JPH0555678B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an end cap for a headrail of a vertical blind and an end cap assembly thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Each headrail of a vertical blind can have various types of end caps and a drive mechanism for rotating the drive or operating shaft of the headrail. The drive shaft itself is in the form of a simple tilting rod that moves the vertical blind traveler, usually by means of a pull string. Another design includes a helical thread on the drive shaft that moves the traveler to the desired position and then tilts it to the desired angle.

The drive mechanism for the drive shaft may also be of various types. For example, the drive mechanism may be in the form of a pulley attached to the shaft and actuated by a ball chain or string, or in the form of a bar-like ramp, in which case it has two bevel teeth and one
Contains a book stick or rod.

These constructions require various types of end caps requiring elaborate systems to stock the various parts necessary to meet the requirements of all users.

Problem, Solution, and Effect The present invention provides a simple end cap for a headrail of a vertical blind, which includes a body portion and a flange that determines the extent to which the body portion can be inserted into the headrail end. an end cap hole in the body portion for receiving a drive shaft therethrough; a recess in the body portion for receiving a hub of a drive mechanism; and a locator for positioning a housing of the drive mechanism in the body portion. means, wherein the plurality of different drive mechanisms are rotatably housed within the recess of the housing and driveably engage the hub with the drive shaft, and the positioning means includes: An end cap assembly for a vertical blind headrail is configured so that each of the different drive mechanisms can be interchangeably disposed on the outside of the body portion.

The end cap allows the user to very easily alternate between different types of drive means using the same end cap.

In order to enable the end cap to be used in conjunction with independently operable pull strings, the body portion may be provided with holes for receiving at least two string guide pins, the holes being spaced apart from each other. The central axis of the dovetail is arranged parallel to the axis of the drive shaft.

The end cap further comprises in the body portion at least one receiving space for receiving a drawstring guide pulley and at least one bearing space for rotatably receiving a pulley shaft, the receiving hole and at least one bearing space for rotatably receiving a pulley shaft. Both bearing spaces are intended to accommodate similar elements, which can be either guide pins or pulley shafts, as required. In order to reduce the number of parts that need to be initially stocked, a generally simple cylindrical pin can be used as the same element as the guide pin or pulley shaft.

In a second aspect of the invention, a vertical blind headrail assembly includes a channel-shaped cross-section handrail and at least one handrail mounted at one end of the headrail.
a body portion, the end cap being inserted into one end of the head rail, means for determining the extent to which the body portion can be inserted into the head rail, and a through hole formed in the body portion for passage of the drive shaft; a drive means for a drive shaft having a recess formed in the body portion, a hub capable of rotating the shaft and inserted into a recess in the end cap and operatively engaged with the shaft; and an end portion coupled to the drive means. and a housing pressed against the outer surface of the main body portion of the cap.

In such an assembly as described above, the shaft drive means may be in the form of a pulley and the housing closely surrounds a portion of the circumference of the pulley, the housing being provided with a number of cavities or protrusions to allow access to the main body of the cap. The positioned housing cooperates with one of the cavities or protrusions in the housing to permit selective positioning of the housing relative to the body portion of the end cap. With such construction, the protrusion can be attached to the end of the tongue of the body portion to allow the protrusion to spring back during installation of the assembly and subsequently to return the cover to its original position.

In an alternative construction, the drive means of the drive shaft may be in the form of a first gear and the housing accommodates a second gear in driving engagement with the first gear, the second gear being operable from the outside.

In this alternative construction, the housing may include a bearing for the end of the drive shaft and the second gear may form part of the rod actuating structure. Advantageously, the housing is attached to the end cap by screws, and the positioning means provided in the body part of the end cap are screw holes.

The present invention also contemplates a cap assembly for a vertical blind headrail comprising the following elements: (a) a body part which can be attached to and inserted into the end of the head rail, means for determining the extent to which the body part can be inserted into the head rail, and a hole normally provided in the body part for the drive shaft to pass through; and (b) at least one end cap including a recess in the body portion; (b) a pulley rotatable within the recess and having a hub for engaging the drive shaft of the blind; (c) (d) a first housing for the pulley; (e) a first housing for the pulley; (e) a housing for the end cap; a second housing rotatably housing a second gear which meshes with the first gear when connected by the locating means in the body portion and is replaceable with the first housing insofar as the pulley and the first gear are also interchangeable; (f) at least one receiving space and a bearing space provided in the body part; (g) at least one string guide pulley mounted in the receiving space and a bearing for the guide pulley in the bearing space; , (h) at least two lace guide pins fitable within receiving holes in the body portion of the end cap;

In such a configuration as above forming a set of parts,
The user can realize several different arrangements to suit the particular requirements of the window covered by the vertical blind itself.

In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, embodiments will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the construction shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a headrail 10 is shown having a conventional internal longitudinal rib 12. As shown in FIG. An end cap 14 (FIG. 1) is inserted into the head rail at one end and an end cap 15 (FIG. 2) at the other end.
The end caps are substantially identical but mirror images of each other.

Each end cap is formed with a longitudinal aperture 16 opening into a recess 18 in the body portion 20. The outer end of each end cap is provided with an end flange 22 having a generally flat outer surface for abutting the end of the headrail 10 to prevent movement of the end cap into the end of the headrail. is restricted.

The outer surface of the end cap is provided with receiving spaces 24, which are separated from each other by partitions 26.

