Patent Publication Number: US-2012037322-A1

Title: Window blind control

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to window blinds. More specifically, the invention relates to a device for control of window blinds. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A window blind is a covering for a window that can be attached to the interior side of the window and hides or reduces the amount of sunlight that passes therethrough. In addition, window blinds can limit what can be viewed out through the window and likewise within in through the window. Slat blinds consist of a plurality of horizontal slats, usually made of metal or vinyl, which are connected with string in such a way that the slats can be rotated or tilted in order to allow, or not allow, light to pass between the slats. Most slat blinds afford for the slats to rotate up to 170 degrees in order to hide or allow light therethrough, or the slats can be pulled up altogether so that the entire window is clear. The slats can be tilted by rotating a small knob that is attached to the strings, by twisting a long wand or by pulling a cord. 
     Most slat blinds include slats that are bounded on each side by a string. When the slats are in a generally open position as illustrated in  FIG. 1A , the distance between the pair of strings that bound the slats is relatively wide as shown in  FIG. 1B  as compared to the distance between the pair of strings when the slats are in a closed position (see  FIGS. 2A and 2B ). Thus by reducing the distance between the pair of strings bounding the slats, the slats are forced into a closed position. 
     The degree to which the slats are closed or open can be varied such that the slats are in a generally horizontal position or in a generally vertical position. In this manner, a user can adjust how much light enters in through a window with a wide degree of variation. However, the ability to have part of the slats in an open position and part of the slats in a closed position would be desirable. For example, the ability for a user to have the top portion of a window with slats in an open position and the bottom part of the window in a closed position such that someone cannot view within the window, would be desirable. Therefore, a window blind control device that affords for some of the slats in a window blind to be open while other slats are closed is needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Disclosed is a blind slat control device that includes a first blind string passageway and a second blind string passageway oppositely disposed from the first blind string passageway. The blind string passageways are operable for a blind string to fit at least partially within and pass therethrough. Both the first and second blind string passageways have an entry end and an exit end. The entry ends of the blind string passageways are spaced apart by a first distance that is greater than a second distance between the exit ends. With the blind slat control device inserted between two adjacent slats in a window blind, slats within one section of the window blind can be in a generally open position while slats in a different section of the window blind can be in a generally closed position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a slat blind in an open position; 
         FIG. 1B  is a side view of the slat blind shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the slat blind in a closed position; 
         FIG. 2B  is a side view of the slat blind shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention includes a simple to use blind slat control device that affords for slats within a window blind to be open within one section of the blind and closed within another section. As such, the present invention has utility as a window blind control device. 
     The window blind control device of the present invention is a body of material having a pair of blind string passageways operable for blind strings that bound the slats to pass therethrough. Each of the blind string passageways has an entry end proximate to a top surface of the device and an exit end spaced apart from the entry end and proximate a bottom surface of the device. The distance between the pair of entry ends of the blind string passageways is greater than the distance between the pair of exit ends. The greater distance between a pair of blind strings passing through the entry ends of the blind string passageways affords for slats located proximate to the top surface to be in an open position. The lesser distance between the pair of blind strings passing through the exit ends of the blind string passageways affords for slats proximate to the bottom surface to be in a closed position. The blind slat control device can be placed between slats in a window blind such that the slats on one side of the device can be controlled and placed in a different position than the slats on the other side of the device. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3-6 , an embodiment of the present invention is shown generally at reference numeral  10 . The blind slat control device  10  includes a top surface  110  and a bottom surface  120 . The top surface  110  has a first end  112  and a second end  114 . At least partially between the first end  112  and the bottom surface  120  is a blind string passageway  113 , with a matching blind string passageway  115  at least partially between the second end  114  and the bottom surface  120 . In some instances, the blind string passageways  113  and  115  have a generally U-shape. In other instances, the blind string passageways have a partially enclosed U-shape. The blind string passageway  113  has an entry end  132  and an exit end  134 , and the blind string passageway  115  has an entry end  152  and an exit end  154 . The entry ends  132  and  152  are spaced apart by a width w 1  and the exit ends  134  and  154  are spaced apart by a width w 2 . The width w 1  is greater than the width w 2 . 
     In some instances, a sidewall  111  adjoins the first end  112  to the second end  114  of the top surface  110 , and the top surface  110  to the bottom surface  120 . The blind string passageways  113  and  115  are operable for a blind string S to pass therethrough. A blind string that is present on the window side of a window blind can pass through one of the blind string passageway and a blind string on the interior side of a window blind can pass through the other blind string passageway. 
     It is appreciated that the width dimension w 1  between the blind entry ends  132  and  134  can be generally equal to the width of a blind slat and/or the distance between a pair of blind strings that bound blind slats when in a generally open position. It is also appreciated that the width dimension w 2  between the exit ends  134  and  154  can be generally equal to a width that affords for slats located within blind strings passing through the blind string passageways  113  and  115  to be in a generally closed position. It is further appreciated that the blind slat control device  10  can be rotated  180  degrees such that the device  10  is placed within two slats of a slat blind with the top surface  110  positioned above the bottom surface  120 . Thus by placing the blind slat control device  10  between two slats within a window blind and running a pair of blind strings bounding the window slats through the blind string passageways as described above, the blind slats proximate to the top surface  110  can remain in an open position while the blind slats proximate to the bottom surface  120  are placed in a closed position. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the main surface  111  can be generally funnel-shaped. Extending from the main surface  111  in a generally perpendicular direction can be a side surface  162  and a side surface  172 . Extending from the side surface  162  and the side surface  172  in a generally perpendicular direction can be a flange surface  163  and a flange surface  173 . The extension of the side surface  162  from the main surface  111  and the extension of the flange surface  163  from the side surface  162  forms a generally U-shaped structure. The same is true regarding the extension of the side surface  172  from the main surface  111  and the extension of the flange surface  173  from the side surface  172 . In this manner, a generally U-shaped blind string passageway with an entry end and an exit end is afforded on the left-hand side of the blind slat control device  10  as viewed in  FIG. 4 . Likewise, a generally U-shaped blind string passageway with an entry end and an exit end is afforded on the right-hand side of the blind slat control device  10  as viewed in  FIG. 4 . 
     In some instances, the flange surfaces  163  and  173  can have extension surfaces  164  and  174  extending therefrom, respectively. The extension surfaces  164  and  174  afford for blind string passageways  113  and  115  with partially enclosed U-shaped structures. 
     The foregoing drawings, discussion and description are illustrative of specific embodiments of the present invention, but they are not meant to be limitations upon the practice thereof. Numerous modifications and variations of the invention will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art in view of the teaching presented herein. It is the following claims, including all equivalents, which define the scope of the invention.