US20140076505A1 - Method and apparatus for linked horizontal drapery panels having varying characteristics to be moved independently by a common drive system - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for linked horizontal drapery panels having varying characteristics to be moved independently by a common drive system Download PDF

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Publication number
US20140076505A1
US20140076505A1 US13/843,617 US201313843617A US2014076505A1 US 20140076505 A1 US20140076505 A1 US 20140076505A1 US 201313843617 A US201313843617 A US 201313843617A US 2014076505 A1 US2014076505 A1 US 2014076505A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
drive
curtain
drive element
additional
driver
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US13/843,617
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English (en)
Inventor
Willis Jay Mullet
Michael D. Fox
Daniel T. Matthews
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
OMOTION Inc
Original Assignee
Homerun Holdings Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Homerun Holdings Corp filed Critical Homerun Holdings Corp
Priority to US13/843,617 priority Critical patent/US20140076505A1/en
Assigned to HOMERUN HOLDINGS CORPORATION reassignment HOMERUN HOLDINGS CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FOX, MICHAEL D., MATTHEWS, Daniel T., MULLET, WILLIS JAY
Priority to PCT/US2013/060203 priority patent/WO2014043712A1/en
Publication of US20140076505A1 publication Critical patent/US20140076505A1/en
Assigned to OMOTION INCORPORATED reassignment OMOTION INCORPORATED CHANGE OF NAME (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HOMERUN HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47H—FURNISHINGS FOR WINDOWS OR DOORS
    • A47H5/00—Devices for drawing draperies, curtains, or the like
    • A47H5/02—Devices for opening and closing curtains
    • A47H5/06—Devices with screw-threads on rods or spindles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23B—TURNING; BORING
    • B23B29/00—Holders for non-rotary cutting tools; Boring bars or boring heads; Accessories for tool holders
    • B23B29/24—Tool holders for a plurality of cutting tools, e.g. turrets
    • B23B29/26—Tool holders in fixed position
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47H—FURNISHINGS FOR WINDOWS OR DOORS
    • A47H1/00—Curtain suspension devices
    • A47H1/02—Curtain rods
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47H—FURNISHINGS FOR WINDOWS OR DOORS
    • A47H13/00—Fastening curtains on curtain rods or rails
    • A47H13/02—Fastening curtains on curtain rods or rails by rings, e.g. with additional runners
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47H—FURNISHINGS FOR WINDOWS OR DOORS
    • A47H23/00—Curtains; Draperies
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23B—TURNING; BORING
    • B23B3/00—General-purpose turning-machines or devices, e.g. centre lathes with feed rod and lead screw; Sets of turning-machines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23B—TURNING; BORING
    • B23B5/00—Turning-machines or devices specially adapted for particular work; Accessories specially adapted therefor
    • B23B5/08—Turning-machines or devices specially adapted for particular work; Accessories specially adapted therefor for turning axles, bars, rods, tubes, rolls, i.e. shaft-turning lathes, roll lathes; Centreless turning
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
    • B23Q1/00—Members which are comprised in the general build-up of a form of machine, particularly relatively large fixed members
    • B23Q1/72—Auxiliary arrangements; Interconnections between auxiliary tables and movable machine elements
    • B23Q1/76—Steadies; Rests
    • B23Q1/766—Steadies or rests moving together with the tool support
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
    • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
    • E06B9/00—Screening or protective devices for wall or similar openings, with or without operating or securing mechanisms; Closures of similar construction
    • E06B9/24—Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blinds
    • E06B9/40—Roller blinds
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
    • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
    • E06B9/00—Screening or protective devices for wall or similar openings, with or without operating or securing mechanisms; Closures of similar construction
    • E06B9/56—Operating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures; Spring drums; Tape drums; Counterweighting arrangements therefor
    • E06B9/68—Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive
    • E06B9/72—Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive comprising an electric motor positioned inside the roller
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47H—FURNISHINGS FOR WINDOWS OR DOORS
    • A47H1/00—Curtain suspension devices
    • A47H1/02—Curtain rods
    • A47H2001/0215—Curtain rods being tubular
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23B—TURNING; BORING
    • B23B2215/00—Details of workpieces
    • B23B2215/72—Tubes, pipes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23B—TURNING; BORING
    • B23B2220/00—Details of turning, boring or drilling processes
    • B23B2220/12—Grooving
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23B—TURNING; BORING
    • B23B2220/00—Details of turning, boring or drilling processes
    • B23B2220/44—Roughing
    • B23B2220/445—Roughing and finishing
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49826—Assembling or joining
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T82/00—Turning
    • Y10T82/10—Process of turning

Definitions

  • Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a window covering assembly used to cover windows.
  • a window covering assembly with a rotatable drive element that has a structure formed into or on the outer surface of the rotatable drive element such that a window covering moves axially along the rotatable drive element when the rotatable drive element rotates.
  • Further specific embodiments relate to a window covering assembly in which two different curtains are operated by the same rotating drive element such that the user is able to independently move each curtain.
  • Further specific embodiments relate to a system with linked horizontal drapery panels having various characteristics that are moved independently by a common drive system.
  • Window coverings such as curtains, are frequently used to provide privacy and to limit the amount of light that is permitted to pass through a window and into a room.
  • curtains can be composed of panel(s) of fabric.
  • a curtain may be a single panel curtain that opens and closes from left to right.
  • a center closing curtain that is composed of two fabric panels that meet in the center of the window to close and cover the window.
  • the curtain panels are attached to and suspended from a transverse curtain rod that is hung above the window.
  • the panels are usually joined to the curtain rod by hooks or rings.
  • the curtains are able to be moved manually across the curtain rod(s) as desired by a pull rod or the like to either cover or uncover the window.
  • a sheer curtain is often hung with a blackout curtain on the same window to accommodate different preferences for light and visibility at different times.
  • a blackout curtain may be used to block out unwanted early morning sun. The blackout curtain may then be opened to allow the sun to filter through the sheer curtain later in the day.
  • utility bills may also be lowered by using the different curtains to keep a home cool or warm, depending on the weather.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,131,831 (Bochenek et al.) teaches a drapery opening and closing system for draw draperies which are movable over a traverse member between an open and closed position by use of a drapery drive system.
  • the opening and closing system has limit switches positioned to be activated when the draperies are opened and closed.
  • a manually settable timer connected to a power source applies power at preset times to a reversible motor via a control circuit.
  • the control circuit is comprised of a relay activated by the timer and a series connected two-section switch. Outputs of the two-section switch are connected to the reversible motor through the limit switches.
  • the timer When the timer is triggered at a preset time, the draperies automatically open or closes. Via the two-section switch, the draperies may be manually activated to open or close at times other than the preset times on the timer.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,262 (Comeau) teaches a telescoping drapery traverse rod with a motor drive without sacrificing any of the simple consumer installation and adjustment features of conventional draw-cord operated traverse rods. It employs a positive-drive perforated-plastic tape and sprocket combination with the tape being releasably secured to the master carriers in a manner analogous to that of the conventional draw cord arrangement.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,464 (Kobayashi) teaches an actuator for actuating a vertical blind or curtain of electric type to be mounted on a mounting support face.
  • the actuator is enabled to eliminate the deformations such as torsions of rotating rods thereto to ensure their rotations by driving the two ends of each of the rotating rods with the torques of a pair of motors.
  • the tension to be applied to a traverse rod can be easily adjusted to an appropriate value by fastening a nut on a tensing threaded rod connected to the traverse rod to tense the traverse rod.
  • Rotation transmitting unit can be held in position in a pivotal state even if the tension is applied to the traverse rod. Since the traverse rod is fitted in a bearing by the face contact between ridges and corners, moreover, the rotating torque is dispersed to enhance the breaking stress at the fitted connection.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,199 (Kaucic et al.) teaches a traverse rod having a reversible torque responsive motor-drive assembly for operating the traverse rod.
  • the motor-drive assembly includes a stationary casing fixed to the rod and a movable casing mounted in the stationary casing for angular movement relative thereto about a turn axis.
  • a reversible DC motor in the movable casing is connected through a planetary gear speed reducer to a traverse cord drive wheel for applying driving torque thereto.
  • the movable casing is arranged to turn about the turn axis in opposition to the torque applied to the drive wheel and is yieldable urged angularly about the turn axis toward a preselected neutral position relative to the stationary casing.
  • the motor-drive assembly has a torque responsive motor control including stationary brush contacts fixed on the stationary casing and adapted for connection to a power supply and movable electrically conductive segments fixed on the movable casing and electrically connected to the motor.
  • the movable electrically conductive segments include primary segments arranged to engage the brush contacts when the movable casing is in the neutral position and auxiliary segments spaced angularly about the turn axis from the primary segment to engage the brush contacts when the movable casing is turned through a preselected angle in either direction from the neutral position.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,528 (Kobayashi) teaches an electric blind of the type, in which a traverse rod drive motor, a tilt rod drive motor and their drive transmitting means are arranged at one end side of a casing frame so that the casing frame can be easily cut at the other end side without removing those motors and the drive transmitting means to leave a new casing from of a desired length.
  • the traverse rod and the tilt rod can be cut together with the casing frame to improve the workability of the electric blind.
  • This blind has its slats offset from the center line of the casing frame so that a shield cover can be extended to below the casing frame to prevent the light from breaking therethrough.
  • the positions of the clamping portions of brackets for supporting the two sides of the casing frame can be adjusted independently of one another so that the blind can be mounted on the wall or the like without any difficulty.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,733 (Toti) teaches a cover system suitable for windows including a tape support for maintaining the orientation of the cover and for opening and closing the cover.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,808 (Bell) teaches an automatic blind or curtain suspension system comprising a blind headrail 10 or curtain pole carrying at least one suspension device 28 arranged for movement relative to the headrail 10 or pole towards and away from a stop 48 to open and close the blind or curtain.
  • An electric motor 44 a is coupled to the suspension device 28 and operable to cause it to move relative to the headrail 10 or pole.
  • the system includes compression springs 50 adapted to take up additional drive from the motor once motion of the suspension device 28 is retarded by the stop 48 .
  • An automatic controller 12 which detects a monotonic increase in current to the motor 44 a associated with drive from the motor 44 a being taken up by the springs 50 and interrupts current to the electric motor 44 a when the increase in motor current is detected.
  • the controller may also keep track of the position of the suspension device 28 and store its position when the increase in current is detected. Drive to the electric motor 44 a during subsequent operation of the system may then be regulated in dependence upon the stored value to interrupt current to the motor before the suspension device 28 hits the stop 48 again.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,205 (Toti) teaches window cover systems including window cover material in the form of pleated panels or slats.
  • the window cover material is suspended from a traverse track and is traversed along the track for opening and closing the window system.
  • Arrangements for maintaining spacing and alignment of pleats or slats are provided.
  • the alignment maintaining arrangements include traverse tapes which are substantially rigid in longitudinal and lateral directions in the plane of the tape, and are flexible in a direction perpendicular to the tape.
  • the arrangements also include attaching the window cover material to vertical edge members and providing foldable spacer-members between adjacent edge-members.
  • a box-pleated panel of window cover fabric is suspended from a traverse track on slide-members.
  • the slide-members are each attached to a spacer-tape at regular intervals along the spacer-tape.
  • the spacer-tape is substantially rigid in the traverse direction and in a vertical direction perpendicular to the traverse direction.
  • the window cover system is opened and closed by rolling and unrolling the panel and the spacer-tape around a roller located at one end of a window frame.
  • Other arrangements include combined, tape-supported vertical slat blinds and vertical pleated draperies in which the tape(s) are supported by sprockets or wheels/pulleys.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,533,017 teaches window cover systems including window cover material in the form of pleated panels or slats.
  • the window cover material is suspended from a traverse track and is traversed along the track for opening and closing the window system.
  • Arrangements for maintaining spacing and alignment of pleats or slats are provided.
  • the alignment maintaining arrangements include traverse tapes which are substantially rigid in longitudinal and lateral directions in the plane of the tape, and are flexible in a direction perpendicular to the tape.
  • the arrangements also include attaching the window cover material to vertical edge members and providing foldable spacer-members between adjacent edge-members.
  • a box-pleated panel of window cover fabric is suspended from a traverse track on slide-members.
  • the slide-members are each attached to a spacer-tape at regular intervals along the spacer-tape.
  • the spacer-tape is substantially rigid in the traverse direction and in a vertical direction perpendicular to the traverse direction.
  • the window cover system is opened and closed by rolling and unrolling the panel and the spacer-tape around a roller located at one end of a window frame.
  • Other arrangements include combined, tape-supported vertical slat blinds and vertical pleated draperies in which the tape(s) are supported by sprockets or wheels/pulleys.
  • window cover systems include window cover material in the form of pleated panels or slats.
  • the window cover material is suspended from a traverse track and is traversed along the track for opening and closing the window system.