An upper bulge 2 is provided on the outer surface of one side of the main body portion 20.
8 and a lower bulge 30 are formed.

The upper bulge 28 is closed at an end 32.

One or two pulleys 34 are inserted into the housing space 24, and the bearing shaft 36 is connected to the pulley 3.
4 and a gap 38 provided in the partition 26, and both ends of this shaft are accommodated in the upper bulge 32 and the groove 33.

Three guide pins 40 of the same construction as the bearing shaft 36 are inserted into the receiving holes 42, so that the traveler string of the vertical ventilation blind can pass between the pins 40 and be separated from each other before passing through the pulley 34. be done.

The end caps are also provided with threaded holes 44, 46, with threaded holes 46 extending into the lower bulge 30.

The outer surface of the end cap also includes a resilient tongue 4.
8, the tongue has an outwardly extending protrusion 50 which can be folded inwardly until its tip is flush with the outer surface of the flange.

The assembly is provided with a conventional drive shaft 52, which may be a longitudinally grooved shaft as shown or a helical grooved shaft used to move and operate the traveler. good. Drive shaft 52 passes through longitudinal bore 16 concentric with recess 18 .

FIG. 1 shows a drive pulley 5 having a hub 56 and provided with conventional means for engaging a ball chain.
4, the hub 56 is generally designated 6.
It passes through the central opening provided in the cover, indicated by 0, and is accommodated in the recess 18. The cover 60 has a pulley 5
An arcuate cover portion 62 is provided to cover the bead chain supported by 4. Pulley 54 and cover 60 are held fixedly to drive shaft 52 by sliding nuts 64 and springs 66, thus forcing the cover against the outer surface of flange 22. It will be appreciated that the cover 60 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced cavities 68 in the form of holes extending therethrough. These cavities are positioned to selectively engage projections 50 to position cover portion 62 in one of several rotational positions.

2, it will be seen that a similar sliding nut 65 is mounted on the outer end of drive shaft 52 to securely hold the entire assembly together.

Another type of drive shaft drive mechanism is shown in FIG. The head rail and end cap are the same as in the previous embodiment and are therefore numbered the same as the previously described parts. In place of the drive pulley 54 is a rod-operated gearbox, generally designated 70. The gear box 70 includes a housing 72 having a counterbore 74 for receiving a screw 76 threadably engageable in the threaded holes 44, 46 to secure the housing.

A longitudinally extending bearing sleeve 78 is inherently formed within the housing, which sleeve has a through hole 80 which acts as a bearing. hole 80
has a sliding nut 6 that holds the drive shaft 52.
A counterbore 82 is provided for accommodating 4.

The gear box includes a first bevel gear 84 mating with a hub 86 formed with splines 88 that engage grooves in the drive shaft 52.

The first bevel gear meshes with a second bevel gear 87 having a hub 88 rotatably mounted in a bearing portion 90 formed in the housing, the hub having a ball-shaped operating member adapted to connect to the rod-shaped operating member. It has a shaped connection part 92. When you turn the rod-shaped operating member, 2
The two bevel gears, and therefore the drive shaft 52, are rotated.

This embodiment also includes a slip nut 65 that bears against the washer 94 and a spring 96 that retains the drive shaft 52.

Effects of the Invention Therefore, the structure of the end cap of the present invention allows the pulley drive device shown in FIGS.
The rod-operated gearing shown in FIGS. and FIG. 4 can be used as desired. Each of these drives is constructed so that it can be mounted on any of the head rails using completely standard end caps. Therefore, the structure of the present invention uses only 14 parts to create a chain-type control unit for horizontal or inclined equipment, with the right-most or left-most control unit serving also for horizontal equipment on the right or left side. , or for horizontal installations on the right or left side, can have string and rod controls. Therefore, the structure of the present invention can provide maximum common surface area with a minimum number of parts.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of an end cap assembly for a headrail according to the present invention showing the end cap at one end; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the end cap at the other end; FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a second type of operating mechanism for the end cap assembly, similar to FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the opposite side of the operating mechanism shown in FIG. 3; 10... Head rail, 14, 15... End cap, 16... Through hole, 18... Recess, 22...
...Means for determining the degree of insertion of the end cap, 24
... Accommodation space, 33 ... Bearing space, 34
... Guide pulley, 36 ... Shaft for pulley, 40 ... Guide pin, 42 ... Accommodation hole, 50 ...
...Protrusion, 52... Drive shaft, 54... Shaft drive means, 56... Hub for drive means, 68...
...Vacancy, 72...Housing, 84...First gear, 87...Second gear, 88...Hub of first gear.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 An end cap assembly for a headrail of a vertical blind, comprising a body portion 20, a flange 22 which determines the extent to which the body portion 20 can be inserted into the end of the headrail 10, and a drive shaft 5.
2 and a drive mechanism 54-
62; 70-92; recesses 18 in said body part for accommodating hubs 56, 88; and positioning means 50, 64, 6 for positioning said drive mechanism housing 60;
6; 44, 76, and a plurality of different drive mechanisms 54-62; 70-92 are rotatably accommodated in the recess 18 of the housing 60; 72 and connected to the drive shaft 52. drivingly engaging the hubs 56, 88, and said positioning means 50, 64, 66; 44, 76 positioning each of said different drive mechanisms 54-62; An end cap assembly for a head rail of a vertical blind, characterized in that the end cap assembly is configured to be compatible with the head rail of a vertical blind.