Patent Publication Number: US-9890584-B1

Title: Cordless magnetically attractive shade assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a window covering and, more particularly, to a cordless magnetically attractive shade assembly. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A conventional roman shade comprises a headrail, a shading member mounted on and extended from the headrail, a plurality of transverse rods mounted on the shading member, and a lift cord extended through the shading member and secured to the bottom of the shading member to move the shading member upward and downward. When the lift cord is pulled, the transverse rods are driven and moved to roll or expand the shading member. Thus, the bottom of the shading member is lifted and folded by the lift cord to allow passage of the solar rays and is lowered and expanded by the lift cord to provide a shading effect. However, the lift cord depends from a side of the roman shade so that the lift cord is easily tangled with a child&#39;s neck during playing, thereby causing danger to the child. In addition, when the shading member is fully expanded, the solar rays cannot penetrate the shading member so that the indoor light is too weak, and when the shading member is fully folded, the solar rays directly irradiate the indoor room so that the indoor light is too strong. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a shade assembly comprising a first shading unit, a plurality of second shading units detachably connected with the first shading unit, and a third shading unit detachably connected with the first shading unit. The first shading unit includes a light permeation cloth having a top provided with a tubular portion which has a first mounting sleeve and a second mounting sleeve, a magnet structure mounted in the second mounting sleeve, a first connecting member mounted on a bottom of the light permeation cloth, and a second connecting member mounted on a rear face of the light permeation cloth and corresponding to the second mounting sleeve of the tubular portion. Each of the second shading units includes a shade cloth having a bottom provided with a tubular portion, a matching member mounted on a top of the shade cloth and detachably connected with the first connecting member of the first shading unit, a plurality of mounting sleeves mounted on the shade cloth and arranged under the matching member, a plurality of magnet structures mounted in the mounting sleeves respectively, a weight pole mounted in the tubular portion of the shade cloth, and a metal element mounted in one of the mounting sleeves and arranged between the magnet structures and the weight pole. The metal element is magnetically attracted by the magnet structures. The third shading unit includes a shade cloth having a top provided with a first tubular portion and a bottom provided with a second tubular portion, a magnet structure mounted in the first tubular portion of the shade cloth and magnetically attracted with the magnet structure of the first shading unit, a weight pole mounted in the second tubular portion of the shade cloth, at least one connecting member mounted on the top of the shade cloth, and at least one matching member mounted on the bottom of the shade cloth and detachably connected with the at least one connecting member. 
     According to the primary advantage of the present invention, the shade cloth of each of the second shading units and the shade cloth of the third shading unit are expanded and folded to regulate the shading effect and the indoor brightness. 
     Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a shade assembly in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the shade assembly in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is another exploded perspective view of the shade assembly in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a locally enlarged view of the shade assembly as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a magnet structure of the shade assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of an adjusting structure of the shade assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a shade assembly in accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the shade assembly in accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is another exploded perspective view of the shade assembly in accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a locally enlarged view of the shade assembly as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic operational view of the adjusting structure of the shade assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic operational view of the shade assembly as shown in  FIG. 1  in use. 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic operational view of the shade assembly as shown in  FIG. 7  in use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and initially to  FIGS. 1-6 , a shade assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a first shading unit  1 , a plurality of second shading units  2  detachably connected with the first shading unit  1 , and a third shading unit  3  detachably connected with the first shading unit  1 . 
     The first shading unit  1  includes a light permeation cloth  11  having a top provided with a tubular portion  111  which has a first mounting sleeve  1111  and a second mounting sleeve  1112 , a magnet structure  12  mounted in the second mounting sleeve  1112 , a first connecting member  13  mounted on a bottom of the light permeation cloth  11 , and a second connecting member  14  mounted on a rear face of the light permeation cloth  11  and corresponding to the second mounting sleeve  1112  of the tubular portion  111 . The top of the light permeation cloth  11  is encircled and sewn to form the tubular portion  111 . The tubular portion  111  is sewn to form the first mounting sleeve  1111  and the second mounting sleeve  1112 . 
     Each of the second shading units  2  includes a shade cloth  21  having a bottom provided with a tubular portion  211 , a matching member  22  mounted on a top of the shade cloth  21  and detachably connected with the first connecting member  13  of the first shading unit  1 , a plurality of mounting sleeves  23  mounted on the shade cloth  21  and arranged under the matching member  22 , a plurality of magnet structures  24  mounted in the mounting sleeves  23  respectively, a weight pole  25  mounted in the tubular portion  211  of the shade cloth  21 , and a metal element  26  mounted in one of the mounting sleeves  23  and arranged between the magnet structures  24  and the weight pole  25 . The bottom of the shade cloth  21  is encircled and sewn to form the tubular portion  211 . Each of the mounting sleeves  23  is made of cloth material and is sewn on the shade cloth  21 . The weight pole  25  is made of plastic material. The metal element  26  is an elongate pole. The metal element  26  is magnetically attracted by the magnet structures  24 . 
