematic isometric views of the blind system shown in  FIGS. 1A to 1C , during four consecutive positions of operation of the blind system; 
           [0039]      FIG. 5A  is a schematic exploded isometric view of a spool of the bottom blind portion shown in  FIGS. 1A to 1C ; 
           [0040]      FIG. 5B  is a schematic isometric view of the spool shown in  FIG. 5A , when assembled, with a casing thereof being shown in phantom lines; 
           [0041]      FIG. 5C  is a schematic isometric view of an inner portion of the spool shown in  FIG. 5B ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 5D  is a schematic enlarged view of detail C shown in  FIG. 5C ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 5E  is a schematic isometric view of a spool of the top blind portion shown in  FIGS. 1A to 1C , with a casing thereof being shown in phantom lines; 
           [0044]      FIG. 5F  is a schematic isometric view of an inner portion of the spool shown in  FIG. 5E ; 
           [0045]      FIG. 5G  is a schematic enlarged view of detail D shown in  FIG. 5F ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 5H  is a schematic enlarged view of detail E shown in  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0047]      FIG. 6A  is a schematic isometric view of the spool of the bottom blind portion shown in  FIG. 4B , with a casing thereof being shown in phantom lines; 
           [0048]      FIG. 6B  is a schematic isometric view of an inner portion of the spool shown in  FIG. 6A ; 
           [0049]      FIG. 6C  is a schematic enlarged view of detail F shown in  FIG. 6B ; 
           [0050]      FIG. 6D  is a schematic enlarged sectioned view of a detail G shown in  FIG. 6A ; 
           [0051]      FIG. 6E  is a schematic isometric view of the spool of the top blind portion shown in  FIG. 4B , with a casing thereof being shown in phantom lines; 
           [0052]      FIG. 6F  is a schematic isometric view of an inner portion of the spool shown in  FIG. 6E ; 
           [0053]      FIG. 7A  is a schematic isometric view of the spool of the bottom blind portion shown in  FIG. 4C , with a casing thereof being shown in phantom lines; 
           [0054]      FIG. 7B  is a schematic isometric view of an inner portion of the spool shown in  FIG. 7A ; 
           [0055]      FIG. 7C  is a schematic enlarged view of detail H shown in  FIG. 7B ; 
           [0056]      FIG. 7D  is a schematic enlarged sectioned view of a detail I shown in  FIG. 6A ; 
           [0057]      FIG. 7E  is a schematic isometric view of the spool of the top blind portion shown in  FIG. 4C , with a casing thereof being shown in phantom lines; 
           [0058]      FIG. 7F  is a schematic isometric view of an inner portion of the spool shown in  FIG. 7E ; 
           [0059]      FIG. 8A  is a schematic isometric view of the spool of the bottom blind portion shown in  FIG. 4D , with a casing thereof being shown in phantom lines; 
           [0060]      FIG. 8B  is a schematic isometric view of an inner portion of the spool shown in  FIG. 8A ; 
           [0061]      FIG. 8C  is a schematic enlarged view of detail J shown in  FIG. 8B ; 
           [0062]      FIG. 8D  is a schematic enlarged sectioned view of a detail K shown in  FIG. 8A ; 
           [0063]      FIG. 8E  is a schematic isometric view of the spool of the top blind portion shown in  FIG. 4B , with a casing thereof being shown in phantom lines; 
           [0064]      FIG. 8F  is a schematic isometric view of an inner portion of the spool shown in  FIG. 8E ; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0065]    Turning first to  FIGS. 1A to 1C , a two-stage blind system is shown, generally designated as  1 . The blind system  1  comprises a headrail  10  accommodating an upper cord mechanism  20  and a lower cord mechanism  30 , respectively associated with an upper blind portion  40  and a lower blind portion  50 . The cord mechanisms  20 ,  30  are positioned along a mutual axis X and are manually operated via an activation mechanism  60 . 
         [0066]    With further reference to  FIGS. 2A to 2C , the cord mechanisms  20 ,  30  comprise respectively an upper cord C U  and a lower cord C L  (also referred to herein as  24  and  34 , see  FIGS. 4A to 8F ), providing the association between the respective portions  40 ,  50  of the blind system  1 . 
