Window blind assembly having an outer frame

Abstract

A window blind assembly includes an outer frame, a blind unit, and a control device. The outer frame includes a head rail defining a first receiving space, and two opposite vertical rails one of which defines a second receiving space in spatial communication with the first receiving space. The blind unit includes a plurality of slats and a slat ladder supporting the slats. The control device includes a lift cord connected to the slats, and a control member having an operating portion that extends outwardly from the second receiving space and that is operable to slide the control member relative to the outer frame so as to raise or lower the slats.

1 . A window blind assembly adapted to be sandwiched between a front transparent plate and a rear transparent plate, said window blind assembly comprising:
 an outer frame adapted to be placed between the front and rear transparent plates, and including a head rail, a bottom rail, and two opposite vertical rails one of which is connected to right ends of said head and bottom rails and the other one of which is connected to left ends of said head and bottom rails, said head rail defining a horizontally extending first receiving space, one of said vertical rails defining a vertically extending second receiving space in spatial communication with said first receiving space;   a blind unit disposed within said outer frame, and including a plurality of slats, and a slat ladder supporting said slats; and   a control device including a lift cord connected to said slats and extending into said first and second receiving spaces, and a control member mounted on said one of said vertical rails and having an interior sliding portion disposed within said second receiving space and connected to said lift cord, and an operating portion connected to said interior sliding portion and extending outwardly from said second receiving space, said operating portion being operable to slide said control member upward or downward relative to said one of said vertical rails so as to lower or raise said slats.   
   
   
       2 . The window blind assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said control device further includes a first positioning member fixed to said control member, and a second positioning member disposed fixedly within said second receiving space, said first and second positioning members being attracted magnetically to each other so as to restrict sliding movement of said control member. 
   
   
       3 . The window blind assembly of  claim 2 , wherein one of said first and second positioning members is made of a magnet and the other one of said first and second positioning members is magnetically attractable. 
   
   
       4 . The window blind assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said one of said vertical rails further has a vertically extending wall bounding said second receiving space and adapted to abut against the front transparent plate, said control member further having a slide groove extending between said interior sliding portion and said operating portion, and a bridge part interconnecting said interior sliding portion and said operating portion and extending across said slide groove, said bridge part extending through said wall to project said operating portion outward, said slide groove providing a space between said operating portion and said wall, said space being adapted to permit a lateral end of the front transparent plate to be inserted therein. 
   
   
       5 . The window blind assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said outer frame further includes a cord holder and a cord guide both of which are disposed within said first receiving space, said lift cord having first and second portions, and a fold between said first and second portions, said fold being attached to said cord holder, said first and second portions extending into said second receiving space from said cord holder to connect with said control member, turning upward from said control member to pass over said cord guide, turning into said first receiving space from said cord guide, and extending downward from said first receiving space for connection with said slats. 
   
   
       6 . The window blind assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said cord guide has two guide holes and a guide wall, said first and second portions of said lift cord passing over said guide wall and extending through said guide holes, respectively, for extension into said first receiving space and for connection with said slats. 
   
   
       7 . The window blind assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said control member further has top and bottom ends, and a through hole proximate to said top end of said control member, said first and second portions of said lift cord extending through said through hole to connect with and to turn upward from said control member. 
   
   
       8 . The window blind assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said control device further includes at least one fixed seat disposed within said first receiving space, a rotary shaft mounted rotatably on said fixed seat and extending within said first receiving space, an upper reel member fixed on said rotary shaft and proximate to said one of said vertical rails, a lower reel member rotatably mounted within said bottom rail and proximate to said one of said vertical rails, and a turning cord unit disposed in said second receiving space and being looped to pass over said upper and lower reel members so as to rotate said rotary shaft, said slat ladder being connected to said rotary shaft, said control member being connected to said turning cord unit to control said rotary shaft. 
   
   
       9 . The window blind assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said interior sliding portion of said control member has top and bottom ends, said turning cord unit having a first end fixed to said top end of said interior sliding portion, and a second end fixed to said bottom end of said interior sliding portion, whereby said turning cord unit is looped. 
   
   
       10 . The window blind assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said turning cord unit includes a first cord having said first end, a second cord having said second end, and a coiled spring disposed between said bottom end of said interior sliding portion and said lower reel member and connected between said first and second cords. 
   
   
       11 . The window blind assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said control device further includes a limiting seat fixed to said rotary shaft proximate to said fixed seat so as to rotate along with said rotary shaft and having two limit faces that are spaced apart angularly from each other, and a limiting groove formed between said limit faces, said fixed seat having a limit pin projecting axially into said limiting groove to limit said limiting seat to turn limitedly. 
   