  • Arrangements for maintaining spacing and alignment of pleats or slats are provided.
  • the alignment maintaining arrangements include traverse tapes which are substantially rigid in longitudinal and lateral directions in the plane of the tape, and are flexible in a direction perpendicular to the tape.
  • the arrangements also include attaching the window cover material to vertical edge members and providing foldable spacer-members between adjacent edge-members.
  • a box-pleated panel of window cover fabric is suspended from a traverse track on slide-members.
  • the slide-members are each attached to a spacer-tape at regular intervals along the spacer-tape.
  • the spacer-tape is substantially rigid in the traverse direction and in a vertical direction perpendicular to the traverse direction.
  • the window cover system is opened and closed by rolling and unrolling the panel and the spacer-tape around a roller located at one end of a window frame.
  • Other arrangements include combined, tape-supported vertical slat blinds and vertical pleated draperies in which the tape(s) are supported by sprockets or wheels/pulleys. Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a simple curtain assembly that will move a curtain from the deployed position to the stored position with the minimum number of components that can be motorized as well as manually operated. It would further be advantageous to have a dual curtain assembly that will move two separate curtains.
  • Embodiments of the present invention relate to a window covering assembly.
  • a window covering assembly For convenience, various embodiments will be described with respect to curtains with the understanding that the description applies to other window coverings as well.
  • Embodiments of the curtain assembly include a drive element wherein at least one guide structure is formed on or into the outer surface of the drive element; a drive attachment element having a corresponding structure that communicates with the at least one guide structure to move the drive attachment element axially along the drive element when the drive element is rotated; and a rotation assembly for rotating the drive element.
  • the guide structure forms a helical pattern on the rotatable drive element and the corresponding structure is a tooth that is moved by the groove when the drive element is rotated.
  • the guide structure can also be a ridge or other structure that can cause the corresponding structure to move axially along the drive element when the drive rotates.
  • the drive element can be a tube.
  • the curtain assembly includes a rotatable drive element having a clockwise helical guide structure and a counter clockwise helical guide structure formed on, or into, the outer surface of the drive element; a first drive attachment element having a structure that communicates with the clockwise helical guide structure to move the drive attachment element axially along the drive element when the drive element is rotated; and a second drive attachment element having a structure that communicates with the counterclockwise helical guide structure to move the drive attachment element axially along the drive element when the drive element is rotated; and a rotation assembly for rotating the drive element.
  • a dual curtain assembly in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, includes a rotatable drive element having at least one guide structure formed on, or into, the outer surface of the drive element; at least two drive attachment elements having a corresponding at least two structures that communicate with the at least one guide structure to move the at least two drive attachment elements axially along the drive element when the drive tube is rotated Further specific embodiments can also incorporate a rotation assembly for rotating the drive element.
  • the rotation assembly can be manual or motorized.
  • a dual curtain assembly includes a drive element having at least one guide structure formed on, or into, the outer surface of the drive element; at least one outer drive attachment element having a corresponding at least one outer structure that communicates with the at least one guide structure to move the at least one drive attachment element axially along the drive element when the drive element is rotated; at least one inner drive attachment element having a corresponding at least one feature that communicates with the at least one guide structure to move the at least one inner drive attachment element axially along the drive element when the drive element is rotated; and a rotation assembly for rotating the drive element.
  • the curtain assembly may include a drive element having at least one guide structure formed on, or into, the outer surface of the drive element; a left outer drive attachment element having a corresponding left outer structure that communicates with the at least one guide structure to move the left outer drive attachment element axially along the drive element when the drive element rotates; a right outer drive attachment element having a right outer structure that communicates with the at least one guide structure to move the right outer drive attachment element axially along the drive element when the drive element rotates; a left inner drive attachment element having a corresponding left inner structure that communicates with the at least one guide structure to move the left inner drive attachment element axially along the drive element when the drive element is rotated; a right inner drive attachment element having a corresponding right inner structure that communicates with the at least one guide structure to move the right inner drive attachment element axially along the drive element when the drive element is rotated; and a rotation assembly for rotating the drive element, wherein
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the curtain assembly showing a curtain in the deployed position and the window is covered.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the curtain assembly showing the curtain in the stored position and the window is not covered.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the curtain assembly showing a left hand curtain in the stored position.
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one embodiment of the curtain assembly showing a center closing curtain in the deployed position covering the window.
  • FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the components of the rotatable drive element according to one embodiment of the curtain assembly in which the rotation of the drive element is powered by a battery operated motor.
  • FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the components of the rotatable drive element according to one embodiment of the curtain assembly in which the power supply to the motor is external to the drive element.
  • FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of one embodiment of the curtain assembly showing the rotatable drive element with a clockwise helical groove.
  • FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of one embodiment of the curtain assembly showing the rotatable drive element with a counter clockwise helical groove.
  • FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of one embodiment of the curtain assembly showing the rotatable drive element with a clockwise helical groove and a counter clockwise helical groove.
  • FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the drive attachment element according to one embodiment.
  • FIG. 11 is an enlarged side view of the drive attachment element 36 showing the structure 62 as a tooth according to one embodiment.
  • FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the drive attachment element 36 showing the angle of the drive tooth 62 according to one embodiment.
  • FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of the drive attachment element having a first drive tooth and a second drive tooth according to one embodiment.
  • FIG. 14 is an enlarged side view of the drive attachment element 36 having a first drive tooth and a second drive tooth according to one embodiment.
  • FIG. 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the drive attachment element 36 showing the angle of the second drive tooth 90 according to one embodiment.
  • FIG. 16 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the drive attachment element 36 showing the angle of the first drive tooth 88 according to one embodiment.
  • FIG. 17 is a section view of the tube 26 and the drive attachment element 36 showing the engagement of the first drive tooth 88 in the first helical groove 38 .
  • FIG. 18 is an enlarged end view of a motor drive adapter according to one embodiment of the curtain assembly.
  • FIG. 19 is an enlarged perspective view of a motor drive adapter according to one embodiment of the curtain assembly.
  • FIG. 20 is an enlarged perspective view of the rotatable drive element according to one embodiment.
  • FIG. 21 is an enlarged end view of the rotatable drive element according to one embodiment.
  • FIG. 22 is an enlarged perspective view of the preferred tube embodiment with the position a section was taken to reflect the two clockwise helical grooves 38 and two counter clockwise grooves 40 in the tube 26 .
  • FIG. 23 is an end view of the drive element assembly of the preferred embodiment showing the starting points of the clockwise helical grooves 38 and the counter clockwise grooves 40 .
  • FIG. 24 is the cross section view taken from FIG. 22 .
  • FIG. 25 is the preferred embodiment curtain assembly.
  • FIG. 26 is a drawing of the functional relationship of the helical grooves 38 and 40 to the midpoint of the drive element to assure the drive attachment elements meet in the midpoint of the drive element on center close draperies.
  • FIG. 27 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the curtain assembly when the outer curtain is a blackout curtain in the deployed position and the inner curtain is a sheer curtain in the deployed position.
  • FIG. 28 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the curtain assembly when the outer curtain is a blackout curtain in the stored position and the inner curtain is a sheer curtain in the deployed position.
  • FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the curtain assembly when both the outer and inner curtains are in the stored position.
  • FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment with the outer curtain is a blackout curtain with a portion cut away to show the position of the external battery pack from FIG. 6 .
  • FIG. 31 is an enlarged perspective view of the components of the rotatable drive element according to one embodiment of the curtain assembly showing an internal battery power supply.
  • FIG. 32 is an enlarged perspective view of the components of the rotatable drive element according to one embodiment of the curtain assembly show an external power supply.
  • FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view of the drive section of the rotatable drive element showing the helical groove and a non-driving groove according to one embodiment of the curtain assembly.
  • FIG. 34 is an enlarged perspective view of one embodiment of the curtain assembly non-driving groove.
  • FIG. 35 is an enlarged perspective view of one distal end of the rotatable drive element showing the inner drive attachment element and the inner driver stall area according to the same embodiment of the curtain assembly shown in FIG. 34 .
  • FIG. 36 is an enlarged side view of the inner drive attachment element according to one embodiment of the curtain assembly.
  • FIG. 37 is an enlarged perspective view of the inner drive attachment element according to one embodiment of the curtain assembly.
  • FIG. 38 is an enlarged sectioned view of the inner drive attachment element according to one embodiment of the curtain assembly.
  • FIG. 39 is an enlarged side view of the inner drive attachment element according to one embodiment of the curtain assembly.
  • FIG. 40 is an enlarged perspective view of the inner drive attachment element according to one embodiment of the curtain assembly.
  • FIG. 41 is an enlarged sectioned view of the inner drive attachment element according to one embodiment of the curtain assembly
  • FIG. 42 is an enlarged perspective view of an outer idler attachment element according to one embodiment of the curtain assembly.
  • FIG. 43 is an enlarged sectioned view of an outer idler attachment element according to one embodiment of the curtain assembly.
  • FIG. 44 is an enlarged side view of an outer idler attachment element according to one embodiment of the curtain assembly.
  • FIG. 45 is an enlarged side view of an outer drive attachment element according to one embodiment of the curtain assembly
  • FIG. 46 is an enlarged sectioned view of an outer drive attachment element according to one embodiment of the curtain assembly.
  • FIG. 47 is an enlarged perspective view of an outer drive attachment element according to one embodiment of the curtain assembly.
  • FIG. 48 is an end view of the curtain assembly showing the guide track, guides, attachment elements, and the position of the inter-curtain engager.
  • FIG. 49 is a is a perspective view of a curtain assembly according to one embodiment when the outer curtains are center closing blackout curtains in the stored position and the inner curtains are center closing sheer curtains in the deployed position
  • FIG. 50 is a perspective view of a curtain assembly according to one embodiment when the outer curtains are center closing blackout curtains in the deployed position and the inner curtains are center closing sheer curtains in the stored position.
  • FIG. 51 is a perspective view of the tube end with the inner driver stall area.
  • FIG. 52 is a top view of the curtain assembly with the guide track removed to see the position of the guides and attachment elements with the inner and outer curtains deployed and the outer drive attachment element can stop the tube from rotation when it stalls against the inner attachment element in the stall area.
  • FIG. 53 is a top view of the curtain assembly with the guide track removed to see the position of the guides and attachment elements with the inner curtains deployed and the inter-curtain engager is in the engage-outer-drive-attachment-element position and the inner drive attachment element is in the stall area.
  • FIG. 54 is a top view of the curtain assembly with the guide track removed to see the position of the guides and attachment elements with the inner and outer curtains in the stored position and the outer simple attachment elements and the outer drive attachment element are in the non-driving or stall area.
  • the inner curtain drive attachment element can stop the tube from rotation when it contacts the outer curtain drive attachment element.
  • FIG. 55 is a perspective view of the area where the outer attachments are stored with the tube, inner and outer curtains removed to show the position of the inter-curtain engager and the carrier tracks.
  • FIG. 56 is a perspective view of the inner curtain carrier and S-hook.
  • FIG. 57 is a perspective view of the inner curtain carrier with the inner curtain engager.
  • FIG. 58 is three views of the preferred tube embodiment with an outer driver stall area and two helical grooves spaced 180 degrees apart.
  • FIG. 59 is another tube embodiment with four helical grooves, two are counter clockwise spaced 180 degrees apart and two are clockwise spaced 180 degrees apart.
  • FIG. 60 is another embodiment of a tri-lobed tube, drive element, and internal tube driver.
  • FIG. 61 shows four views of the inner curtain carrier and S-hook.
  • FIG. 62 shows four views of the inter-curtain engager
  • FIGS. 63A-63L show flowcharts for the control system for specific embodiments of the invention.
  • FIG. 64 shows a perspective view of the drapery movement assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, without the draperies.
  • FIG. 65 shows a front or plan view of the assembly of FIG. 64 .
  • FIG. 66 shows an end or side view of the assembly of FIG. 64 .
  • FIG. 67 shows an end view of the assembly of FIG. 64 with the end plate 112 removed.
  • FIG. 68 shows a bottom-up perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 64 .
  • FIG. 69 shows a section view of the center mounting of the drive elements 114 and 115 .
  • FIG. 70 shows a top view of the inner curtain driver 123 with a portion of the cover track 111 cut away showing the swivel magnet 124 and stationary magnet 135 having the same poles proximate to and repelling each other and the outer driver 121 physically separation the magnets 124 and 135 .
  • FIG. 71 shows a top view of the inner curtain driver 123 with a portion of the cover track 111 cut away showing the inner driver 123 disengaged from the outer driver element 121 allowing the drapery to be moved by hand.
  • FIG. 72 shows a top view of the inner curtain driver 123 with a portion of the cover track 111 cut away showing the swivel magnet 124 and stationary magnet 135 having opposite poles proximate to and attracting each other.