         [0067]    The first portion  40  is made of a plurality of double pleats  42  while the second portion  50  is made of a plurality of single pleats  52 . The arrangement is such that the upper bottom rail  44  is positioned between the headrail  10  and the lower bottom rail  54 . The slats  42  of the upper portion  40  extend between the headrail  10  and the bottom rail  44  while the pleats  52  of the bottom portion  50  extend between the upper bottom rail  44  and the lower bottom rail  54 . 
         [0068]    The pleats  42 ,  52  are also formed with perforations  46  and  56  (obscured) configured for passage therethrough of the upper and lower cord C U  and C L . The arrangement is such that the upper cord C U  extends between the upper cord mechanism  20  and the upper bottom rail  44  and has a first end attached to the former and a second end attached to the latter. The lower cord C L  extends between the lower cord mechanism  20  and the upper bottom rail  44  (passing through the pleats  42  of the upper portion  40 ) and has a first end attached to the former and a second end attached to the latter. 
         [0069]    With additional reference to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , it is observed that the upper cord C U  allows suspending the upper bottom rail  44  from the headrail  10  at a first distance therefrom and the lower cord C L  allows suspending the lower bottom rail  54  from the headrail at a second distance therefrom. 
         [0070]    With reference to  FIGS. 4A to 4D , the upper cord mechanism  20  comprises a spool  22  on which the upper cord  24  of length L is wound. The upper cord mechanism  20  further comprises a cap  26  and a cover  28  configured for maintaining the upper cord  24  associated with the spool  22  and preventing entanglement of the cord. 
         [0071]    The activation mechanism  60  comprises a closed-loop notched cord  64  and a weight  62  and is associated, via a connector  66  to the mutual axis X of the cord mechanisms  20 ,  30 . The arrangement is such that pulling on the notched cord  64  in one direction entails rotation of the mechanisms  20 ,  30  about the mutual axis X in a CW direction while pulling on the notched cord  64  in the opposite direction entails rotation of the mechanisms  20 ,  30  about the mutual axis X in a CCW direction. 
         [0072]    The upper cord mechanism  30  comprises a spool  32  on which the upper cord  34  of length 1.5 L is wound. The upper cord mechanism  30  further comprises a cap  36  and a cover  38  configured for maintaining the upper cord  34  associated with the spool  32  and preventing entanglement of the cord. 
         [0073]    In addition, the lower cord mechanism comprises a stopper mechanism  35  which is positioned on the cord  34  dividing the cord into a first portion defined between the first end of the cord  34  and the stopper  35  and a second portion defined between the stopper  35  and the second end of the cord  34 . The arrangement is such that the stopper  35  is configured for preventing extraction of the second portion of the cord from the housing  12  of the headrail  10 . It is noticed that the stopper  35  divides the second cord  34  such that the outer portion is of length L while the inner portion is only of length 0.5 L. 
         [0074]    In  FIGS. 4A to 4D , the blind system  1  is shown during various stages of its operation. 
         [0075]    In the position shown in  FIG. 4A , the system  1  is shown in its fully retracted position (initial position) in which both the upper bottom rail  44  is at a proximal position to the headrail  10  and the lower bottom rail is at a proximal position to both the headrail  10  and the upper bottom rail  44 . In this position, both the upper cord  24  and the lower cord  34  are fully wound on their respective spools  22 ,  32 . 
         [0076]    This can be further observed in  FIGS. 5A to 5H , illustrating the spools  22 ,  32  of the upper and lower blind portions  40 ,  50  respectively. It is observed that the cords  24 ,  34  are respectively fully wound on the spools  22 ,  32 . 
         [0077]    Turning now to  FIG. 4B , when the activation mechanism  60  is operated by pulling on the notched cord  64 , the spools  22 ,  32  of the respective mechanisms  20 ,  30  are caused to revolve in a CCW direction, yielding extraction of both the upper cord  24  and the lower cord  34  through the housing  12  of the headrail  10 . 
