Abstract:
A connector for connecting a ladder cord in a venetian blind to the bottom rail of the venetian blind includes two portions with one portion being securable to the bottom rail of the venetian blind and the other portion permanently connected to the ladder cord. Interconnection of the portions of the connector thereby secure the ladder cord to the bottom rail at preselected positioning.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to European Application No. 06075061.9, filed 11 Jan. 2006, and such application is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully disclosed herein.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a ladder cord assembly for a Venetian blind, including a ladder cord and a connector, the connector being adapted for securing to a bottom rail of a Venetian blind.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Relevant Art  
         [0005]     It has been proposed to connect a ladder cord to a connector, which connector is connectable to a bottom rail of a Venetian blind. Such a proposal is known from U.S. Pat. No. 2,574,609, but in this arrangement the connector is attached to the bottom rail by screws and the opposite ends of the ladder each have to be separately clamped to the connector. This manner of attachment is both cumbersome and time consuming in production.  
         [0006]     It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art. It is also an object of the present invention to provide alternative structures, which are less cumbersome in assembly and operation and which moreover, can be made relatively inexpensively. Alternatively it is an object of the invention to at least provide the public with a useful choice.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention provides a ladder cord assembly for a Venetian blind, including a ladder cord and a connector, the connector having a first portion for securing to a bottom rail of a Venetian blind and a second portion that is permanently connected to the ladder cord. Such a ladder cord assembly can be easily positioned in a Venetian blind assembly machine and can be readily connected with a bottom rail; either prior to or, after assembling of the slats has been completed. The connector can be permanently attached to the ladder cord at any stage of the production prior to the insertion of slats, while the ladder cords can still be manipulated with every available freedom.  
         [0008]     In one advantageous embodiment of ladder cord assembly according to the invention, the connector comprises a groove for receiving an end portion of the ladder cord. Such a groove will enhance the exact positioning of the ladder cord ends in respect of the connector.  
         [0009]     In another advantageous embodiment of the ladder cord assembly according to the invention, the connector further includes a slot for receiving a lift cord. This will enable the connection of a lift cord to a bottom rail to be combined with connecting the ladder cord. In a further preferred embodiment the slot is positioned in the connector such that its entrance becomes closed once the connector is inserted in an opening in a bottom rail. Such an arrangement would prevent the lift cord from accidentally becoming detached.  
         [0010]     It is further advantageous for the ladder cord assembly according to the invention, if the first portion of the connector is adapted to be releasably secured to a bottom rail. This makes it possible to replace damaged or faulty ladder cords during the life of the Venetian blind.  
         [0011]     With the ladder cord assembly according to the invention, it is also particularly advantageous if the second portion is fused to the ladder cord. In manufacture this enables a quick and secure attachment of the ladder cord to the connector. When using this type of attachment with the ladder cord assembly according to the invention, preferably the connector is of polycarbonate and the ladder cord of polyester.  
         [0012]     The invention will now be described in reference to a selection of preferred embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective detail view of a lower end of ladder cord assembly according to the invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective detail view of the ladder cord assembly of  FIG. 1 , with a bottom rail and a lift cord in an arrangement just prior to making the final connection to a bottom rail of a Venetian blind;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a further perspective detail view showing the elements of  FIG. 2  as finally connected to one another;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4A  is a bottom elevation of a second embodiment of connector for use in the ladder cord assembly of the invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4B  is a side elevation of the connector of  FIG. 4A ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4C  is an end elevation of the connector of  FIG. 4A ; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view from above of the connector of  FIGS. 4A  to  4 C, on a reduced scale. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a lower section of a ladder cord assembly in a Venetian blind, according to a first embodiment of the invention. A ladder cord  3  has opposite side cords  5 , 7  and a plurality of cross rungs  9 ,  11 . In the embodiment illustrated, each cross rung  9 ,  11  is comprised of a pair of individual cords  13 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 , but other forms will also be possible. Opposite ends  5 A,  7 A of the ladder side cords  5 ,  7  are attached to a connector  17 . The connector  17  has a first portion  19  for securing to a bottom rail of a Venetian blind (not shown) and a second portion  21  for receiving the ladder cord ends  5 A,  7 A in a permanently affixed manner. The permanent fixation may be obtained by an adhesive, such as a suitable hot melt glue, but preferably is obtained by welding or fusing. In particular the second portion  21  of the connector  17  can be fused to the ladder cord ends  5 A,  7 A if the connector  17  is of polycarbonate and the ladder cord  3  is of polyester.  