  • FIG. 73 shows a top view of the inner curtain driver 123 with a portion of the cover track 111 cut away showing the magnets 124 and 135 no longer attached and the outer driver 121 engaged with the inner curtain driver 123 .
  • FIG. 74 shows a top view of the inner curtain driver 123 with a larger portion of the cover track 111 cut away showing the swivel magnet 124 and stationary magnet 135 having opposite poles proximate to and attracting each other, the outer driver 121 engaged with the drapery driven hanger 117 and the inner curtain driver hanger 116 .
  • FIG. 75 shows a section view taken from the area where the outer driver 121 is engaged with the drive element 114 .
  • FIG. 76 shows an exploded parts view of the assembly of FIG. 64 .
  • FIG. 77 shows an enlarged view of the center mounting components of FIG. 76 .
  • the curtain assembly 20 comprises a rotatable drive element 22 wherein a helical guide structure 24 is formed into the outer surface 26 of the drive element 22 , a drive attachment element 36 having a corresponding structure 62 that communicates with the helical guide structure 24 to move the drive attachment element 36 axially along the drive element 22 when the drive element 22 is rotated and a rotation assembly 32 (not shown) for rotating the drive element 22 .
  • the helical guide structure 24 is a helical groove 24 and the corresponding structure 62 is a tooth. While the helical guide structure 24 is shown in FIGS.
  • the helical guide structure 24 is not limited to a groove.
  • the corresponding structure 36 discussed in the embodiments below is a tooth 62 but is not limited to being a tooth.
  • one or more curtain supports 67 supported by the rotatable drive element 22 can also be utilized to support the curtain.
  • the drive attachment element 36 as shown in FIGS. 1-3 will be explained further below.
  • the curtain 44 used is composed of a single continuous panel of fabric that moves back and forth across the drive element 22 to the deployed position (covering the window) and to the stored position (not covering the window 34 ).
  • the curtain 44 may extend to the right to the deployed position (covering the window 34 ) and then gather to the left to the stored position, uncovering the window 34 .
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 show that a curtain 44 extended to the right (deployed position) to cover the window 34 and FIG. 2 shows the curtain 44 gathered to the left (stored position) to uncover the window 34 .
  • the curtain 44 may extend to the left to the deployed position (covering the window 34 ) and then gather to the right to the stored position (uncovering the window 34 ).
  • FIG. 3 shows a curtain assembly 20 wherein the curtain 44 is gathered to the right (stored position) to uncover the window 34 .
  • the curtain 44 in FIG. 3 would extend to the left to the deployed position to cover the window 34 .
  • curtain is used to describe a preferred embodiment of the invention, other embodiments utilize other window coverings, such as verticals and draperies.
  • the curtain 44 may be a center closing curtain 46 .
  • a center closing curtain 46 is composed of two fabric panels, a right panel 50 and a left panel 48 that meet in the center 42 of the window 34 to close and cover the window 34 .
  • FIG. 4 shows a curtain assembly 20 where a center closing curtain 46 is used and is in the deployed position.
  • the window 34 is covered in this instance.
  • the right panel 50 extends to the left to the center of the window 42 .
  • the left panel 48 extends to the right to the center of the window 42 .
  • the curtain assembly 20 includes a drive element 22 .
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 show one embodiment of the drive element 22 in detail.
  • a curtain 44 can be connected to the drive element 22 by one or more curtain supports 36 and 67 as explained below.
  • at least a portion of the curtain can be supported by another structure adjacent to the rotatable drive element 22 , such as a support guide (not shown).
  • the rotatable drive element 22 is designed to be installed above a window 34 , or near the top of the window 34 , similar to a traditional curtain rod.
  • drive element 22 is mounted on axles 52 that are located and secured in the end brackets 54 .
  • the end brackets 54 are adapted for connection with, for example, a window frame, sash, or wall.
  • the end brackets 54 may also include a rubber mounting disk 13 , not shown, that is compressed, and, optionally, inserted into a finial 95 or other structure to create friction, when the drive element 22 is installed, to hold the drive element 22 firmly in place and minimize noise.
  • the drive element 22 may vary in size.
  • the drive element 22 may be the width of the window 34 , narrower than the window 34 , or wider than the window 34 .
  • the outer diameter 56 of the drive element 22 may similarly vary.
  • the drive element has an outer diameter of the drive element that is 1 inch, 11 ⁇ 4 inches, 11 ⁇ 2 inches, 2 inches, 1-2 inches, 1-11 ⁇ 2 inches, 11 ⁇ 2-2 inches, less than 1 inch, and/or greater than 2 inches.
  • the drive element 22 has a hollow portion that is sized to mount a motor 82 inside the hollow portion of the drive element 22 rather than mounting the motor 82 outside the drive element 22 .
  • Using the inside of the drive element 22 to conceal the motor 82 may give a more aesthetically pleasing design for a curtain assembly 20 .
  • Any number of materials, such as aluminum, other metals or alloys, plastics, wood, and ceramics, may be used to fabricate the drive element 22 provided the drive element 22 can support the weight of the curtain 44 .
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 show the outer surface of the drive element 22 as cylindrical in shape, the cross-sectional shape of the drive element 22 is not limited and may be non-circular. In an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 , the rotatable drive element 22 may be tri-lobed.
  • the drive element 22 has at least one guide structure 24 formed, for example, on, or into, the outer surface 26 of the drive element 22 .
  • a preferred guide structure 24 is a helical guide structure 24 .
  • Such a guide structure may be a groove in some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 7-9 .
  • the helical guide structure 24 is not limited to being a helical groove.
  • the guide structure 24 may be a ridge, protrusion, or other structure that can communicate with the corresponding structure of the drive attachment element to axially move the drive attachment element along the drive element when the drive element is rotated.
  • the helical groove 24 can extend along a portion of, or the entirety of, the drive element 22 .
  • the helical groove extends from one distal end portion, referred to as the motor end 58 , to the opposing distal end portion, referred to as the bearings end 59 , of the drive element 22 .
  • the helical guide structure 24 can begin and end at any desired point along the longitudinal axis of the drive element 22 , and/or stop and start over various portions of the drive element, depending on the application.
  • the length of the helical groove 24 is a factor in determining how far a curtain 44 will travel across the drive element, i.e., the entire length of the drive element 22 as opposed to some shorter section of the drive element 22 .
  • the angle of the helical groove determines how far the drive attachment element will move along the drive element for a given amount of rotation of the drive element.
  • the helical groove 24 is formed in either a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates a drive element 22 having a counterclockwise helical groove 38 .
  • FIG. 8 illustrates a drive element 22 having a clockwise helical groove 40 .
  • the drive element 22 has two helical grooves 24 , one formed in the clockwise direction and one formed in the counterclockwise direction.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates a drive element 22 in which there are a counter clockwise helical groove 38 and a clockwise helical groove 40 .
  • the drive element 22 may have four helical grooves, two clockwise helical grooves 38 and two counter clockwise helical grooves 40 as shown in FIGS. 22-24 .
  • the two clockwise helical grooves 38 , or the two counter-clockwise helical grooves 40 are preferably spaced approximately 180 degrees apart. Other spacings can also be utilized.
  • the clockwise helical grooves 38 and the counterclockwise helical grooves 40 preferably form the same angle with the longitudinal axis.
  • the profile of the helical grooves 38 , 40 can be self-centering to allow the drive tooth 62 to traverse the intersection of the clockwise helical groove 38 and the counter clockwise helical groove 40 without binding.
  • a beveled groove, which allows such self-centering, is shown in FIG. 17 .
  • the helical grooves 24 may be formed by forming grooves into the outer surface 26 of the drive element 22 such that the grooves 24 are recessed from the outer surface 26 of the drive element 22 .
  • the helical guide structures 24 may be formed as one or more protrusions that project or bulge from the outer surface 26 of the drive element 22 .
  • the protrusions may be formed in a variety of manners, for example, by winding material around the outer surface 26 of the drive element 22 , forming, e.g., extruding the drive element in a manner that creates indentations in and/or projections from the outer surface of the drive element, or forming the drive element so as to have an outer surface able to apply a force in the longitudinal direction to a structure 62 of the corresponding drive attachment element 36 when the corresponding structure is engaged with the structure 24 upon rotation of the drive element about the longitudinal axis.
  • a sleeve, or outer tube 63 having helical guide structure 24 and sized to fit around a portion of the drive element 22 may be used.
  • the drive sleeve has at least one helical groove 24 in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction formed on the outer surface of the sleeve.
  • the sleeve/outer tube can be interconnected to an inner tube 61 , or other inner drive element 9 (e.g., rod), that is rotated so as to cause the rotation of the sleeve/outer tube.
  • the inner drive element 9 can provide sufficient stiffness to keep the sleeve from bending too much along the longitudinal axis of the sleeve from the weight of the curtains, so that the sleeve need not be sufficiently stiff to keep from bending too much along the longitudinal axis of the sleeve from the weight of the curtains.
  • the drive element 22 which then comprises the inner drive element 9 and the outer tube or sleeve, again translates the torque from the rotation assembly to axially movement of the curtain support 67 or drive attachment element 36 across the drive element 22 .
  • the drive sleeve is secured to the inner drive element to form the drive element 22 such that the sleeve does not slide up or down the inner drive element or rotate around the inner drive element 9 .
  • a drive sleeve has the advantage that the geometry of the helical groove 24 including its length may be easily changed by removing the sleeve and replacing it without fabricating a new drive element 22 .
  • the helical grooves 24 may also vary in angle and therefore, may differ in the amount of time (rotations of the drive element) that it takes to travel across the drive element 22 .
  • a helical groove 24 with a larger angle, with respect to a plane through a cross-section of the drive element may create a shorter path for the structure to travel and lead to a faster moving curtain 44 for a certain rotation speed of the drive element.
  • the angle of the helical grooves 24 with respect to a cross-sectional plane of the drive element, may vary along the drive element in the direction of the longitudinal axis 60 of the drive element 22 such that the curtain 44 may move at different speeds along the drive element 22 , for a given rotational speed of the drive element, if desired.
  • the angle of the helical groove 24 varies from greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees, preferably varies from 10 degrees to 80 degrees, more preferably varies from 20 degrees to 70 degrees, even more preferably varies from 30 degrees to 60 degrees, and is most preferably 45 degrees.
  • the drive element 22 can be connected to a rotation assembly 33 for rotating the drive element 22 , where the rotation of the drive element 22 moves the drive attachment element 36 along the drive element via the helical groove 24 of the drive element 22 .
  • the rotation assembly 33 may be a pull cord 72 connected to the drive element 22 or a motor assembly 32 .
  • the drive element 22 may be rotated manually.
  • a pull cord 72 as shown in FIGS. 1-3 may be connected to the drive element 22 such that the drive element 22 can be manipulated manually to rotate when it is desired to deploy or store the curtain 44 .
  • the use of pull cords 72 is well known in the art.
  • a motor assembly 32 may be used to rotate the drive element 22 .
  • the motor 82 may be mounted either inside or outside the drive element 22 . In one embodiment, the motor 82 is mounted inside the drive element 22 and generally concealed from plain view. Components including axles 52 and bearings 94 may also be located inside the rotatable drive element 22 .
  • a slip ring 28 may be used to transfer current from the power supply external to the drive element 22 to the motor 82 in the drive element 22 as shown in FIG. 6 .
  • batteries 84 in a battery tube 86 may be used as shown in FIG. 5 to power the motor 82 .
  • the batteries 84 in the battery tube 86 may be in a spring loaded sleeve to assist with loading and unloading the batteries 84 from the battery tube.
  • a motor drive adapter 92 as shown in FIG. 6 may also be used to securely attach or connect the motor 82 to the drive element 22 .
  • the motor housing fits tightly against the drive element 22 and turns the drive element 22 when the motor output shaft is held in end bracket 54 to prevent it from turning.
  • FIG. 5 shows the interconnection of end caps 51 , axles 52 , bearings 94 , bearing housings 57 (note the bearing housing 57 is shown on the motor end in FIG. 5 , but the bearing housing 57 on the battery end is not shown), motor 82 , and battery tube 86 .
  • FIG. 6 shows a slip ring 28 , which is optional, and allows the circuit to be completed while rotating.
  • the user may push a button 98 on a remote control 96 to turn on the motor 82 to rotate the drive element 22 such that the curtain 44 moves across the drive element 22 between a stored position and a deployed position depending on the user's preference.
  • the remote control 96 and button 98 are shown in FIGS. 1-3 .
  • the motor 82 may respond to a signal from the remote control 96 that is initiated by a voice command to the remote control, which then causes the motor 82 to rotate the drive element 22 .
  • the curtain assembly 20 may also include a remote control 96 having a control board that generates a signal when the user makes a selection on the remote control 96 .
  • the control board has a transmitter that can wirelessly communicate with a receiver that is remotely located from the transmitter.