     The third shading unit  3  includes a shade cloth  31  having a top provided with a first tubular portion  311  and a bottom provided with a second tubular portion  312 , a magnet structure  32  mounted in the first tubular portion  311  of the shade cloth  31  and magnetically attracted with the magnet structure  12  of the first shading unit  1 , a weight pole  33  mounted in the second tubular portion  312  of the shade cloth  31 , at least one connecting member  34  mounted on the top of the shade cloth  31 , and at least one matching member  35  mounted on the bottom of the shade cloth  31  and detachably connected with the at least one connecting member  34  in a sticking member. The top of the shade cloth  31  is encircled and sewn to form the first tubular portion  311 , and the bottom of the shade cloth  31  is encircled and sewn to form the second tubular portion  312 . The weight pole  33  is made of plastic material. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the magnet structures  12 ,  24  and  32  of the first shading unit  1 , each of the second shading units  2  and the third shading unit  3  includes a housing  121 ,  241  and  321 , and at least one magnet  122 ,  242  and  322  mounted in the housing  121 ,  241  and  321  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The housing  121 ,  241  and  321  of each of the magnet structures  12 ,  24  and  32  is made of plastic or wood material and has an elongate shape. Preferably, the housing  121 ,  241  and  321  of each of the magnet structures  12 ,  24  and  32  is a U-shaped, hollow or C-shaped pipe. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the second shading units  2  further includes an adjusting structure  27  mounted on the shade cloth  21  and corresponding to the metal element  26  to aid a user moving and adjust the position of the metal element  26 . The adjusting structure  27  includes an adjusting piece  271  arranged on a front face of the shade cloth  21 , two clamping pieces  272  arranged on a rear face of the shade cloth  21 , and a plurality of fastening members  273  extending through the two clamping pieces  272  and the adjusting piece  271  to combine the two clamping pieces  272  with the adjusting piece  271  as shown in  FIG. 6 . The adjusting piece  271  has a first end provided with an arcuate abutting portion  2711  resting on the metal element  26  and a second end provided with an extension  2713 . The adjusting piece  271  is provided with a plurality of screw bores  2712 . Each of the two clamping pieces  272  is provided with a plurality of through holes  2721 . The fastening members  273  extend through the through holes  2721  of the two clamping pieces  272  and are screwed into the screw bores  2712  of the adjusting piece  271 . 
     In practice, the first shading unit  1 , each of the second shading units  2  and the third shading unit  3  are connected in two modes. 
     In the first mode, each of the first connecting member  13  and the second connecting member  14  of the first shading unit  1 , and the at least one connecting member  34  of the third shading unit  3  is a loop tape or a hook tape, while each of the matching member  22  of each of the second shading units  2  and the at least one matching member  35  of the third shading unit  3  is a hook tape or a loop tape as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     In the second mode, each of the first connecting member  13  of the first shading unit  1  and the matching member  22  of each of the second shading units  2  is an elongate rod and is clamped in a clamping sleeve  5  as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The clamping sleeve  5  is C-shaped and defines a receiving channel  51  and a retaining slit  52 . Thus, the first connecting member  13  of the first shading unit  1  and the matching member  22  of each of the second shading units  2  are received in the receiving channel  51  and limited by the retaining slit  52  of the clamping sleeve  5 . In addition, each of the second connecting member  14  of the first shading unit  1  and the at least one connecting member  34  of the third shading unit  3  is a loop tape or a hook tape, while the at least one matching member  35  of the third shading unit  3  is a hook tape or a loop tape. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7-10 , the shade assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises a fourth shading unit  4  detachably connected with the first shading unit  1  and arranged in rear of the second shading units  2 . The fourth shading unit  4  is arranged at the bottom of the light permeation cloth  11  of the first shading unit  1  and includes a light permeation cloth  41  having a bottom provided with a tubular portion  411 , a matching member  42  mounted on a top of the light permeation cloth  41  and detachably connected with the bottom of the light permeation cloth  11  of the first shading unit  1 , and a weight pole  43  mounted in the tubular portion  411  of the light permeation cloth  41 . The bottom of the light permeation cloth  41  is encircled and sewn to form the tubular portion  411 . 
     In practice, the first shading unit  1 , each of the second shading units  2 , the third shading unit  3  and the fourth shading unit  4  are connected in two modes. 