   
       12 . The window blind assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the other one of said vertical rails defines a third receiving space communicated with said first receiving space, said control device further including an additional control member disposed slidably within said third receiving space, at least one fixed seat disposed within said first receiving space, a rotary shaft mounted rotatably on said fixed seat and extending within said first receiving space, an upper reel member fixed to said rotary shaft and proximate to said other one of said vertical rails, a lower reel member rotatably mounted within said bottom rail and proximate to said other one of said vertical rails, and a turning cord unit disposed in said third receiving space, said turning cord unit being looped to pass over said upper and lower reel members so as to rotate said rotary shaft, said slat ladder being connected to said rotary shaft, said additional control member being connected to said turning cord unit to control said rotary shaft. 
   
   
       13 . A window blind assembly adapted to be sandwiched between a front transparent plate and a rear transparent plate, said window blind assembly comprising:
 an outer frame adapted to be placed between the front and rear transparent plates, and including a head rail, a bottom rail, and two opposite vertical rails one of which is connected to right ends of said head and bottom rails and the other one of which is connected to left ends of said head and bottom rails, said head rail defining a horizontally extending first receiving space, one of said vertical rails defining a second receiving space in spatial communication with said first receiving space;   a blind unit disposed within said outer frame, and including a plurality of slats, and a slat ladder supporting said slats; and   a control device including a rotary shaft disposed within said head rail and connected to said slat ladder, a turning cord unit extending within said second receiving space and associated with said rotary shaft so as to turn said slats through said rotary shaft, a control member disposed in said second receiving space and connected to said turning cord unit and operable to slide upward and downward along said second receiving space so as to rotate said rotary shaft through said turning cord unit, and a limiting seat for limiting said rotary shaft to turn only within a predetermined angle.   
   
   
       14 . The window blind assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said control device further includes a fixed seat disposed within said first receiving space, said rotary shaft being mounted rotatably on said fixed seat, said limiting seat being fixed to said rotary shaft proximate to said fixed seat, said fixed seat having a limiting element to project to said limiting seat so as to control said limiting seat to turn only within the predetermined angle. 
   
   
       15 . The window blind assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said control device further includes upper and lower reel members disposed respectively in said first receiving space and said bottom rail, said rotary shaft being fixed to said upper reel member, said turning cord unit being looped to pass over and to move said upper and lower reel members, said control member being operable to move said turning cord unit. 
   
   
       16 . A window blind assembly adapted to be sandwiched between a front transparent plate and a rear transparent plate, said window blind assembly comprising:
 an outer frame adapted to be placed between the front and rear transparent plates, and including a head rail, a bottom rail, and two opposite vertical rails one of which is connected to right ends of said head and bottom rails and the other one of which is connected to left ends of said head and bottom rails, said head rail defining a horizontally extending first receiving space, one of said vertical rails defining a vertically extending second receiving space in spatial communication with said first receiving space;   a blind unit disposed within said outer frame, and including a plurality of slats, and a slat ladder supporting said slats; and   a control device including a lift cord for raising and lowering said slats, a turning cord unit for turning said slats, and a control member connected to both of said lift cord and said turning cord unit, said control member being operable to slide upward and downward along said second receiving space so as to control both of said lift cord and said turning cord unit, said control member having an interior sliding portion disposed slidably within said second receiving space, and an operating portion projecting outwardly from said one of said vertical rails.   
   
   
       17 . The window blind assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said interior sliding portion has top and bottom ends, said turning cord unit being attached to said top and bottom ends of said interior sliding portion to form a loop, said lift cord being attached to said top end of said interior sliding portion. 
   
   
       18 . The window blind assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said one of said vertical rails further has a vertically extending wall bounding said second receiving space and adapted to abut against the front transparent plate, and an elongated aperture formed in said wall and communicated with said second receiving space, said control member further including a slide groove that extends from a top end to a bottom end of said control member between said interior sliding portion and said operating portion, and a bridge part interconnecting said interior sliding portion and said operating portion and extending across said slide groove, said bridge part extending through said aperture to project said operating portion outwardly of said wall, said slide groove providing a space between said wall and said operating portion, said space being adapted to permit a lateral end of the front transparent plate to be inserted therein. 
   
   
       19 . The window blind assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said control device further includes a first positioning member attached to said control member, a second positioning member fixed within said second receiving member, said first and second positioning members being magnetically attracted to each other so as to prevent said control member from falling downward freely by gravity.