         [0021]     The first portion  19  has been shaped to be flexible with a first slot  23 , a second slot  25 , a third slot  27  and a fourth slot  29 . The first portion  19  is further provided with detent ridges  31 ,  33  to provide, together with the first to fourth slots  23 ,  25 ,  27 ,  29 , a snap-fit connection with an opening in a bottom rail (to be described in more detail below).  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  shows the ladder cord assembly  1  in a position ready to be affixed to a bottom rail  34  together with a lift cord  35 . The lift cord  35  as seen in  FIG. 2  has a knot  37  at its end. While the lift cord  35  can pass through the second slot  25 , the knot  37  will be retained within the cavity  32  (see  FIG. 1 ). The bottom rail  34  further is provided with an opening  39  into which the first portion  19  of the connector  17  can be snap-fitted and retained afterwards.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  shows the resulting assembly after the elements shown in  FIG. 2  have been connected to one another. With the lift cord  35  engaged in the second slot  25  and the connector  17  held in the opening  39  of the bottom rail  34 , all elements are securely connected. The bottom rail  34  can be raised by the lift cord  35  to collect the slats (not shown) each resting on one of the cross rungs  9  of the ladder cord  3 . By lifting and lowering the individual ladder side cords  5 ,  7  these same slats (not shown) can be tilted for controlling light admittance, when the bottom rail  34  is in a lowered position. Although slats are deleted for clarity, it should be understood that in a Venetian blind, using the ladder cord assembly, each cross rung  9  (and  11 ) would be supporting a slat. Such a Venetian blind would also make use of at least two ladder cord assemblies  1  according to the invention.  
         [0024]      FIGS. 4A, 4B  and  4 C are bottom, side, and end elevations of a slightly modified embodiment of connector  117 . Like the connector shown in  FIG. 1 , it has a first portion  119  for securing to a bottom rail of a Venetian blind (as described and shown in relation to the first embodiment) and a second portion  121  for receiving each of the opposite ladder side cord ends (not shown) in a permanently affixed manner in grooves  106 ,  108  respectively. The permanent fixation is again, preferably, a fusion between a polycarbonate material of the connector  117  and a polyester material of the ladder cord (not shown). The first portion  119  has been shaped to be flexible with a first slot  127  and a second slot  129 . A third slot  125  is provided to allow entrance of a lift cord (not shown, but similar to lift cord  35  of  FIG. 2 ) to pass into a cavity  132 . A knot, or beaded end, of the lift cord is adapted to be retained within a cavity  132 . The first portion  119  is further provided with detent ridges  131 ,  133  to provide, together with the first and second slots  127 ,  129  a snap-fit connection with an opening in a bottom rail (as already described above in relation to the first embodiment). In addition to the first embodiment the detent ridges  131 , 133  are rendered more flexible by being formed on arms  140 ,  142  that are separated from the body of the first portion  119  by spaces  141 ,  143 . A perspective view from above of the modified connector  117  on a somewhat reduced scale is illustrated in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0025]     It is thus believed that the operation and construction of the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing description. The term comprising when used in this description or the appended claims should not be construed in an exclusive or exhaustive sense but rather in an inclusive sense. Expressions such as: “means for . . . ” should be understood as: “component configured for . . . ” or “member constructed to . . . ” and should be construed to include equivalents for the structures disclosed. The use of expressions like: “critical”, “preferred”, “especially preferred” etc., is not intended to limit the invention. Features, which are not specifically or explicitly described or claimed, may be additionally included in the structure according to the present invention without deviating from its scope. The invention is further not limited to any embodiment herein described and, within the purview of the skilled person, modifications are possible which should be considered within the scope of the appended claims. Equally all kinematic inversions are to be considered within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0026]     Directional and positional expressions, such as upper, lower, top, bottom, left, right, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, counter clockwise or like are generally used only to assist in understanding of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures. None of this should be construed to create limitations, as to position, orientation in actual use of the invention.  
         [0027]     Similarly reference to either axially, radially or tangentially if used in the above is generally in relation to rotatable or cylindrical bodies of the elements described. Also where in the above reference is made to longitudinal or lateral this is in reference to the length or width directions respectively of elements, which have an oblong appearance in the accompanying drawings. Again this interpretation has only been used for ease of reference and should not be construed as a limitation of the shape of such elements.