  • the receiver may be located in the motor 82 in the drive element 22 .
  • the receiver receives the transmitted signal from the transmitter and transmits it to the motor 82 , which will cause the motor 16 to turn on, rotate the drive element 22 , and moves the curtain 44 .
  • the curtain 44 is engaged on the drive element 22 and moves axially along the drive element 22 to either a deployed or stored position.
  • the curtain assembly 20 can include a drive attachment element 36 having a structure 62 that communicates with the guide structure 24 to move the drive attachment element 36 axially along the drive element 22 when the drive element 22 is rotated.
  • the curtain assembly can also include one or more idler attachment elements 67 that interconnect with the drive element to support the window covering, e.g. curtain.
  • the drive attachment element 36 has a corresponding feature 62 that is a tooth 62 as described below.
  • the curtain assembly 20 of the present invention may include in some embodiments at least one drive attachment element 36 having a feature 62 that communicates with a helical guide structure 24 to move the drive attachment element 36 axially along the drive element 22 when the drive element 22 is rotated.
  • the helical guide structure may be a helical groove 24 and the feature 62 may be a tooth.
  • one end, such as the motor end, of the curtain can be fixed 64 and the adjacent opposing end, such as the bearings end, of the curtain 66 can be attached to the drive attachment element 36 .
  • the feature 62 as a tooth is shown in FIGS. 10-12 .
  • FIG. 10 shows an enlarged perspective view of the drive attachment element 36 .
  • FIG. 11 is an enlarged side view of the drive attachment element 36 showing the drive tooth 62 according to one embodiment.
  • FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the drive attachment element 36 showing the angle ⁇ (approximately 30 degrees) of the drive tooth 67 . This angle ⁇ is the same angle as the helical groove makes with respect to a cross-sectional plane of the drive element.
  • the drive attachment element 36 can be ring-shaped and slides over the drive element 22 .
  • a different construction may be used for the drive attachment element 36 .
  • the drive attachment element may have one or more additional structures 62 , which may follow a corresponding one or more additional grooves, and/or one or more of the structures 62 can be located at a different rotational position with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drive element when the structure is mounted onto the drive element.
  • the drive attachment element 36 is preferably provided with a slot 99 into which a traditional curtain hook 37 can be used to connect the end of the curtain to the drive attachment element 36 .
  • Curtain pins and curtain rings that are well known in the art to hang curtains may be used.
  • the structure 62 is designed to communicate with or engage the helical groove 24 of the drive element to move the drive attachment element 36 axially along the drive element, thereby moving the curtain.
  • the feature is a tooth formed on an angle on the inner surface of the body of the drive attachment element.
  • the angle ⁇ of the drive tooth 62 is specifically designed to engage the helical groove on the drive element 22 .
  • a design consideration is to maximize the amount of contact between the rotating drive element 22 and the drive attachment element 36 to move the weight of the curtain.
  • the location of the tooth 62 with respect to the drive attachment element 36 are adjustable such that the angle the location of the tooth makes with respect to the drive element when the drive attachment element is interconnected to the drive element is adjustable.
  • This adjustability allows the user of the curtain assembly to set the correct location of the drive attachment element(s) 36 in relationship to the axial position along the drive element for a particular rotational position of the drive element, as where the tooth is positioned and where the helical groove is located for a particular angular position of the drive element determines the axial position of the drive attachment element and, therefore, the axial position of the point of the curtain attached to the drive attachment element.
  • a distal end of the curtain to reach the distal end of the drive element at a particular degree of rotation of the drive element (e.g., 720°, or 3600°)
  • a particular degree of rotation of the drive element e.g., 720°, or 3600°
  • the drive attachment element 36 has a first drive tooth 88 and a second drive tooth 90 as shown in FIGS. 13-16 . Both the first drive tooth 88 and the second drive tooth 90 are configured to communicate with different helical grooves 24 of the drive element 22 .
  • the first drive tooth 88 and the second drive tooth 90 are positioned inside the drive attachment element 36 at the top and the bottom of the drive attachment element 36 , respectively.
  • FIGS. 15 and 16 show cross-sectional views of the top and the bottom of the drive attachment element 36 which show the angle ⁇ 1 of the first drive tooth and the angle of the second drive tooth ⁇ 2 .
  • the angles ⁇ 1 , ⁇ 2 are both 45 degrees.
  • angles ⁇ 1 , ⁇ 2 of the first drive tooth 88 and the second drive tooth 90 are not limited to 45 degrees and are configured to communicate with the corresponding helical groove 24 of the drive element 22 .
  • Two are clockwise spirals 38 and two are counter-clockwise 40 .
  • the adjustable drive attachment element can allow the teeth to be repositioned inside the drive attachment element such that the drive attachment element can start from a different axial position along the drive element and end at the desired axial position in the center, or other desired axial position.
  • This adjustment of the position of the tooth with respect to the drive attachment element can correct the offset caused by the odd length of the drive element, e.g., from cutting an end off, and allows the right curtain drive attachment element and the left attachment element to meet in the middle.
  • the gear teeth between the “Clicker” and “Gear Ring” parts of the adjustable drive attachment element do not allow the “Clicker” to rotate when it is on the tube. In this case, removing the adjustable drive attachment element from the drive element allows the user to adjust the “Clicker” manually by disengaging it from the Gear Ring. The outward force of the drive element on the Clicker's gear teeth essentially locks it into the Gear Ring. Specific embodiments allow the tooth to be repositioned about one inch in either direction. For a drive element where 1 ⁇ 2 the pitch length is two inches, rotating the tube 180 degrees before installing the adjustable drive attachment element changes the starting position by 1 ⁇ 2 pitch length, which will correct the adjustable drive attachment element's starting position to an acceptable degree.
  • structure 62 described in the embodiments above is a tooth, other embodiments for the structure 62 may be used as well.
  • the curtain assembly 20 may further comprise a plurality of idle attachment elements 67 connected to the drive element 22 for sliding movement along the drive element 22 .
  • the remaining attachment points 68 of the curtain 34 that are not connected to the drive attachment element 36 can then be suspended from the drive element 22 using one or more idler attachment elements 67 .
  • the curtain has one fixed end 64 and an adjacent opposing end 66 that is connected to the drive attachment element 36 .
  • the remaining ends (or attachment points) of the curtain 68 are positioned between the fixed end 64 and the adjacent opposing end 66 that is connected to the drive attachment element 36 .
  • These remaining attachment points 68 may be suspended from the drive element 22 using a plurality of idler attachment elements 67 .
  • the idler attachment elements 67 are interconnected to the rotatable drive element 22 as shown in FIGS. 1-4 . Such interconnection of idler attachment elements 67 can be such that the idler attachment element surrounds a portion of, or all of, the circumference of the cross-section of the drive element and hangs freely on the drive element.
  • the idler attachment elements can be also interconnected with a structure external to the drive element.
  • the idler attachment elements 67 may be shaped similar to the drive attachment element 36 .
  • the idler attachment elements 67 may have a smooth bore to allow free movement along the drive element 22 as the curtain moves.
  • the idler attachment elements 67 may have a tooth to assist in the movement of the curtain across the drive element.
  • the drive element can have a region that frees the tooth when the simple attachment element reaches a certain axial region of the drive element, such as an end of the drive element, going one axial direction, and re-engages the tooth as the idler attachment element is pulled in the other axial direction out of the same axial direction.
  • the idler attachment elements 67 may be rings that slide over the drive element 22 .
  • the idler attachment elements 67 may be provided with a slot or a hole (not shown) into which a traditional curtain hook (or loop) 37 is used to attach the remaining attachment points 68 of the curtain 44 to the idler attachment element 67 as shown in FIGS. 4-6 .
  • Curtain pins and curtain rings that are well known in the art to hang curtains may be used.
  • the drive attachment element 36 has a single tooth 62 and is a loose fit on the drive element 22 .
  • the curtain assembly 20 can include a draw rod 70 connected to the drive attachment element 36 wherein the drive tooth 62 is disengaged from the guide structure 24 of the drive element 22 by applying force on the draw rod 70 .
  • the draw rod 70 may be an elongated rod or any other mechanism that is configured to allow the user to manually disengage the drive attachment element 36 from the guide structure 24 . The draw rod can then be used to axially move the drive attachment element along the drive element.
  • the motor 82 for the curtain assembly 20 may be programmed from the factory with a preset number (integer or fractional) of drive element 22 revolutions to move the curtain axially across the drive element 22 .
  • a preset number integer or fractional
  • the drive element 22 may be shortened (e.g., cut) to accommodate a narrower window 34 or the curtain has been manually moved with the draw rod 70 and not moved by the pull cord 72 .
  • the initial setup of the motor 82 is able to count the number of revolutions the drive element 22 makes to fully open and fully close the curtain 44 .
  • This setup may be accomplished by a setup routine in which a program button is pressed once on a remote control 96 to start the motor 82 moving the curtain 44 and then pressing the button a second time, either to stop the movement or after the movement has stopped, which stores the number of revolutions the curtain 44 has moved.
  • the number of revolutions can be confirmed by pressing the program button a third time, which reverses the motor 82 and moves the curtain 44 in the opposite direction. Pressing the program button a fourth time, either to stop the curtain 44 or after the movement has stopped, can cause the number of counts to be compared, and set a new count in the memory to complete the set up routine. If the program button on the remote control 96 is not pressed the second time, the motor 82 can run until the preset count is reached, then shut off.
  • the assembly can implement some sort of maximum axial distance detector or force detector, or clutch, such that the motor stops, or stops rotating the drive element, respectively, when a threshold force is encountered trying to move the drive attachment element.
  • the user can press the program button twice on the remote control 96 , which will cycle the curtain twice. This resynchronizes the curtain movement count by first moving the curtain to one distal end of the drive element followed by moving the curtain 44 to the opposite distal end of the drive section, i.e., two cycles.
  • the drive attachment element 36 is driven by the rotation of the helical groove 24 on the drive element 22 acting on the feature in the drive attachment element until the drive element 22 rotates a set number of revolutions and stops in the fully deployed position.
  • a center closing curtain 46 is composed of two fabric panels, a right panel 50 and a left panel 48 , which meet in the center of the window 42 to close and cover the window 34 .
  • the center closing curtain 46 is in the deployed position and the window 34 is covered in FIG. 4 .
  • the drive element 22 has a clockwise helical groove 38 and a counter clockwise helical groove 40 formed on the outer surface 26 of the drive element 22 .
  • the clockwise helical groove 38 and counter clockwise helical groove 40 have the same angle and oppose each other to create the correct movement of the center closing curtain 46 when the drive element 22 rotates.
  • the curtain assembly 20 has a left drive attachment element 74 and a right drive attachment element 76 as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • the left drive attachment element 74 is connected to the adjacent opposing end 66 of the left panel 48 and the right drive attachment element 76 is connected to adjacent opposing end 66 of the right panel 50 .
  • the left panel 48 has a fixed end 64 and an adjacent opposing end 66 that is connected to the left drive attachment element 74 .
  • the right panel 50 has a fixed end 64 and an adjacent opposing end 66 that is connected to the right drive attachment element 76 .
  • the tooth 62 of the right drive attachment element 76 can follow the counter-clockwise helical groove 40 and the tooth 62 of the left drive attachment element 74 can follow the clockwise helical groove 38 , such that when the drive element is rotated in a first rotational direction the left panel 48 and right panel 50 both close and when the drive element is rotated in the opposite direction the left panel 48 and right panel 50 both open.
  • the drive element has only one or more clockwise helical grooves 24 on the left end of the drive element, on which the closed left panel 48 hangs, and the drive element has only one or more counter-clockwise helical grooves on the right end of the drive element, on which the closed right panel 50 hangs.
  • the dual curtain assembly 1 comprises a rotatable drive element 22 wherein at least one helical structure 24 is formed on the outer surface 26 of the drive element 22 ; curtain drive elements 36 A and 36 B having a corresponding structure that communicates with the helical structure 24 to move the curtain supports axially along the drive element 22 when the drive element 22 is rotated and; a rotation assembly 33 for rotating the drive element 22 .
  • the helical structure 24 is a helical groove and the corresponding structure is a tooth. While the helical structure 24 is shown in FIGS. 27-30 as a helical groove, the helical structure is not limited to a groove. Similarly, the corresponding structure discussed below in some embodiments is a tooth but is not limited to being a tooth.
  • the curtain support includes an outer curtain outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A and an inner curtain drive element 36 B as shown in FIGS. 27-30 and explained further below.
  • the curtain assembly 1 may further comprise an outer curtain 44 A and an inner curtain 44 B; the outer curtain 44 A is suspended from the rotatable drive element 22 while the inner curtain 44 B is suspended from hooks 17 in carrier tracks 12 and 81 that move along the support guide 11 .