         [0078]    Due to the CCW rotation, both the upper bottom rail  44  and the lower bottom rail  54  displace downwards simultaneously as one unit, so that the distance between the bottom rails  44 ,  54  remains the same as in the initial position shown in  FIG. 4A . However, as the upper bottom rail  44  displaces away from the headrail  10 , the pleats  42  of the upper portion  40  unfold between the upper bottom rail  44  and the headrail  10 . 
         [0079]    With additional reference being made to  FIGS. 6A to 6F , upon completion of the stage, the upper cord  24  is completely unwound from the upper spool  22 , while the lower cord  34  has its outer portion (of length L) extending fully outside the headrail  10  and its inner portion (of length 0.5 L) still wound on the spool  32 . It is observed that in this position, the stopper  35  is located at the entrance of the opening of the housing  12 , preventing the inner portion of the cord  34  from being pulled out of the housing  12 . 
         [0080]    Turning now to  FIG. 4C , and with additional reference to  FIGS. 7A to 7F , further pulling of the notched cord  64 , entails further CCW rotation of both spools  22 ,  32 , along the longitudinal axis, and in the same direction. With respect to the spool  22 , this CCW rotation entails winding of the upper cord  24  on the spool  22  in an opposite direction to that of the initial position. Such winding causes, in turn, the upper bottom rail  44  to move upwards towards the headrail  10 . 
         [0081]    Simultaneously, CCW rotation of the lower mechanism  30  entails rewinding of the inner portion of the lower cord  34  in an opposite direction. Specifically, while the end e 1  of the inner portion (attached to the stopper  35 ) continues unwinding from the spool  32 , the opposite end e 2  of the inner portion (attached to the spool  32 ) begins winding on the spool in the opposite direction. 
         [0082]    It is appreciated that during this stage, the inner portion of the cord  34  performs essentially a similar process as that performed by the first cord  24  in the first and second stage combined (i.e. unwinding in one direction and winding in the opposite direction). This is also the reasoning for designing a length 0.5 L for the inner portion of the cord—0.5 L of unwinding in one direction +0.5 L of winding in the opposite direction yield the desired length L equivalent to the length of the first cord  24 . 
         [0083]    It should be noted that unwinding of the inner portion of the second cord  34  in the one direction and winding thereof on the spool  32  in the opposite direction takes place simultaneously, each from an opposite end of the spool  32 . This causes a twist  34 T to be formed in the cord  34  during this process. 
         [0084]    Further attention is drawn to the shell  38  of the spool, shown formed with blocking elements  39  (e.g.  FIG. 5B ) configured for preventing entanglement of the inner portion of the second cord  34  so that during the simultaneous unwinding and winding in the opposite direction, the inner portion of the cord  34  does not become knotted. 
         [0085]    Throughout the above, since the stopper  35  prevents the lower cord  34  from exiting the housing  12 , the lower bottom rail  54  does not displace downward and remains in the same position as shown in  FIG. 4B . i.e. at a distance L from the headrail  10 . 
         [0086]    Thus, since the upper bottom rail  44  displaces towards the headrail  10  and away from the lower bottom rail  54 , the pleats  42  of the upper portion  40  of the blind system  1  are folded between the headrail  10  and upper bottom rail  44  while the pleats of the lower portion  50  are unfolded between the lower bottom rail  54  and the upper bottom rail  44 . 
         [0087]    Turning now to  FIG. 4D , and with additional reference to  FIGS. 8A to 8F , upon completion of the previous stage, the blind system reaches its end position in which the pleats  42  of the upper portion  40  are fully folded between the headrail  10  and upper bottom rail  44  (similar to the initial position) while the pleats of the lower portion  50  are fully unfolded between the lower bottom rail  54  and the upper bottom rail  44 . 
         [0088]    In order to return to the initial position, the notched cord is pulled in the opposite direction and the entire process repeats itself in succession in reverse order. 
         [0089]    Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will readily appreciate that numerous changes, variations, and modification can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, mutatis mutandis.