Apparatus for controlling slats of sash

An adjusting apparatus is provided in a sash to turn slats automatically while the sash is being opened. The adjusting apparatus includes a plurality of first engaging members, a driven unit, and a driving unit. The first engaging members are connected to the slats respectively. The driven unit is connected to the frame of the sash for reciprocation, and has a second engaging member, wherein all the first engaging members are engaged with the second engaging member. The driving unit is connected to the carrier and the driven unit respectively to drive the driven unit to move while the sash is being opened. The first engaging members are turned by the second engaging member when the driven unit is moved by the driving unit to turn the slats from the first position to the second position.

The current application claims a foreign priority to the patent application of China No. 201320422356.5 filed on Jul. 16, 2013.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a sash of a window or door, and more particularly to an apparatus for controlling slats of a sash.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional sash includes a frame and a plurality of parallel slats pivotally connected to the frame. The slats are able to be turned between a vertical position and a horizontal position just like a window blind.

In the prior arts, some sashes provide the frame pivoted on the wall, so that the whole sash is able to be opened and closed. However, while the slats are tuned to the horizontal position and the sash is being opened, the edges of the slats may hit the wall and get damaged. This problem is unsolved until now.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for adjusting slats of a sash, which may automatically turn the slats to the second position (vertical position) while the sash is being opened.

In order to achieve the objective of the present invention, the present invention provides an adjusting apparatus for adjusting slats of a sash while the sash is opened. The sash is pivotally connected to a carrier and has a frame, and the slats are pivotally connected to the frame to be turned between a first position and a second position. The adjusting apparatus includes a plurality of first engaging members, a driven unit, and a driving unit. The first engaging members are connected to the slats respectively. The driven unit is connected to the frame of the sash for reciprocation, and has a second engaging member, wherein all the first engaging members are engaged with the second engaging member. The driving unit is connected to the carrier and the driven unit respectively to drive the driven unit to move while the sash is being opened. The first engaging members are turned by the second engaging member when the driven unit is moved by the driving unit to turn the slats from the first position to the second position.

In an embodiment, the driven unit includes a movable member connected to the second engaging member; the driving unit includes a pushing member and a driving member; the driving member is connected to the frame of the sash and the carrier respectively; the driving member is moved when the sash is being opened, the pushing member is moved by the driving member, and the movable member is moved by the pushing member to generate a relative movement between the second engaging member and the first engaging members to turn the slats.

In an embodiment, the driving unit further includes a base embedded in the frame of the sash; the base has a cavity, in which the pushing member is received for reciprocation, and the driving member is connected to the base.

In an embodiment, the driving unit further includes a biasing member which is deposed in the cavity of the base and urges the pushing member in a direction opposite to that of the pushing member being moved by the driving member.

In an embodiment, the driving member further includes a lateral board and a first roller; the lateral board is connected to the base to cover the cavity, and has an opening communicated with the cavity; the first roller is received in the cavity and pivotally connected to the base; the base has a top board, and the biasing member has opposite ends urging the top board and the pushing member respectively; the driving member has an end fastened to the top board; the driving member runs around the pushing member and the first roller, and then extends out of the base via the opening of the lateral board to be fastened to the carrier.

In an embodiment, the pushing member has a lid and a second roller pivotally connected to the lid, and the driving member runs around the second roller.

In an embodiment, the first roller and/or the second roller has a groove, in which the driving member is received.

In an embodiment, the base is provided with a guiding slot; the movable member is provided with a protrusion to be engaged with the guiding slot, and the movable member moves along the guiding slot.

In an embodiment, the driven unit includes a movable member connected to the second engaging member; the driving unit includes a pushing member and a driving member; the driving member is connected to the pushing member and the carrier respectively; the driving member is moved when the sash is being opened, the pushing member is moved by the driving member, and the movable member is moved by the pushing member to generate a relative movement between the second engaging member and the first engaging members to turn the slats.

In an embodiment, the driving unit further includes a biasing member which urges the pushing member in a direction opposite to that of the pushing member being moved by the driving member.

In an embodiment, the driving unit further includes a base, a lateral board, and a first roller; the base is embedded in the frame of the sash; the base has a cavity, in which the pushing member is received for reciprocation; the lateral board is connected to the base to cover the cavity, and has an opening communicated with the cavity; the first roller is received in the cavity and pivotally connected to the base; the driving member runs around the first roller, and then extends out of the base via the opening of the lateral board to be fastened to the carrier.

In an embodiment, the base is provided with a guiding slot; the movable member is provided with a protrusion to be engaged with the guiding slot, and the movable member moves along the guiding slot.

With such design, the slats of the sash will be turned to the second position (vertical position) automatically while the sash is being opened to prevent the slats from hitting the wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown inFIG. 1toFIG. 3, a sash100of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a frame40and a plurality of parallel slats50. The frame40is a rectangular board with a rectangular opening at a center thereof. The slats50are received in the opening of the frame40, and have their opposite ends pivoted on the frame40, so that each slat50is able to be turned. The frame100is hinged with a sash frame200, therefore the sash100could be closed (FIG. 1) and opened (FIG. 2).