  • the rotatable drive element 22 comprises at least one drive element 22 having opposing distal end portions 35 , 36 , where the distal end having the motor can be referred to as the motor end 58 and the other distal end can be referred to as the bearing end 59 , wherein at least one helical groove 24 is formed in either a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction on the outer surface 26 of the drive element 22 extending from one distal end portion 35 , 36 of the drive element 22 to the opposing distal end portion 35 , 36 of the drive element 22 .
  • the outer curtain 44 A and inner curtain 44 B may be composed of a single continuous panel of fabric that moves back and forth across the drive element 22 to the deployed position (covering the window 34 ) and to the stored position (not covering the window 34 ).
  • the outer curtain 44 A is a blackout curtain
  • the inner curtain 44 B is a sheer curtain.
  • Using a blackout curtain with a sheer curtain to cover the same window 34 allows the user to use the sheer curtain when some light is desired and then also to use the blackout curtain when no light is desired.
  • the blackout curtain may be stored and the sheer curtain may be deployed, if some light is desired and privacy is needed.
  • the blackout curtain may be deployed and the sheer curtain may be deployed when no light is desired.
  • the blackout curtain may be stored and the sheer curtain may also be stored, when light is desired and privacy is not needed.
  • the dual curtain assembly 1 disclosed herein allows for these combinations of positions for the outer curtain 44 A (blackout curtain) and the inner curtain 44 B (sheer curtain) as shown in FIGS. 27-30 .
  • FIG. 27 illustrates a curtain assembly 1 when the outer curtain 44 A is a blackout curtain in the deployed position and the inner curtain 44 B is a sheer curtain in the deployed position. Therefore, in FIG. 27 , the window 34 is covered by the outer curtain 44 A or the blackout curtain and the inner curtain 44 B.
  • FIG. 28 illustrates a curtain assembly 1 when the outer curtain 44 A is a blackout curtain in the stored position and the inner curtain 44 B is a sheer curtain in the deployed position. The window 34 is covered by the sheer curtain and the blackout curtain is stored in this instance.
  • FIG. 29 illustrates a curtain assembly 1 when the outer curtain 44 A is a blackout curtain in the stored position and the inner curtain 44 B is a sheer curtain in the stored position. The window 34 is left uncovered in this instance.
  • FIG. 30 illustrates the preferred embodiment curtain assembly 1 when the outer curtain 44 A is a blackout curtain in the deployed position and the inner curtain 44 B is a sheer curtain in the deployed position. Therefore, in FIG. 27 , the window 34 is covered by the outer curtain 44 A or the blackout curtain and the inner curtain 44 B. Further, the outer curtain has the stationary end attached to the end bracket 54 and the movable end wrapped around the other end bracket 54 on the distal end. There is also a cut away area to show the position of an external power supply 43 .
  • the curtain assembly 1 includes a rotatable drive element 22 .
  • FIGS. 31 and 32 show the rotatable drive element 22 and its components in greater detail.
  • Both the outer curtain 44 A and the inner curtain 44 B are connected to the rotatable drive element 22 by the outer curtain outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A or the inner curtain attachment drive element 5 or various attachment and suspension elements as explained below.
  • the rotation assembly 33 which rotates the drive element 22 moves these attachment drive elements which are connected to the curtains 44 A and 44 B separately across the drive element 22 .
  • the rotatable drive element 22 is designed to be installed above a window 34 similar to a traditional curtain rod.
  • drive element 22 is mounted on axles 52 that are located and secured in the end brackets 54 .
  • the end brackets 54 are adapted for connection with a window frame, sash or wall.
  • the end brackets 54 may also include a rubber mounting disk 13 that is compressed when the drive element 22 is installed to hold the drive element 22 firmly in place and minimize noise.
  • the drive element 22 is connected to a rotation assembly 33 for rotating the drive element 22 wherein the rotation of the drive element 22 moves the outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A and the inner curtain drive element 36 B separately across the helical groove 24 of the drive element 22 .
  • the rotation assembly 33 may be a draw cord 72 connected to the drive element 22 or a motor 82 .
  • the drive element 22 may be rotated manually.
  • a draw cord 72 as shown in FIGS. 27-29 may be connected to the drive element 22 such that the drive element 22 can be manipulated manually to rotate when it is desired to deploy or store the curtains 44 A or 44 B.
  • the use of pull cords 72 is well known in the art.
  • the drive element 22 may also be connected to a motor 82 , which can be used to rotate the drive element 22 .
  • the motor 82 may be mounted either inside or outside the drive element 22 . In one embodiment, the motor 82 is mounted inside the drive element 22 and generally concealed from plain view. Components including axles 52 and bearings 94 may also be located inside the rotatable drive element 22 .
  • a slip ring 28 may be used to transfer current from the power supply 43 external to the drive element 22 to the motor 82 in the drive element 22 as shown in FIG. 32 .
  • batteries 84 in a battery tube 86 may be used as shown in FIG. 31 to power the motor 82 .
  • the batteries 84 in the battery tube 86 may be in a spring loaded sleeve to assist with loading and unloading batteries 84 from the battery tube 86 .
  • the motor drive adapter 27 as shown in FIG. 59 may also be used to securely attach or connect the motor 82 to the drive element 22 .
  • the motor housing 53 fits tightly against the drive element 22 and turns the drive element 22 when the motor output shaft 87 is held in end bracket 54 to prevent it from turning.
  • the user may push a button 98 on a remote control 96 to turn on the motor 16 to rotate the drive element 22 such that the sequence selected curtain 44 A or 44 B moves across the drive element 22 between a stored position and a deployed position depending on the user's preference.
  • the remote control 96 and button 98 are shown in FIGS. 27-29 .
  • the remote control may respond to a voice command and send a signal to the motor controls, which then causes the motor 82 to rotate the drive element 22 .
  • the curtain assembly 1 may also include a remote control 96 having a control board which generates a signal when the user makes a selection on the remote control 96 .
  • the control board has a transmitter which can wireless communicate with a receiver which is remotely located from the transmitter.
  • the receiver may be located in the drive element 22 .
  • the receiver receives the transmitted signal from the transmitter and transmits it to the motor 82 , which will cause the motor 82 to turn on, rotate the drive element 22 , and moves one of the curtains 44 A or 44 B.
  • the outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A or the inner curtain drive attachment element 36 B is engaged on the drive element 22 and moves across the drive element 22 to either a deployed or stored position while the other curtain 44 A or 44 B remains in place.
  • the stationary curtain 44 A or 44 B will be pulled into engagement with the helical groove 24 and move across the drive element 22 to a new position.
  • the rotatable drive element 22 is preferably cylindrical in shape as shown in FIGS. 31 , 32 , 34 , and 59 , which shows the drive element 22 having an inner tube, referred to as an inner drive element 9 , and an outer tube or sleeve 63 .
  • the shape of inner drive element 9 and an outer tube or sleeve 63 of the drive element 22 are not limited and can be non-circular.
  • the rotatable drive element 22 may be tri-lobed. In this case the drive element is a spiraled tube having creases that a ball bearing can ride in.
  • the drive element 22 may vary in size.
  • the drive element 22 may be the width of the window 34 or it may be wider than the window 34 .
  • the diameter of the drive element 22 is no limitation on the diameter of the drive element 22 other than space needed inside a room.
  • the drive element 22 is configured to mount a motor 82 inside the drive element 22 rather than mounting the motor 82 outside the drive element 22 . Using the inside of the drive element 22 to conceal the motor 82 may give a more aesthetically pleasing design for a curtain assembly 1 or 20 . Any number of materials may be used to fabricate the drive element 22 provided the drive element 22 can support the weight of the outer and inner curtains 44 A, 44 B.
  • the drive element 22 comprises a guide structure 24 , such as a helical groove, over at least one or more portions of the length of the drive element 22 .
  • the drive element 22 has opposing distal end portions 35 , 59 and may be any length along the longitudinal axis 60 of the drive element 22 .
  • the longitudinal axis 60 of the drive element 22 is shown in FIGS. 27-30 .
  • the length of the guide structure along the drive element 22 is a factor in determining how far the curtain 44 A or 44 B will travel across the drive element 22 , i.e., the entire length of the drive element 22 as opposed to some shorter section of the drive element 22 .
  • the drive element 22 has at least one helical groove 24 that is formed in either a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction on the outer surface 26 of the drive element 22 extending from one distal end portion 35 , 59 of the drive element 22 to the opposing distal end portion 35 , 59 of the drive element 22 .
  • FIG. 49 illustrates a left hand drive element 22 in which the helical groove 24 is in a clockwise direction and also illustrates a right hand drive element 22 in which the helical groove 24 is in a counterclockwise direction.
  • the drive element 22 may have two helical grooves 24 , one formed in the clockwise direction and one formed in the counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 59 .
  • a drive element 22 having a drive element 22 with helical grooves 24 in both directions is particularly useful for center closing curtains 46 as explained below.
  • the drive element 22 may have two helical grooves 24 in the same direction, where the inner drive attachment element 36 B has two teeth 5 a and 5 b spaced 180 degrees apart and the outer drive attachment element 36 A has two teeth 4 a and 4 b spaced 180 degrees apart, such that tooth 4 a , and tooth 5 a , engages one of the helical grooves and tooth 4 b , and tooth 5 b , engages the other helical groove at the same time, respectively, so as to add stability with respect to driving Drive attachment element 36 A, and 36 B, respectively.
  • the drive element preferably has four helical grooves 24 , two clockwise helical grooves 24 and two counterclockwise helical grooves 24 as shown in FIG. 59 .
  • a cross-sectional view of the rotatable drive element having four helical grooves 24 , two clockwise helical grooves and two counterclockwise helical grooves is shown in FIG. 59 .
  • Helical grooves are preferably spaced approximately 180 degrees apart.
  • the clockwise helical grooves 24 and the counterclockwise helical grooves 24 preferably opposed each other and are spaced 180 degrees apart.
  • the profile of the helical grooves 24 is self-centering to allow the first outer drive tooth 4 a and the first inner drive tooth 5 a to traverse the intersection of the clockwise helical groove and the counter clockwise helical groove without binding.
  • the helical groove 24 forms a path through the drive element 22 of the drive element 22 as shown in FIGS. 27-30 .
  • the drive element 22 rotates, one of the curtains 44 A or 44 B is pulled along the helical groove 24 across the drive element 22 into a deployed or stored position. Both the clockwise and the counterclockwise helical grooves 24 will cause the curtain 44 A or 44 B to move axially across the drive element 22 when the drive element 22 rotates and the curtain drive elements 36 A or 36 B are engaged with the helical groove 24 .
  • the helical grooves 24 may be formed by forming grooves into the outer surface 26 of the drive element 22 such that the grooves are recessed from the outer surface 26 of the drive element 22 .
  • the helical grooves 24 may be formed as protrusions that project or bulge from the outer surface 26 of the drive element 22 .
  • the protrusions may be formed any means, for example, by winding material around the outer surface 26 of the drive element 22 .
  • the angle of the helical groove 24 may vary and therefore, may differ in the amount of time that it takes to travel across the drive element 22 .
  • a helical groove 24 with a larger angle may create a shorter path for the curtain 44 A, 44 B to travel and result in a faster moving curtain 44 A or 44 B for a given rotational speed of the drive element.
  • the angle of the helical grooves 24 may vary along the drive element 22 such that the curtain 44 A, 44 B may move at different speeds along the drive element 22 , for a given rotational speed of the drive element, if desired.
  • the angle of the helical groove 24 preferably varies from 30 degrees to 60 degrees and is most preferably 45 degrees.
  • the drive element 22 may be formed from a drive sleeve or outer tube 63 that is sized to fit around a portion of an inner drive element 9 , which can be, for example, an inner tube 61 .
  • the drive sleeve has at least one helical groove 24 in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction formed on the outer surface of the sleeve.
  • the drive element 22 must be able to translate the torque from the rotation assembly to axially movement of the curtain support or attachment elements 36 A, 36 B across the drive element 22 , and the drive sleeve may be made from a high lubricity material.
  • the drive sleeve can be secured to the inner drive element 9 such that the sleeve does not slide up or down the drive element 22 or rotate around the inner drive element 9 . It may also be desired to remove the sleeve from the inner drive element 9 and replace it with another sleeve.
  • Using a sleeve to form the drive element 22 has the advantage that the helical groove 24 or the length of the drive element 22 may be easily changed by removing the sleeve and replacing it without fabricating a new drive element 22 .
  • the curtain assembly 1 may include at least one outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A connected to the drive element 22 and has a drive teeth 4 a and 4 b that communicates with the helical groove 24 to move the outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A axially along the drive element 22 when the drive element 22 is rotated.
  • the outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A is connected one end of the outer curtain 44 A.