     In the first mode, each of the first connecting member  13  and the second connecting member  14  of the first shading unit  1 , and the at least one connecting member  34  of the third shading unit  3  is a loop tape or a hook tape, while each of the matching member  22  of each of the second shading units  2  and the at least one matching member  35  of the third shading unit  3  is a hook tape or a loop tape. The bottom of the light permeation cloth  11  has a rear face provided with a third connecting member  15 , and the matching member  42  of the fourth shading unit  4  is connected with the third connecting member  15  of the first shading unit  1  in a sticking manner. The third connecting member  15  of the first shading unit  1  is a loop tape or a hook tape, while the matching member  42  of the fourth shading unit  4  is a hook tape or a loop tape as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     In the second mode, each of the first connecting member  13  of the first shading unit  1 , the matching member  22  of each of the second shading units  2  and the matching member  42  of the fourth shading unit  4  is an elongate rod and is clamped in a clamping sleeve  5  as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The clamping sleeve  5  is C-shaped and defines a receiving channel  51  and a retaining slit  52 . Thus, the first connecting member  13  of the first shading unit  1 , the matching member  22  of each of the second shading units  2  and the matching member  42  of the fourth shading unit  4  are received in the receiving channel  51  and limited by the retaining slit  52  of the clamping sleeve  5 . In addition, the at least one connecting member  34  of the third shading unit  3  is a loop tape or a hook tape, while the at least one matching member  35  of the third shading unit  3  is a hook tape or a loop tape. 
     In assembly, the matching member  22  of each of the second shading units  2  is connected with the first connecting member  13  of the first shading unit  1 , so that each of the second shading units  2  is arranged under the first shading unit  1 . The magnet structure  32  of the third shading unit  3  is magnetically attracted with the magnet structure  12  of the first shading unit  1 , so that the third shading unit  3  is located in front of the first shading unit  1  and arranged above the second shading units  2 . The matching member  42  of the fourth shading unit  4  is connected with the third connecting member  15  of the first shading unit  1 , so that the fourth shading unit  4  is arranged under the first shading unit  1  and juxtaposed to the second shading units  2 . 
     In operation, referring to  FIGS. 11-13  with reference to  FIGS. 1-10 , the first shading unit  1  is mounted on a door or window frame to attach the shade assembly to the door or window frame. In practice, when the door or window frame is provided with a support rod, the first mounting sleeve  1111  of the tubular portion  111  of the first shading unit  1  is mounted on the support rod of the door or window frame. Alternatively, when the door or window frame is provided with a connecting portion in the form of a hook tape or a loop tape, the second connecting member  14  of the first shading unit  1  is stuck to the connecting portion of the door or window frame. 
     When the extension  2713  of the adjusting structure  27  of each of the second shading units  2  is held and moved by a user&#39;s finger as shown in  FIG. 11 , the adjusting structure  27  of each of the second shading units  2  is moved upward, so that the metal element  26  is magnetically attracted by any one of the magnet structures  24  as shown in  FIG. 12 . In addition, the magnet structures  24  are magnetically attracted with each other. In such a manner, when the adjusting structure  27  of each of the second shading units  2  is moved upward, the metal element  26  is magnetically attracted by any one of the magnet structures  24 , and the magnet structures  24  are magnetically attracted with each other, so that the shade cloth  21  of each of the second shading units  2  is folded upward. Thus, the shade cloth  21  of each of the second shading units  2  is partially folded, half folded or fully folded to adjust the incident sunlight so as to regulate the shading effect and the indoor brightness according to the user&#39;s requirement, thereby providing a comfortable sensation to the user. 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , the shade cloth  21  of each of the second shading units  2  is folded upward to partially shade the light permeation cloth  41  of the fourth shading unit  4 . In addition, the at least one matching member  35  of the third shading unit  3  is attached to the at least one connecting member  34 , so that the shade cloth  31  of the third shading unit  3  is folded upward to partially shade the light permeation cloth  11  of the first shading unit  1 . On the contrary, when the adjusting structure  27  of each of the second shading units  2  is moved downward, the metal element  26  is detached from the magnet structures  24 , and the magnet structures  24  are detached from each other, so that the shade cloth  21  of each of the second shading units  2  is expanded downward. In addition, when the at least one matching member  35  of the third shading unit  3  is detached from the at least one connecting member  34 , the shade cloth  31  of the third shading unit  3  is expanded downward to shade the light permeation cloth  11  of the first shading unit  1 . 
     Accordingly, the shade cloth  21  of each of the second shading units  2  and the shade cloth  31  of the third shading unit  3  are expanded and folded to regulate the shading effect and the indoor brightness. In addition, the first shading unit  1 , the second shading units  2 , the third shading unit  3  and the fourth shading unit  4  can be detached from each other to facilitate the user respectively washing and cleaning the first shading unit  1 , the second shading units  2 , the third shading unit  3  and the fourth shading unit  4 . 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the invention.