The sash100further is provided with an adjusting apparatus10. As shown inFIG. 4, the adjusting apparatus10has a plurality of first engaging members, a driven unit, and a driving unit. In the first preferred embodiment, the first engaging members are gears12fixed to an end of each slat50. The driven unit is received in the frame40for reciprocation. The driven unit has a second engaging member and a movable member18. In the first preferred embodiment, the adjusting apparatus10further has a third engaging member, and the third engaging member is a rack14fixed to the frame40. The second engaging member is a rack16as well, and the rack16of the second engaging member is parallel to the rack14of the third engaging member, and the gears12are meshed with both the racks14,16at the same time. As shown inFIG. 5andFIG. 6, the movable member18is provided with teeth18ato be meshed with the rack16. The movable member18further has a first block18bat a side thereof. In another embodiment, the movable member18and the second engaging member are directly connected together or made into a single unit instead of meshed with together. No matter what kind of it, the movable member18and the second engaging member should move together.

The driving unit is connected to the sash frame200(so called carrier hereafter) and the driven unit respectively. The driving unit has a base20, a lateral board22, a biasing member, a first roller28, and a driving member24. The biasing member is a spring26, and the driving member is a cord30in the first preferred embodiment. The base20is embedded in the frame40, and has a cavity20a, which is open at a front end of the base20. The lateral board22is attached to the front side of the base20to cover an exterior end of the cavity20a. The lateral board22has an opening22a, which is communicated with the bore20a. The base20is provided with a guiding slot20bat a rear side thereof, and the guiding slot20bis communicated with an interior end of the cavity20a. The movable member18is provided with a protrusion18cengaging the guiding slot20bto allow the movable member18to move along the guiding slot20b. The first block18bis on the protrusion18cand is received in the cavity20awhile the movable member18is engaged with the base20. The pushing member24, the spring26, and the first roller28are received in the cavity20aof the base10and between the lateral board22and the movable member18.

As shown inFIG. 5, the pushing member24includes a lid241and a second roller242pivotally connected to the lid241. The lid241is provided with a second block214aand a rod241b. The spring26is fitted to the rod241band urges a top board20cof the base20to urge the pushing member24downwards. The first roller28is pivotally connected to the base20and adjacent to the opening22aof the lateral board22.

The cord30has a predetermined length, and has an end passing through an opening20don the top board20cof the base20and tied a knot to fasten the cord30to the top board20c. The cord30runs around the second roller242and the first roller28in sequence, and then passes through the opening22aof the lateral board22to be fastened to the sash frame200. The first roller28and the second roller242are respectively provided with a groove28a(242a) to receive the cord30therein.

The sash100is hinged with the sash frame200to be opened and closed. The slats50are adjustable to be turned between a first position, in which the slats50are substantially horizontal to let the sun and air passing through, and a second position, in which the slats50are substantially vertical to shade the sun. While the sash100is closed, we usually turn the slats50to the first position (FIG. 1), and while the sash100is being opened, the slats50will be turned to the second position automatically (FIG. 3). While the sash100is closed, as shown inFIG. 7, the spring26is uncompressed, and the pushing member24is located at the lowest position. Next, when the sash100is being opened, the sash100is turned related to the sash frame200to enlarge a distance therebetween. Consequently, the cord30will be stretched to move the pushing member24upwards until the second block241aof the lid241touches the first block18bof the movable member18(FIG. 8). The slats50stay in the first position until now.

While the sash100is continuously being opened, the movable member18is being moved upwards by the cord30, and the rack16, which is engaged with the movable member18, are moved together with the movable member18. With the movement of the rack16, it will turn the gears12so as to turn the slats50to the second position (FIG. 9). The slats50are turned to the second position before the sash100is totally opened to prevent the opened slats50from hitting the wall.

In the first preferred embodiment, the cord30has its opposite end connected to the sash frame200and the base20to move the driven unit, and there still are some other ways to drive the driven unit.FIG. 10andFIG. 11show the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, which provides an alternate way to drive the driven unit. A pushing member24′ of the second preferred embodiment is a single element having an opening24a, and an end of a cord30′ passes through the opening24aand is tied a knot to fasten the cord30′ to the pushing member24′ directly. The cord30′ runs around the first roller28, and passes through an opening22a′ of a lateral board22′, and then is fastened to the sash frame200. The same as above, while the sash of the second preferred embodiment is being opened, the cord30′ will draw the pushing member24′ to move toward the movable member, and drive the rack to move to turn the slats from the first position to the second position.

FIG. 12shows the adjusting apparatus of the present invention incorporated in a window with two sashes300. The sashes300are hinged with each other, and the adjusting apparatus10is mounted on one of the sashes300, and the cord30is fastened to the other. Slats301will be turned to the second position (vertical position) automatically while the sashes300are folded. It is noted that the adjusting apparatus of the second preferred embodiment could be incorporated in the same window.

The first, second, and third engaging members could be any equivalent device of the gear and rack, such as gear and chain, or gear and ball chain. The adjusting apparatus of the present invention is provided to automatically turn the slats50to their vertical position when one closes the sash100. Therefore, the adjusting apparatus will not work if the sash100is closed, and the adjusting apparatus will not turn the slats50if the slats50are already at the vertical position.