  • the curtain assembly 1 may include at least one inner drive attachment element 36 B connected to the drive element 22 and has a drive teeth 5 a and 5 b that communicates with the helical groove 24 to move the inner drive attachment element 36 B axially along the drive element 22 when the drive element 22 is rotated.
  • the inner drive attachment element 36 B is connected one end of the inner curtain 44 B.
  • FIGS. 45-47 show the front and cross-sectional views of the outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A as well as the drive teeth 5 a and 5 b .
  • Both the first outer drive tooth 5 a and the second outer drive tooth 5 b are configured to communicate with the helical groove 24 of the drive element 22 .
  • the first outer drive tooth 5 a and the second outer drive tooth 5 b are positioned inside the outer drive attachment element 36 A which shows the angle ⁇ of one drive tooth and both the angles are 45 degrees.
  • FIGS. 39-41 show the front and cross-sectional views of an embodiment of an inner drive attachment element as well as the drive teeth 4 a and 4 b .
  • Both the inner drive tooth 4 a and the inner drive tooth 4 b are configured to communicate with the helical groove 24 of the drive element 22 .
  • the inner drive tooth 4 a and the inner drive tooth 4 b are positioned inside the drive attachment element which shows the angle ⁇ of one drive tooth and both the angles are 45 degrees.
  • the inner carrier attachment post 31 is located at a portion of the inner drive attachment element designed to interconnect with a carrier in the inner curtain carrier track 81 .
  • FIGS. 36-38 show the front and cross-sectional views of an alternative inner drive attachment element 36 B as well as the drive teeth 4 a and 4 b .
  • Both the inner drive tooth 4 a and the inner drive tooth 4 b are configured to communicate with the helical groove 24 of the drive element 22 .
  • the inner drive tooth 4 a and the inner drive tooth 4 b are positioned inside the drive attachment element which shows the angle ⁇ of one drive tooth and both the angles are 45 degrees.
  • the inner carrier attachment post 31 can be the same as the outer carrier attachment post 6 of FIGS. 45-47 designed to interconnect with a carrier in the outer curtain carrier track 12 , and the attachment points of the inner curtain can attach via hooks to the receiver for hooks 99 .
  • the outer curtain outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A and the inner curtain drive element 36 B are ring-shaped and slide over the drive element 22 . Although a different construction may be used for the outer curtain outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A and the inner curtain drive element 36 B, they are be able to connect to the appropriate ends of the outer curtain 44 A and the inner curtain 44 B and engage the helical groove 24 and move across the drive element 22 .
  • the outer curtain outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A is preferably provided with a slot or a hole 99 into which a traditional curtain hooks or pins can be used to connect the ends and upper edge of the outer curtain 44 A to the appropriate attachment element.
  • FIG. 34 illustrates an example of the hole 99 and a pin hook 14 on an outer curtain idler attachment element 67 A.
  • a traditional curtain ring is used.
  • the inner curtain 44 B is suspended by S-hooks 17 in inner curtain carrier track 81 in support guide 11 .
  • Curtain pins, hooks and rings are well known in the art to hang curtains 44 A, 44 B.
  • the drive tooth 5 a on the outer drive attachment element 36 A and the drive tooth 4 a on the inner drive attachment element 36 B may have the same construction.
  • the outer drive tooth 5 a and the inner drive tooth 4 a are both designed to engage with the helical groove 24 of the drive element 22 to drive the curtain 44 A or 44 B across the drive element 22 .
  • the drive tooth 5 a is formed on an angle inside the body of the outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A. The angle is specifically designed to engage the helical groove 24 on the drive element 22 .
  • a design consideration is to maximize the contact between the rotating drive element 22 and the outer drive attachment element 36 A and/or inner drive attachment element 36 B to carry the weight of the curtain 44 A or 44 B.
  • the outer curtain outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A and the drive teeth 5 a and the inner curtain drive attachment element 36 B teeth and the inner curtain teeth 4 a are adjustable.
  • the adjustability of these components allow the user of the curtain assembly to set the correct timing on the location of the outer curtain drive attachment element(s) 36 A and inner curtain drive attachment element(s) 36 B in relationship to the helical grooves 24 .
  • curtain support is an outer curtain outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A and an inner curtain drive attachment element 36 B, other embodiments for the curtain support may be used as well.
  • the curtain assembly 1 may further comprise a plurality of outer curtain idler attachment 67 A connected to the rotatable drive element 22 for sliding movement along the drive element 22 wherein the adjacent ends of the outer curtain 44 A that are not connected to the outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A are suspended from the drive element 22 using one or more outer idler attachment elements 67 A.
  • the outer curtain 44 A has the movable end connected to the outer drive attachment element 36 A.
  • the non-movable end of the outer curtain 44 A can be attached to the end bracket 54 .
  • Outer idler attachment elements 67 A may be used to suspend the remaining attachment points of outer curtain 44 A to the drive element 22 .
  • the outer idler attachment elements 67 A are connected to the rotatable drive element 22 as shown in FIGS. 31-32 and 34 - 35 .
  • An enlarged view of the outer idler attachment 67 A is shown in FIGS. 42-44 .
  • the outer idler attachment 67 A may be shaped similar to the outer drive attachment element 36 A and inner drive attachment element 36 B.
  • the outer idler attachment 67 A can have a smooth bore to allow free movement along the drive element 22 of the tube as the curtain 44 A is moved or may have a tooth on each outer idler attachment 67 A to assist in the movement of the curtain 44 A.
  • outer idler attachments are also linked to the outer curtain carriers 69 by the insertion of the outer carrier attachment post 6 on the outer idler attachment elements 67 A into the aperture 55 on outer curtain guide carrier 69 .
  • the outer current carriers are then positioned in the outer curtain carrier track 12 in the support guide 11 . This prevents the outer curtain idler attachment 67 A from rotating or binding the rotation of the element 22 .
  • the outer curtain idler attachment 67 A are preferably provided with a slot or a hole 99 into which a traditional curtain hook or pin can be used to attach the ends of the outer curtain 44 A to the outer curtain idler attachment.
  • FIG. 42 illustrates an example of this hole 99 and a pin hook 14 on an outer curtain idler attachment 67 A.
  • the inner curtain 44 B can have the stationary end connected to the end bracket 54 and other end attached to the inner drive attachment element 36 B.
  • the inner curtain carrier track 81 and hooks 17 may be used to suspend the remaining attachment points of the inner curtain 44 B to the inner curtain carrier track 81 of the support guide 11 along the axis of the drive element 22 .
  • the outer curtain 44 A is connected to the outer drive attachment element 36 A and the inner curtain 44 B is attached to the inner drive attachment element 36 B. This arrangement ensures that the outer curtain 44 A and inner curtains 44 B drive attachment elements 36 A and 36 B are linked together on the same drive element 22 and they are able to move in sequence across the drive element 22 .
  • the curtain assembly 1 preferably includes at least one outer driver stall area 100 positioned to one end of the drive element 22 to engage and disengage the outer drive attachment element 36 A from the helical groove 24 of the drive element 22 .
  • the curtain assembly 1 also preferably includes at least one inner driver stall area 15 positioned on the distal end of the drive element 22 that is configured to hold the inner curtain drive element 36 B in place while the outer drive attachment element 36 A moves through the drive element 22 .
  • FIGS. 33-34 show an outer driver stall area 100 at one distal portion 35 , 59 of the drive element 22 .
  • FIG. 51 shows the inner driver stall area 15 at the opposing distal end 35 , 59 of the drive element 22 .
  • FIG. 49 shows a rotatable drive element 22 having an outer driver stall area 100 at each distal end portion of the drive element 22 and an inner driver stall area 15 positioned in between the two stall areas s 100 .
  • the rotatable drive element 22 shown in FIG. 49 will accommodate the outer curtains 44 A and inner curtains 44 B, as center closing curtains.
  • the outer driver stall area 100 is a section of the drive element 22 along the drive element 22 without a helical groove 24 formed on the outer surface 26 of the drive element 22 .
  • the outer driver stall area 100 interrupts the movement of the outer curtain 44 A or the inner curtain 44 B along the helical groove 24 therefore allowing the curtain assembly 1 to change which attachment element (either the outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A or the inner curtain drive element 36 B) is engaged with the helical groove 24 .
  • the outer driver stall area 100 also serves to collect or provide a space for the outer curtain idler attachment elements 67 A as well as the outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A. For example, when the outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A is engaged and moves through the drive element 22 , it will reach the outer driver stall area 100 at the end of the drive section. The outer driver stall area 100 stops the movement of the outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A in the helical groove 24 and temporarily stores the outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A.
  • the outer curtain idler attachment elements 67 A that are holding the remaining adjacent end of the curtain 44 A are pushed by the outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A and ultimately stack up in the outer driver stall area 100 until the outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A becomes disengaged with the helical groove 24 and will remain stalled until the drive element 22 rotates in the opposite direction. As this disengagement occurs, the outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A pushes against the outer curtain idler attachment 67 A in the outer driver stall area 100 which moves the inter-curtain engager 49 toward the end bracket 54 .
  • the inner curtain 44 B being the correct length, pulls the inner curtain drive element out of the inner driver stall area 15 and into engagement with the helical grooves 24 .
  • the inner driver stall area 15 is positioned at the distal end 59 of the drive element 22 opposite the outer driver stall area 100 and functions to hold the inner curtain drive element 36 B stalled in place. In other embodiments, at least one inner driver stall area 15 is positioned between two outer driver stall areas 100 , as shown in FIG. 49 . The position of the inner driver stall area 15 on the drive element 22 defines the end of the portion of the drive element 22 where the inner curtain drive element 36 B travels on the drive element 22 .
  • FIG. 27 shows a curtain assembly 1 when the outer curtain 44 A (blackout) is in the deployed position and the inner curtain 44 B is also in the deployed position.
  • the outer curtain 44 A is fully extended and the curtain drive attachment element 36 A is in the helical groove 24 at one distal end of the drive element 22 and the inner curtain drive element 36 B is in the inner driver stall area 15 at the same end of the drive element 22 .
  • the drive element 22 starts to rotate in the opposite direction.
  • the rotation of the drive element 22 will move the outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A, attached to outer curtain 44 A, collapsing curtain 44 A into the stored position until outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A moves into the outer driver stall area 100 where it will push against the outer idler attachment elements 67 A in the outer driver stall area and force the inter-curtain engager 49 toward the end bracket 54 creating a tug pressure on the inner curtain 44 B and the inner curtain drive element 36 B because the inner curtain 44 B is the correct length and extended. This tug pressure pulls the inner curtain drive element 36 B out of the inner driver stall area 15 and into engagement with the helical groove 24 positioning the curtains as shown in FIG. 28 .
  • the inner curtain drive element 36 B When the inner curtain 44 B is fully extended, the inner curtain drive element 36 B will move into the inner driver stall area 15 . Because the inner curtain is now extended, the outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A will be pulled into the helical groove 24 prepared to deploy the outer curtain 44 A. Because the inner driver stall area 15 does not have a helical groove 24 , the inner curtain attachment 36 B element is prevented from moving or stalled along the drive element 22 .
  • the outer curtain 44 A will move from the stored position to the fully deployed position and the outer drive attachment element 36 A moves up to and against the inner curtain drive element 36 B in the inner driver stall area 15 and stops the drive element 22 from rotating
  • the curtain assembly 1 will then be as shown in FIG. 27 , with the outer curtain 44 A in the deployed position and the inner curtain 44 B in the deployed position.
  • the drive element 22 will rotate and the outer drive attachment element 36 A moving into the outer driver stall area 100 will pull the inner curtain drive element 36 B from the inner driver stall area 15 thereby engaging the inner curtain drive element 36 B with the helical groove 24 .
  • the inner curtain drive element 36 B will move the curtain 3 through the drive element 22 from the deployed position to the stored position at the other distal end of the drive element 22 until the inner curtain drive element 36 B pushes against the outer drive attachment element 36 A and stops the drive element 22 from rotating. At this point, the inner drive attachment element 36 B is engaged with the helical groove 24 .
  • the curtain assembly 1 preferably includes a support guide 11 wherein the guide means facilitates the movement of the outer and inner curtains 44 A, 44 B along the drive element 22 without misalignment.
  • the support guide 11 may also assist with the spacing of the curtain panels when the outer curtain 44 A or the inner curtain 44 B is fully extended in the deployed position.
  • the support guide 11 is an elongated pair of channels positioned parallel to the rotatable drive element 22 .
  • the support guide 11 is shown in several of the figures, including an end view in FIG. 48 .
  • the inner curtain carrier track 81 and the outer curtain carrier track 12 are the same part but are numbered differently and discussed differently because their functions are different.
  • the inner curtain carriers 93 have apertures 55 where an inner carrier attachment post 31 on the inner curtain drive element 36 B is inserted at one end of the inner curtain and an inner carrier attachment post 31 on the inter-curtain engager 49 is inserted on the other end.
