Classifications

• • 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
  • E06B9/26—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds
  • E06B9/28—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with horizontal lamellae, e.g. non-liftable
  • E06B9/30—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with horizontal lamellae, e.g. non-liftable liftable
  • E06B9/32—Operating, guiding, or securing devices therefor
  • E06B9/322—Details of operating devices, e.g. pulleys, brakes, spring drums, drives
• • 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
  • E06B9/26—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds
  • E06B9/28—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with horizontal lamellae, e.g. non-liftable
  • E06B9/30—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with horizontal lamellae, e.g. non-liftable liftable
  • E06B9/32—Operating, guiding, or securing devices therefor
  • E06B9/322—Details of operating devices, e.g. pulleys, brakes, spring drums, drives
  • E06B2009/3222—Cordless, i.e. user interface without cords
• • 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
  • E06B9/26—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds
  • E06B9/28—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with horizontal lamellae, e.g. non-liftable
  • E06B9/30—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with horizontal lamellae, e.g. non-liftable liftable
  • E06B9/32—Operating, guiding, or securing devices therefor
  • E06B9/322—Details of operating devices, e.g. pulleys, brakes, spring drums, drives
  • E06B2009/3225—Arrangements to aid the winding of cords rollers
• • 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
  • E06B9/26—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds
  • E06B9/28—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with horizontal lamellae, e.g. non-liftable
  • E06B9/30—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with horizontal lamellae, e.g. non-liftable liftable
  • E06B9/32—Operating, guiding, or securing devices therefor
  • E06B9/322—Details of operating devices, e.g. pulleys, brakes, spring drums, drives
  • E06B2009/3225—Arrangements to aid the winding of cords rollers
  • E06B2009/3227—Axially moving rollers
• • 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
  • E06B9/60—Spring drums operated only by closure members

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a window covering that may be raised without the need to apply a force to either a control mechanism or the window covering itself as the window covering is opened.
• the present invention relates to a window covering having a control mechanism configured to exert an upward force on the shade element and bottom rail that is of sufficient magnitude to raise the shade element and bottom rail without additional force being applied by the user during raising.
• Window shades and coverings are found in many applications and used to regulate the amount of light entering a room, and to provide aesthetic appeal to a decor.
• Such window shades and coverings take many forms, including roller shades, Roman shades, Venetian blinds, and cellular shades.
• Conventional cellular or pleated shades utilize cord locks or a transmission mechanism to raise, lower and position the window covering in a desired position. With window coverings utilizing a cord lock, cords run up through the folded fabric, across the inside of a head rail and exit through a locking mechanism.
• Other cellular shades include a transmission mechanism and a continuous loop cord that is pulled by a user to raise and lower the window shade.
• Roman shades and Venetian blinds also tend to include raising cords that are secured to a lower bar or bottom rail.
• Cords present the potential hazard of a child getting caught in or strangled by the exposed control cord.
• Cords also tend to distract from the aesthetics of a window covering in that they extend along the face of the window covering and, when the window shade is opened, must either be wrapped on a hook or just left on the floor.
• window coverings that utilize cord locks the cords also experience substantial wear due to friction against surfaces as a result of raising and lowering of the window covering.
• roller shades which operate in the absence of a cord.
• These roller shades include a wound torsion- spring retraction mechanism in combination with a clutch or locking mechanism mounted with a roller onto which the shade is rolled and collected.
• a roller shade is pulled down by a user to a desired location, where it is locked in place by the clutch or locking mechanism.
• the user typically pulls on a bottom rail of the shade, extending the shade sufficiently to disengage the internal clutch or locking mechanism within.
• the clutch or locking mechanism is disengaged and the user releases the shade, the shade is retracted using the torsion-spring driven retraction mechanism.
• roller shades are only operable with flat shade material which rolls up neatly into a confined location.
• the mechanism utilized in such roller shades is not compatible with other window coverings, such as cellular shades, Venetian blinds, and Roman shades.
• window coverings such as cellular shades, Venetian blinds, and Roman shades.
• a similar lifting mechanism is typically unsuitable in cellular shades, Venetian blinds, and Roman shades.
• the material of the shade element is typically gathered by raising a bottom member, such as a bottom rail, and increasing amounts of weight are gathered on the bottom member as the window covering is raised. The reason for this is that the shade material or shade element increasingly stacks on the bottom rail as the bottom rail rises, which increases the load on the lifting mechanism.
• variable force springs have been used. Such variable force springs are substantially more complicated in use and manufacture. Therefore, there is a need for a window covering raising mechanism for window coverings such as Venetian blinds, cellular shades and Roman shades that is self-raising and overcomes the foregoing problems.
