Blind structure in double paned window with a pulley and band actuating apparatus

A window assembly is provided including a frame and a pane of glass mounted on the frame. Also included is a vane assembly having a plurality of vanes each with a pair of posts coupled to ends thereof and extending therefrom in coaxial relationship for being rotatably coupled with respect to the frame. The posts of the vanes are interconnected for effecting the coincident rotation thereof about parallel axes upon the rotation of at least one of the vanes. Next provided is a manual control mechanism for rotating at least one of the vanes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 The present invention relates to window blind systems and more particularly
 pertains to a new enclosed window blind system for preventing dust from
 collecting on a set of blinds.
 2. Description of the Prior Art
 The use of window blind systems is known in the prior art. More
 specifically, window blind systems heretofore devised and utilized are
 known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural
 configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the
 crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of
 countless objectives and requirements.
 Known prior art includes U. S. Pat. No. 4,649,980; U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,825;
 U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,213; U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,173; U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,616;
 and U.S. Pat. Des. 255,720.
 In these respects, the enclosed window blind system according to the
 present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and
 designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily
 developed for the purpose of preventing dust from collecting on a set of
 blinds.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of
 window blind systems now present in the prior art, the present invention
 provides a new enclosed window blind system construction wherein the same
 can be utilized for preventing dust from collecting on a set of blinds.
 The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described
 subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new enclosed window blind
 system apparatus which has many of the advantages of the window blind
 systems mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new
 enclosed window blind system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious,
 suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art window blind systems,
 either alone or in any combination thereof.
 To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a frame having a
 front face, a rear face, an inner periphery, and an outer periphery. As
 shown in FIG. 4, the inner periphery has an inwardly extending lip
 integrally coupled thereto and extending inwardly therefrom in coplanar
 relationship with the rear face. Next provided is a pair of panes of glass
 mounted on an interior surface of the inwardly extending lip. The panes of
 glass are spaced with respect to each other. This is accomplished by way
 of a pair of horizontally oriented U-shaped forms mounted between top and
 bottom edges of the panes and a pair of vertically oriented U-shaped forms
 mounted between side edges of the panes. The U-shaped forms each define a
 pair of parallel walls which confine either a vertical slot or a
 horizontal slot. As shown in FIG. 4, a vertical compartment is defined
 between one of the vertically oriented U-shaped forms and the inner
 periphery of the frame. Also included is a vane assembly having a
 plurality of vanes each with a pair of posts integrally coupled to ends
 thereof and extending therefrom in coaxial relationship. The posts of each
 of the vanes are adapted for being rotatably received within an inside
 bore formed in one of the vertically oriented U-shaped forms such that
 each post is in a separately defined bore. A plurality of pulleys are
 provided each having a diameter greater than that of the posts. As shown
 in the various Figures, each pulley is rotatably mounted within an outside
 bore formed in one of the vertically oriented U-shaped forms and coupled
 to one of the posts of the vanes in coaxial relationship therewith.
 Further, each pulley has a pair of spaced concentric inner grooves formed
 therein within the slot of the vertically oriented U-shaped form. For
 reasons that will soon become apparent, a bottommost one of the pulleys
 has a single outer groove formed in the vertical compartment of the frame.
 Mounted between the inner grooves of the pulleys and within the vertically
 oriented forms are a plurality of bands. In operation, the vanes each
 rotate coincidentally about parallel horizontal axes. For connecting the
 pulleys of each side, a connector assembly is provided including a
 horizontally oriented dowel formed in a bottommost one of the horizontally
 oriented U-shaped forms. A pair of pulleys are mounted on ends of the
 horizontally oriented dowel, as shown in FIG. 3. These pulleys are adapted
 for being connected via bands to a bottommost pair of the pulleys within
 the vertically oriented U-shaped forms. Finally, a manual rotation
 mechanism includes a knurled disk mounted within a recess formed in the
 front face of the frame. An axle is mounted on a first side of the disk in
 concentric relationship therewith for being rotatably received within a
 lateral conduit formed in the frame. As shown in FIG. 4, mounted on a
 second side of the disk is a pulley. A band is mounted between a groove of
 the pulley of the manual rotation mechanism and the outer groove of the
 bottommost one of the pulleys of the vane assembly. With reference still
 to FIG. 4, a lateral hole is shown to be formed on an end of the lateral
 conduit. Such hole serves for receiving a spring and a ball bearing. The
 ball bearing is positioned between the axle and the spring for abating the
 rotation thereof. During use, the vanes may be rotated coincidentally via
 the manual rotation of the disk.
 There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features
 of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that
 follows may be better understood, and in order that the present
 contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional
 features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which
 will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
 In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention
 in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its
 application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the
 components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the
 drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being
 practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood
 that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose
 of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
 As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon
 which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the
 designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the
 several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore,
 that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions
 insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present
 invention.
 It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new
 enclosed window blind system apparatus which has many of the advantages of
 the window blind systems mentioned heretofore and many novel features that
 result in a new enclosed window blind system which is not anticipated,
 rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art
 window blind systems, either alone or in any combination thereof.