  • the remaining inner curtain carriers 93 have S-hooks 17 inserted into the aperture 55 as known in the art.
  • the outer drive attachment element 36 A and the outer curtain idler attachment 67 A preferably have a hanger pin hole 99 wherein the pin hooks 14 are connected to the attachment elements and support the outer curtain 44 A. Further, these attachment elements 36 A and 67 A to the outer curtain 44 A are guided and held from rotation by the insertion of the outer carrier attachment posts 6 into the apertures 55 in curtain carriers 69 riding in the outer curtain carrier track 12 in support guide 11 .
  • This arrangement provides the user with the option of manually operating the movement of the curtains 44 A or 44 B across the drive element 22 .
  • the user may decide to manually operate the curtain assembly 1 .
  • the user could turn off the motor 82 and rotate the drive element 22 manually by using the pull cord 72 .
  • the motor 82 for the curtain assembly 1 may be programmed from the factory with a preset number of drive element 22 revolutions to move the curtain the width of the window 34 opening. However, there are a variety of reasons why this preset number of revolutions may change. For example, the drive element 22 may be shortened to accommodate a narrower window 34 .
  • the initial setup of the motor 82 may be able to count the number of revolutions the drive element 22 makes to fully open and fully close the curtains 44 A or 44 B. This may be accomplished by a setup routine where pressing a program button 98 on a remote control 96 once to start the motor 82 moving the curtain 44 A, 44 B and then pressing the button 98 another time to stop the movement which will store the number of revolutions the curtain 44 A, 44 B has moved.
  • the number of revolutions can be confirmed by pressing the program button 98 a third time, which will reverse the motor 16 and move the curtain 44 A, 44 B in the opposite direction. Pressing the program button 98 a fourth time will stop the curtain 44 A, 44 B, compare the counts, and set a new count in the memory to complete the set up routine. If the program button 98 on the remote control 96 is not pressed the inner time, the motor 82 will run until the preset count is reached, then the motor 82 will shut off. If the number of revolutions is ever lost, the controls can reset a zero position when the outer curtain drive attachment element 36 A stops the drive element 22 from rotating when the outer curtain 44 A is fully deployed, as shown in FIG. 52 or when the outer curtain 44 A and the inner curtain 44 B are fully stored and the inner curtain drive element 36 B stops the drive element 22 from rotating, as shown in FIG. 54 .
  • the drive element 22 stops rotating when the inner driver attachment element 36 B and the outer driver attachment element 36 A are brought into contact at either end of the drive element.
  • the inner driver attachment element 36 B and the outer driver attachment element 36 A are brought into contact, the inner driver attachment element 36 B and the outer driver attachment element 36 A bind together and their teeth bind in the drive element's grooves.
  • the interconnection of the inner driver attachment element 36 B and the outer driver attachment element 36 A to the support guide 11 in opposite orientations helps to cause this binding.
  • the controller board senses that the driver element is no longer rotating and stops running the motor.
  • the stall area 100 and/or 15 prevents one of the inner driver attachment element 36 B and the outer driver attachment element 36 A from moving down the drive element 22 .
  • the axial force (down the rotational axis of the rotating drive element) binds the stalled driver to the still-driving driver.
  • This coupled with the weight of the curtain hanging from the outer driver and the interconnection of the inner driver attachment element 36 B and the outer driver attachment element 36 A to the support guide, causes the driver whose teeth are still engaged to the tube to bind up with the rotational drive element.
  • this driver is being torqued so as to try and rotate around the axis of rotation and prevented from such rotation by the support guide, which stalls the motor and signals the controller board to stop running the motor.
  • the dual curtain assembly mounted in rubber mounting disk 13 increases the sensitivity of motion such that a person can pull on the stored or deployed curtain and activate the motor to move the curtain in the opposite direction from the last movement.
  • the motor controls will count the number of revolutions and when the predetermined count is matched it will shut the motor down.
  • FIGS. 49 and 50 An alternative embodiment of the dual curtain assembly 1 is shown in FIGS. 49 and 50 in which the outer curtain 44 A and the inner curtain 44 B are center closing curtains.
  • a center closing curtain is composed of two fabric panels, a right panel and a left panel, that meet in the center of the window 34 to close and cover the window 34 .
  • the outer curtain 44 A is a center closing blackout curtain that is in the deployed position and the inner curtain 44 B is a center closing sheer curtain that is also in the deployed position.
  • the outer curtain 44 A is a center closing blackout curtain that is in the stored position and the inner curtain 44 B is a center closing sheer curtain that is in the deployed position.
  • the drive element 22 of the drive element 22 preferably has four helical grooves 24 , two formed in the clockwise direction and two formed in the counterclockwise direction.
  • the opposing helical grooves 24 shown in FIG. 59 create the correct movement of the center closing curtains with one motor 82 turning the drive element 22 in one direction.
  • FIG. 59 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the rotatable drive element according to one embodiment of the curtain assembly showing the four helical grooves formed on the outer surface of the drive element.
  • FIG. 59 also shows an enlarged perspective view of the rotatable drive element according to one embodiment of the curtain assembly showing the four helical grooves formed on the outer surface of the drive element.
  • the curtain assembly 1 has a left outer drive attachment element 36 A, a right outer drive attachment element 36 A, a left inner drive element 36 B and a right inner drive attachment element 36 B as shown in FIGS. 49 and 50 .
  • the left outer drive attachment element 36 A is connected to one end of the left panel of the outer curtain 44 A.
  • the right outer drive attachment element 36 A is connected to one end of the right panel of the outer curtain 44 A.
  • the left inner drive element 36 B is connected to an adjacent end of the left panel of the inner curtain 44 B and the opposite end of the inner curtain is attached to the end bracket 54 .
  • the right inner drive attachment element 36 B is connected to adjacent end of the right panel of the inner curtain 44 B and the opposite end of the inner curtain is attached to the end bracket 54 .
  • FIG. 49 shows an embodiment of a rotatable drive element 22 in which the outer curtain 44 A and the inner curtain 44 B are both center closing curtains.
  • the inner driver stall area 15 is configured to hold the left inner n drive element 36 B in place while the left drive attachment element 36 B moves through the drive element 22 .
  • the same inner driver stall area 15 is also configured to hold the right inner drive attachment element 36 B in place while the right inner drive attachment element 36 B moves through the drive element 22 .
  • Alternative embodiments can have two separate inner driver stall area 15 .
  • FIG. 49 illustrates that the left and right inner drive attachment elements 36 B will meet in the center 42 of the window 34 when the outer curtain 44 A is deployed and the inner curtain 44 B is stored to minimize light leakage. Therefore, the single inner driver stall area 15 in some embodiments is wide enough to fit both the left inner curtain drive element 36 B and the right inner curtain drive attachment element 36 B.
  • FIGS. 63A-63L show flowcharts implemented by the control system for specific embodiments of the invention.
  • a system having two horizontal moving curtains or draperies made from dissimilar materials can display each of the two curtains individually, using a common drive system.
  • the drive system can be operated manually by, for example, a pull cord or a draw rod, and can be motorized.
  • the horizontal movement of the curtain or drapery is accomplished by one or more grooves, such as one or more helical grooves, formed on the outer surface of a rotating element, such as a roll shade tube, to move the curtain or drapery horizontally when the tube rotates.
  • the drive element can also utilize a sleeve over a tube, such that the sleeve has the one or more grooves and rotating the tube rotates the sleeve.
  • the sleeve and tube can be the same material or different materials.
  • a sleeve made of non-metallic material over a metallic tube can provide the strength of a metallic tube with a low friction non-metallic surface of the sleeve material to interconnect with the attachment elements.
  • the curtains or draperies are suspended by loosely fitting attachment elements that freely traverse longitudinally along the tube with a protrusion or protrusions on the inside of the drive element fitted into the helical grooves in the rotating element.
  • the remaining attachment elements are loose fitting where the curtain materials can be moved independently (freely) along the tube to cover or uncover the opening as needed.
  • This drive system can be used on shade systems referred to as a single set of shades, where a single set of shades traverse the same tube and can be stored to the right or the left of the opening.
  • This drive system can also be used on a center opening set of shade systems, where the left hand and right hand sets of shades open from the middle of the opening and the shades are stored to either side of the opening when the shades are open.
  • the drive mechanism for the two draperies can be linked together such that a common drive system can move each curtain individually and/or together.
  • the shades can be moved by rotating the drive element, which in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 62-77 , is a tube.
  • the tube can be motorized so that a motor drives the tube.
  • the system can be designed such that the tube can be manually rotating the drive element. Specific embodiments can allow both manual and motorized driving of the tube.
  • a magnetic attachment mechanism can be incorporated such that one shade can be manually moved by disconnecting a magnet from the drive element.
  • the system can be designed such that the magnet of the magnetic attachment mechanism is automatically engaged when the magnets are moved slowly enough when the magnets are proximate to each other, and when the magnets are moved rapidly with respect to each other when the magnets are proximate to each other the magnets will not engage.
  • the proximity of magnet 124 and magnet 135 , and their orientation with respect to each other are the primary factors as to whether or not the magnets engage each other so as to couple the outer driver and inner driver.
  • the speed of passing is also a factor.
  • Magnet 124 is allowed to pivot about an axis while magnet 135 is held relatively stationary at some pre-determined angle.
  • the opposite poles of the magnets When the opposite poles of the magnets are proximate, they engage. As the pivoting magnet is moved past the relatively stationary magnet, the opposite poles are force passed each other (by virtue of the relatively stationary magnet being pushed into the “cup” mechanism, and the pivoting magnet continuing its linear travel along the rotating element's rotational axis. As the edges of the magnets pass each other, they suddenly repel each other. The pivoting magnet then turns its other pole toward the stationary magnet. When the magnets are in this configuration and the movement is reverse, they maintain this repelled state until the pivoting magnet reaches a position where the edges of the magnets again align. In this scenario, the proximity is very much larger than when the magnets repelled. Thus, the system has been “re-set” and is prepared to engage the magnets again.
  • the outer driver can either drive away and not stop, or drive away, stop, return to some intermediate position and pick up the inner driver, and then drive away.
  • This intermediate position can be defined in the software, and can be set by the user. This intermediate position is where the magnets are proximate to the point that the force between them can move the inner driver out of the cup.
  • the magnets maintain a repelling force while the swivel magnet is moving to the open position.
  • Speed is still a factor, but in specific embodiments, speed is not the only factor as to whether the out driver couple sot the inner driver.
  • the magnets are switching between a repelling state and an attracting state by using the magnetic field between poles (around the edges of the physical magnet) to pivot the swivel magnet in and out of attraction.
  • both draperies can be moved as one of the shades to be moved manually with a rod or the shade, and once the movement is complete, the motor can rotate the drive element or the drapery drive tube can be manually rotated with a draw cord.
  • both draperies can be moved as appropriate via the motor, and can be moved together with the motor, and one of the draperies can be moved by the motor or by hand.
  • a specific embodiment can allow the sheer drapery to be manually moved by conventional mechanism, such as with a rod or by hand, where the sheer drapery can be slid along the track much like with a conventional curtain rod.
  • two curtains such as a sheer drapery and a blackout drapery
  • a sheer drapery and a blackout drapery can be operated such that neither are covering the window, the sheer drapery is covering the window, or both the sheer drapery and the blackout drapery are covering the window. This can be reversed if the sheer and the blackout draperies are reversed.
  • the sheer drapery can be translucent and the blackout drapery can be opaque.
  • One or more grooves such as helical grooves, that intercoupled with the attachment elements that are driven by the one or more grooves to move the draperies can be formed into the drapery or drive element or formed into a sleeve that is positioned over the drive element. Both clockwise and counter clockwise grooves can be formed into the same drive element or sleeve.
  • all drive components, controls, and the power source can be internal to the drapery tube or drive element. Storing the drive components, the controls, and the power supply internal to the support tube can efficiently utilize the space required for a motorized shade, can reduce or eliminate the need for belt and track assemblies used in current technology, and can also eliminate the need for a motor mounting on one end of the shade assembly.
  • the drapery system can incorporate one or more guide tracks for one or both of the two draperies, where both draperies are driven by a common driver.
  • Specific embodiments employ the drive system with a center opening shade system, where the single sets of shades meet in the middle of the opening.
  • the black-out shades can compress the stored sheer shades and overlap with the sheer shades such that no space between the shades is visible and the system does not allow light to show through into the room.
  • the design of the system can allow a simple cut-down ability, by, for example, removing an end cap and cutting the drapery tube.
  • the ability to easily cut down the length of the tube allows the system to fit into narrower windows.
  • Embodiments can prevent a gap in the center of the window with an open center system using dual tubes sets of shades.