• the window covering is a self-raising window covering that includes a head rail, a shade element, such as a cellular panel, blind slats, or Roman shade material, a bottom rail, at least one raising cord operatively connected at a first end to the bottom rail, and a control mechanism.
• the head rail may define an elongated channel wherein the control mechanism is disposed therein.
• the control mechanism includes a drive axle and a drive unit operatively connected with the drive axle.
• the drive unit which may be a constant force spring, is adapted to provide a substantially constant rotational force on the drive axle.
• At least one cord winding assembly is also provided in co-axial relation with the drive axle.
• the number of cord winding assemblies will be the same as the number of raising cords.
• one cord winding assembly may be adapted to operate with multiple cords.
• the cord winding assembly includes at least one winding drum operatively connected to a second end of the raising cord and having a tapered portion.
• the cord winding assembly also includes a rotatable positioning member for moving the cord winding assembly laterally along the drive axle upon rotation of the positioning member.
• the positioning member is a threaded tubular member connected to the winding drum.
• the cord winding assembly is adapted to translate the rotational force on the drive axle to a raising force on the raising cord, wherein the raising force is greater than a total downward force exerted by the shade element and bottom rail throughout the range of opening and closing.
• the cord winding assembly is rotationally secured with the drive axle by a hub member adapted to engage the cord winding assembly and the drive axle.
• the hub member may be in a sliding relationship with the tapered portion of the cord winding assembly.
• a clutch member or locking member is also operatively connected with the axle and adapted to releasabiy lock the drive axle in a desired position.
• the clutch member comprises a reciprocator disposed coaxially relative to the drive axle and movable between a released position and a locked position, and a spring member connected to the reciprocator and operable to either tighten or relax the hold of the reciprocator on the drive axle.
• the reciprocator is configured to cause the spring member to tighten on the drive axle in the locked position for blocking a rotation of the drive axle against the rotational force applied by the drive unit, and cause the spring member to relax the drive axle in the released position to permit a rotation of the drive axle under the rotational force applied by the drive unit
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly in cutaway, of a preferred embodiment of a window covering according to the present invention
• FIG.2 is an exploded perspective view of the single spring coil drive unit of FIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is a side elevational cross section view of the single spring coil drive unit of FIG. 1 ;
• FIG. 4 is a side elevational cross section view of an alternative single spring coil drive unit
• FIG. 5 is a side elevational cross section view of a double spring drive unit
• FIG. 6 is a side elevational cross section view of an alternative double spring drive unit
• FIG.7 is an exploded perspective view of the cord winding assembly shown in FIG. 1 ; .
• FIG. 8A is a front elevational view of the window covering of FIG.
• FIG. 8B is a front elevational view of the window covering of FIG. 1 in a partially open position and with the head rail in cross section;
• FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a preferred clutch member when the window covering is in a fully raised position;
• FIG. 9B is a cross sectional view of the clutch member of FIG. 9A;
• FIG. 1OA is a perspective view of the clutch member of FIG. 9 A as the user pulls down on the window covering;
• FIG. 1OB is a cross sectional view of the clutch member of FIG. 1OA
• FIG. 1 IA is a perspective view of the clutch member of FIG. 9 A as the user releases the window covering;
• FIG. 1 IB is a cross sectional view of the clutch member of FIG. HA;
• FIG. 12A is a perspective view of the clutch member of FIG. 9 A as the user pulls down on the window covering to release the clutch member;
• FIG. 12B is a cross sectional view of the clutch member of FIG. 12A;
• FIG. 13 A is a perspective view of the clutch member of FIG. 9 A as the window covering self-raises;
• FIG. 13B is a cross sectional view of the clutch member of FIG.
• FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an alterative embodiment of a window covering according to the present invention with a deceleration member
• FIG. 15A is a side elevational cross section view of the deceleration member of FIG. 14 disengaged from one cord winding assembly
• FIG. 15B is a side elevational cross section view of the deceleration member of FIG. 14 engaging one cord winding assembly
• FIG. 15C is a side elevational cross section view of the deceleration member of FIG. 14 when the window covering is fully raised.
• FIGURE 1 an embodiment of a self-raising window covering 10 according to the present invention is shown.
• a head rail 12 defining a channel is provided.
• a pair of drive units, such as spring units 14 and 16 are coaxially mounted about a drive axle 18.
• cord winding assemblies 20 and 22 are mounted on drive axle 18.
• Each of cord winding assemblies 20 and 22 includes a frustoconical winding drum 24 and 26, and a threaded tubular member 32 and 34, respectively.
• Raising cords 28 and 30, which are shown as wound on winding drums 24 and 26, are secured at an end to the winding drums 24 and 26.