 It is another object of the present invention to provide a new enclosed
 window blind system which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and
 marketed.
 It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new enclosed
 window blind system which is of a durable and reliable construction.
 An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new
 enclosed window blind system which is susceptible of a low cost of
 manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly
 is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby
 making such enclosed window blind system economically available to the
 buying public.
 Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new
 enclosed window blind system which provides in the apparatuses of the
 prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming
 some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
 Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new enclosed
 window blind system for preventing dust from collecting on a set of
 blinds.
 Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new
 enclosed window blind system that includes a frame and a pane of glass
 mounted on the frame. Also included is a vane assembly having a plurality
 of vanes each with a pair of posts coupled to ends thereof and extending
 therefrom in coaxial relationship for being rotatably coupled with respect
 to the frame. The posts of the vanes are interconnected for effecting the
 coincident rotation thereof about parallel axes upon the rotation of at
 least one of the vanes. Next provided is a manual control mechanism for
 rotating at least one of the vanes.
 These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various
 features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with
 particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this
 disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating
 advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should
 be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there
 are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5
 thereof, a new enclosed window blind system embodying the principles and
 concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the
 reference numeral 10 will be described.
 The present invention, designated as numeral 10, includes a frame 12 having
 a front face 14, a rear face 16, an inner periphery 18, and an outer
 periphery 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the inner periphery has an inwardly
 extending lip 22 integrally coupled thereto and extending inwardly
 therefrom in coplanar relationship with the rear face of the frame.
 Next provided is a pair of panes of glass 24 mounted on an interior surface
 of the inwardly extending lip. The panes of glass are spaced with respect
 to each other. This may be accomplished by way of a pair of horizontally
 oriented U-shaped forms 26, or channels, mounted between top and bottom
 edges of the panes and a pair of vertically oriented U-shaped forms 28, or
 channels, mounted between side edges of the panes. The
 horizontally-oriented and vertically-oriented U-shaped channels may have
 mitered ends to form the corners of a substantially rectangular frame. The
 U-shaped forms each define a pair of parallel walls which form either a
 vertical slot 30 or a horizontal slot 32. As shown in FIG. 4, a vertical
 compartment 34 is defined between the outer periphery of the frame and the
 inner periphery of the frame, and being further defined by one of the
 vertically oriented U-shaped forms.
 Also included is a vane assembly having a plurality of vanes 38 each with a
 pair of posts 39 integrally coupled to ends thereof and extending
 therefrom in coaxial relationship. The posts of each of the vanes are
 adapted for being rotatably received within an inside bore 40 formed in
 one of the vertically oriented U-shaped forms such that each post is in a
 separately defined bore. A plurality of pulleys 42 are coupled to the
 posts of the vanes and are each equipped with a diameter greater than that
 of the posts. As shown in the various Figures, each pulley is rotatably
 mounted within an outside bore formed in one of the vertically oriented
 U-shaped forms. Further, each pulley has a pair of spaced concentric inner
 grooves 44 formed therein. For reasons that will soon become apparent, a
 bottommost one of the pulleys has a single outer groove 46 formed in the
 vertical compartment 34 of the frame. Mounted between the inner grooves of
 the pulleys and within the vertically oriented forms are a plurality of
 bands 48. In operation, the vanes each rotate coincidentally about
 parallel horizontal axes.
 For connecting the pulleys of each side, a connector assembly 50 is
 provided including a horizontally oriented dowel 52 formed in a bottommost
 one of the horizontally oriented U-shaped forms. A pair of pulleys 54 are
 mounted on ends of the horizontally oriented dowel, as shown in FIG. 3.
 These pulleys are adapted for being connected via vertically oriented
 bands 56 to a bottommost pair of the pulleys within the vertically
 oriented U-shaped forms. In order for this to be accomplished, it should
 be noted that the ends of the vertically oriented U-shaped forms and the
 horizontally oriented forms are interconnected.
 Finally, a manual rotation mechanism 57 includes a knurled disk 58 mounted
 within a recess formed in the front face of the frame. An axle 62 is
 mounted on a first side of the disk in concentric relationship therewith
 for being rotatably received within a lateral conduit formed in the frame.
 As shown in FIG. 4, mounted on a second side of the disk is a pulley 64. A
 horizontally oriented band 66 is mounted between a groove of the pulley of
 the manual rotation mechanism and the outer groove of the bottommost one
 of the pulleys of the vane assembly. With reference still to FIG. 4, a
 lateral hole 68 is shown to be formed on an end of the lateral conduit.
 Such hole serves for receiving a spring 70 and a ball bearing 72. The ball
 bearing is positioned between the axle and the spring for abating the
 rotation thereof. During use, the vanes may be rotated coincidentally via
 the manual rotation of the disk. Optionally, the vanes may be mounted so
 as to rotate about parallel vertical axes of the window.
 As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the
 present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description.
 Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and
 operation will be provided.
 With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the
 optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to
 include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of
 operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to
 one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those
 illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are
 intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
 Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
 principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and
 changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
 to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and
 described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may
 be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.