  • center opening sets of shades can have a motorized drive element and one motor, where movement of the curtains on the drive element in opposite directions (e.g., left to right and right to left) can be accomplished by having grooves having opposite handed rotation (e.g., right vs. left, or clockwise vs. counter clockwise) on the drive element and rotating the motor in the same direction.
  • the motorized drive element or sleeve can have double formed helixes in both the clockwise and counterclockwise direction.
  • clockwise grooves on the portion of the drive element on one side of center and counterclockwise grooves on the drive element on the other side of center can be used to move the curtain on one side of center in a first direction and the curtain on the other side of center in the opposite direction of rotation of the drive element.
  • the drive element can then be rotated in the opposite direction to move the curtains in the opposite direction.
  • an embodiment can have one motor, one controller, and one power supply to drive the drive element on both sides of center.
  • the drive element can be used on either side of center and can, therefore, reduce the need to keep two types of drive element in stock and to keep same organized.
  • such drive elements with two clockwise and counterclockwise grooves can be used for right hand, left hand, and/or center opening shade systems, by selection of the appropriate drive and lead attachment elements.
  • the motorized assembly can be powered by a battery pack internal to the drive elements 114 and 115 , a battery tube 101 attached to an end bracket, a battery tube 101 attached to the wall of a structure with a bracket 106 , or a battery tube 101 attached somewhere else.
  • the draperies are hung from the outer drapery clips 119 , which are positioned and moved in the cover track 111 , track 111 i , and the inner draperies are hung from the inner drapery clips 118 which are positioned and moved in the cover track 111 track 111 o .
  • FIGS. 64-69 and 78 - 77 Although a center open track assembly is shown in FIGS. 64-69 and 78 - 77 , the right hand side of the assembly shown in FIGS. 64-69 and 76 - 77 can be for a right hand drapery and the left hand side of the assembly shown in FIGS. 64-65 and 76 - 77 can be for a right hand drapery, within the intent of this disclosure.
  • the drapery assembly can be mounted over an opening with brackets as shown, or via a variety of methods, as known in the art.
  • tubes 114 , 115 have a keyed insert 127 into which a bearing 128 fits.
  • the bearings are permanently mounted on the end plates 112 on an extruded hole 140 .
  • the bearing allows tubes 114 , 115 to rotate with minimal friction.
  • a drive gears and shaft assembly 129 connects each keyed insert 127 to the other, through the center of the extruded hole 140 on the end brackets 112 . In this way, rotation of one of the tubes 114 , 115 will cause the rotation of the other tube 114 , 115 .
  • FIGS. 70-74 which show a top view of the inner curtain driver 22 with a portion of the cover track 11 cut away
  • the inner drivers 122 and 123 , outer drivers 120 and 121 , and inner driver cups 125 and 126 all work together to connect and disconnect the outer drapery from the inner drapery.
  • Such connection and disconnection utilizes magnets and control of their relative orientation, and location, and movement of the outer drivers either below a critical speed or above the critical speed during a certain portion of the connecting and disconnecting process.
  • the outer drivers 120 and 121 have a small pivoting magnet 124 that works with a corresponding inner driver 122 and 123 that has a stationary magnet 135 . When connected, magnet 124 and magnet 135 face each other with opposite poles.
  • the inner driver 122 , 123 As the outer drivers 120 , 121 drive toward the center of the assembly (end brackets 112 ), the inner driver 122 , 123 is pushed along until it reaches a cut-out 141 in the guide extrusion. Within the cut-out 141 sits the inner driver cups 125 and 126 .
  • the outer drivers 120 and 121 press the inner drivers 122 , 123 against the protruding leg of the inner driver 122 and 123 , and the force of the outer drivers 120 and 121 push the inner drivers 122 and 123 into the cups 125 or 126 .
  • the magnets 124 and 135 are sheared apart during this movement.
  • the outer driver 120 or 121 then continues to move with respect to the inner driver 122 or 123 , and the pivoting magnet is repelled by the inner driver's magnet 135 (see FIG. 70 ).
  • the outer driver 120 or 121 can either drive away quickly (above a critical speed and the magnets being in a repelling state) and leave the inner driver 122 or 123 behind (see FIG. 71 ), or drive back slowly (below a critical speed and the magnets being in an attraction state) and pick up the inner driver 122 , 123 allowing the magnets 124 and 135 to align and attach (see FIG. 72 ).
  • the magnets 124 and 135 will re-align depending on the speed with which the outer driver 120 or 121 moves with respect to the inner driver 122 or 123 and which relative orientation of the magnets are in.
  • Magnets 124 and 135 are sufficiently weak such that as soon as the magnets start pulling the inner drapery to open, the force overcomes the magnetic attraction of the magnets, disengaging magnet 124 from magnet 135 , such that the outer driver 120 or 121 slides forward a small distance and engages the inner driver hook 138 moving the inner driver 122 or 123 to travel the rest of the distance to open the inside drapery (see FIG. 73 ).
  • both the inner and outer curtains are moved back towards the center and the position where the curtains are fully closed and hard stopped (see FIG. 70 ).
  • the two magnets 124 and 135 are mechanically separated with the inner driver 122 or 123 pushed into the cutout in the track 141 and in the cup 125 or 126 with the swivel magnet 124 turned approximately 180 degrees from the stationary magnet 135 .
  • the inner driver 122 or 123 with the hook 138 and stationary magnet 135 are pushed into a plastic cup 125 or 126 , the inner driver 122 , 123 is shifted out of the pathway of the outer driver 120 or 121 that is holding the swiveling magnet 124 .
  • the outer driver 120 or 121 which is attached to the outside curtain, can be moved fast enough with respect to the inner driver 122 , 123 that the swiveling magnet 124 does not have enough time to attract the inner driver 122 or 123 with the stationary magnet 135 , and, consequently, the magnet 124 and the magnet 135 does not get attached and the inner curtain is left behind in the closed position.
  • the structure of the assembly shown in FIGS. 64-77 can be reconfigured such that the outer curtain is left in the closed position when the inner curtain driver is moved at a speed above the critical speed past the outer curtain driver to open the inner curtain and leave the outer curtain in the closed position.
  • a modification can be applied to center open, right open, and left open curtain systems.
  • Such an embodiment can have a sheer curtain as the outer curtain and a blackout curtain as the inner curtain, or other pairs of curtains, as known in the art. Having the sheer curtain as the outer curtain can allow the curtain system to take up less space, e.g. protrude away from the window a smaller distance, and also allow the sheer curtain to close with the blackout curtain and allow the blackout curtain to be closed with the sheer open.
  • FIGS. 64-77 can be used to create one or more of the following: A system for the horizontal movement of at least one set of at least two vertical curtains or draperies that have a common drive element driven by the rotation of a helix in the outer surface of a rotatable tube applying a horizontal movement force on at least one drive element attached to the drapery and guided by at least one guide rail, where there are at least one drive attachment element and magnets are used to select the draperies to move.
  • a horizontal moving set of curtains or draperies made from dissimilar materials and can be operated individually with a common rotating drive system.
  • aspects of the invention may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a computer.
  • program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types.
  • program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types.
  • the invention may be practiced with a variety of computer-system configurations, including multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable-consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Any number of computer-systems and computer networks are acceptable for use with the present invention.
  • embodiments of the present invention may be embodied as, among other things: a method, system, or computer-program product. Accordingly, the embodiments may take the form of a hardware embodiment, a software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware. In an embodiment, the present invention takes the form of a computer-program product that includes computer-useable instructions embodied on one or more computer-readable media.
  • Computer-readable media include both volatile and nonvolatile media, transient and non-transient media, removable and nonremovable media, and contemplate media readable by a database, a switch, and various other network devices.
  • computer-readable media comprise media implemented in any method or technology for storing information. Examples of stored information include computer-useable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other data representations.
  • Media examples include, but are not limited to, information-delivery media, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile discs (DVD), holographic media or other optical disc storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, and other magnetic storage devices. These technologies can store data momentarily, temporarily, or permanently.
  • the invention may be practiced in distributed-computing environments where tasks are performed by remote-processing devices that are linked through a communications network.
  • program modules may be located in both local and remote computer-storage media including memory storage devices.
  • the computer-useable instructions form an interface to allow a computer to react according to a source of input.
  • the instructions cooperate with other code segments to initiate a variety of tasks in response to data received in conjunction with the source of the received data.
  • the present invention may be practiced in a network environment such as a communications network.
  • a network environment such as a communications network.
  • Such networks are widely used to connect various types of network elements, such as routers, servers, gateways, and so forth.
  • the invention may be practiced in a multi-network environment having various, connected public and/or private networks.
  • Communication between network elements may be wireless or wireline (wired).
  • communication networks may take several different forms and may use several different communication protocols. And the present invention is not limited by the forms and communication protocols described herein.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Curtains And Furnishings For Windows Or Doors (AREA)
  • Power-Operated Mechanisms For Wings (AREA)
  • Transmission Devices (AREA)
  • Operating, Guiding And Securing Of Roll- Type Closing Members (AREA)
  • Blinds (AREA)
  • Milling Processes (AREA)
US13/843,617 2012-09-17 2013-03-15 Method and apparatus for linked horizontal drapery panels having varying characteristics to be moved independently by a common drive system Abandoned US20140076505A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

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US13/843,617 US20140076505A1 (en) 2012-09-17 2013-03-15 Method and apparatus for linked horizontal drapery panels having varying characteristics to be moved independently by a common drive system
PCT/US2013/060203 WO2014043712A1 (en) 2012-09-17 2013-09-17 Method and apparatus for linked horizontal drapery panels having varying characteristics to be moved independently by a common drive system

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US201261702093P 2012-09-17 2012-09-17
US13/843,617 US20140076505A1 (en) 2012-09-17 2013-03-15 Method and apparatus for linked horizontal drapery panels having varying characteristics to be moved independently by a common drive system

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US13/843,617 Abandoned US20140076505A1 (en) 2012-09-17 2013-03-15 Method and apparatus for linked horizontal drapery panels having varying characteristics to be moved independently by a common drive system
US13/842,586 Active 2033-07-16 US9095907B2 (en) 2012-09-17 2013-03-15 Drapery tube incorporating batteries within the drapery tube, with a stop for facilitating the loading and unloading of the batteries
US13/841,732 Abandoned US20140076115A1 (en) 2012-09-17 2013-03-15 Method and apparatus for cutting one or more grooves in a cylindrical element
US14/029,210 Active US9095908B2 (en) 2012-09-17 2013-09-17 Rotatable drive element for moving a window covering
US14/719,438 Active US9615687B2 (en) 2012-09-17 2015-05-22 Rotatable drive element for moving a window covering
US15/439,071 Active US10874242B2 (en) 2012-09-17 2017-02-22 Rotatable drive element for moving a window covering

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US13/842,586 Active 2033-07-16 US9095907B2 (en) 2012-09-17 2013-03-15 Drapery tube incorporating batteries within the drapery tube, with a stop for facilitating the loading and unloading of the batteries
US13/841,732 Abandoned US20140076115A1 (en) 2012-09-17 2013-03-15 Method and apparatus for cutting one or more grooves in a cylindrical element
US14/029,210 Active US9095908B2 (en) 2012-09-17 2013-09-17 Rotatable drive element for moving a window covering
US14/719,438 Active US9615687B2 (en) 2012-09-17 2015-05-22 Rotatable drive element for moving a window covering
US15/439,071 Active US10874242B2 (en) 2012-09-17 2017-02-22 Rotatable drive element for moving a window covering

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US (6) US20140076505A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
EP (1) EP2895036B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JP6238320B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CN (1) CN104684441B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AU (1) AU2013315024B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BR (1) BR112015005201A2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (2) CA2884098C (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
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US20140076115A1 (en) 2014-03-20
US9615687B2 (en) 2017-04-11
JP2015531663A (ja) 2015-11-05
WO2014043712A1 (en) 2014-03-20
AU2013315024B2 (en) 2018-08-02
EP2895036B1 (en) 2018-05-02
WO2014043711A1 (en) 2014-03-20
CA3020098C (en) 2021-11-02
US20140076508A1 (en) 2014-03-20
US9095908B2 (en) 2015-08-04
US10874242B2 (en) 2020-12-29
US20140076503A1 (en) 2014-03-20
EP2895036A1 (en) 2015-07-22
CA2884098C (en) 2018-11-20
WO2014043713A1 (en) 2014-03-20
JP6238320B2 (ja) 2017-11-29
CA3020098A1 (en) 2014-03-20
CA2884098A1 (en) 2014-03-20
US20170181562A1 (en) 2017-06-29
AU2013315024A1 (en) 2015-03-26
BR112015005201A2 (pt) 2017-07-04
EP2895036A4 (en) 2016-07-27
US9095907B2 (en) 2015-08-04
CN104684441A (zh) 2015-06-03
CN104684441B (zh) 2018-10-30
US20150272370A1 (en) 2015-10-01

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