| US 7,337,824 B2 | ||
| Magnetic tilt and raise/lower mechanisms for a venetian blind | ||
| David Barry Berger, Willowdale (Canada) | ||
| Assigned to Masonite International Corporation, Mississauga (Canada) | ||
| Filed on Feb. 19, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/784,131. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/447688, filed on Feb. 19, 2003. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/466057, filed on Apr. 29, 2003. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2004/0226665 A1, Nov. 18, 2004 | ||
| Int. Cl. E06B 3/32 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 160—107 | 55 Claims |
| 1. A multi-pane window having a magnetic mechanism for actuating a venetian blind disposed between inner and outer glass panes
thereof, the magnetic mechanism comprising:
an inner follower carriage disposed between the glass panes and being operable to actuate said venetian blind when moved;
an external housing disposed on a surface of the inner glass pane opposite to the inner follower carriage, the external housing
having an external carriage disposed therein magnetically coupled to said inner follower carriage via said inner glass pane,
said external carnage being moveable with respect to the external housing to move said inner follower carriage, and movement
of the external carriage being guided by the external housing;
at least one friction reducing element to facilitate movement of at least one of said carriages over the inner glass pane;
and
a clutch coupled to said external carriage, said clutch decoupling from said external carriage when a force is applied to
said clutch that exceeds a threshold level during movement of said external carriage to inhibit said external carriage and
said inner follower carriage from magnetically decoupling,
wherein said magnetic mechanism is a raise/lower mechanism coupled to a raise/lower line of said venetian blind.
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