• a clutch 36 is also provided and co-axially mounted on the drive axle 18.
• Window covering 10 further includes a shade element, such as cellular shade material 38 and a bottom member, such as bottom rail 40.
• a shade element such as cellular shade material 38
• a bottom member such as bottom rail 40.
• the term "cord” as used may encompass a cord, strip, ribbon, string or any similar flexible elongated elements that are suitable for supporting the suspended shade element, and can be wound or unwound to deploy or retract the shade element.
• a relatively short length of cord 42 can also be provided so that the user can pull down the window covering and, as will be discussed in further detail, release the clutch so that the window covering will retract itself.
• the spring unit 14 comprises a spring casing 42, a spring axle 44, a constant force coil spring 46 and a cover 48.
• the coil spring 46 and the spring axle 44 are secured within the casing 42, which is closed by cover 48.
• a first end 50 of the coil spring 46 is secured to the spring axle 44, which is coaxially connected to the drive axle 18 (FIG. 1).
• the coil spring is configured to provide sufficient rotational force to the drive axle 18 and winding drums 24 and 26 to raise the shade element and bottom rail.
• Other alternative embodiments of spring units are also possible, such as shown in FIGS. 3-6.
• a suitable spring unit 114 shown in FIG. 3 may include a coiled spring member 146 having a first end secured with a first spring axle 142 that connects to the drive axle IS shown in FIG. 1, and a second end secured with a second spring axle 144 that is offset from the first spring axle 142.
• the coiled spring 146 in a relaxed position may be initially wound around the second spring axle 144. As the shade element is pulled downward, the coiled spring 146 may stretch out from the second spring axle 144 and progressively wind around the first spring axle 142.
• This configuration of the spring unit 114 may be suitable when the used coiled spring 146 has a greater length to allow a longer deployment range of the shade element.
• FIG.4 illustrates another suitable spring unit 214, which is similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 except that the second end of the coiled spring does not connect to any second spring axle. Instead, the coiled spring 246 winds on itself at its second end, while the first end 252 of the coiled spring 246 connects to a single spring axle 218 connected to the drive axle 18 shown in FIG. 1.
• spring unit 314 includes an assembly of two coiled springs 346 and 348 that may be used to provide a greater raising force for the shade element.
• the first coiled spring 346 has its first end connected to a first spring axle 344
• the second coiled spring 348 has its first end connected to a second spring axle 345.
• the second end of the first coiled spring 346 and the second end of the second coiled spring 348 respectively connect to a third spring axle 318 located between the first and second spring axles 344 and 345 and connected to the drive axle 18.
• the coiled springs 346 and 348 may respectively stretch out from the first and second spring axle 344 and 345 to progressively wind around the third spring axle 318 to apply an increased raising force on the drive axle 18.
• FIG. 6 the shown embodiment is very similar to that shown in FIG. 5 except that the two coiled springs 446 and 448 that wind on the axle 418 connected to the drive axle do not connect with second spring axles.
• each of the embodiments shown utilizes a spring as the driving mechanism for the drive unit, it should be understood that any suitable mechanism for imparting a rotational force on the drive axle may be utilized.
• the rotational force exerted upon a drive axle 18 causes the cord winding assemblies 20 and 22 to rotate and translate for winding the cords 28 and 30, which thereby raises the shade element 38 vertically toward the head rail 12. Further details on a preferred embodiment of a cord winding assembly are provided with reference to FIG. 7.
• Cord winding assembly 20 is mounted co-axially with the drive axle 18 that passes through a fixed housing comprised of a frame 64 and upper cover 65.
• the cord winding assembly 20 includes a winding drum 24 and a rotational positioning member, such as threaded tubular member 32, fixedly connected at an end of the winding drum 24.
• the cord winding assembly 20 is preferably mounted on the drive axle 18 via a hub member, such as adapter 60 that is configured to transmit rotational movement between the drive axle 18 and the cord winding assembly 20 while allowing a relative translation movement therebetween.
• the adapter 60 may be coaxially mounted inside a central hole of the winding drum 24, and include a through hole for mounting the drive axle 18.
• a peripheral surface of the adapter 60 may be provided with radial portions that contact with ribs protruding radially inward from the surface of the central hole of the winding drum 24.
• the threaded tubular member 32 engages with toothed rollers 66, which are rotatably mounted to frame 64 and bracket 68 fixedly secured in head rail 12. Rotational movements thereby can be transferred between the drive axle 18 and the cord winding assembly 20, while smooth relative translations with reduced frictions are permitted therebetween.
• the engagement via the adapter 60 and the threaded tubular member 32 allows an improved support of the load of the suspended components, e.g. shade element 38 and bottom rail 40.
• the winding drum 24 is tapered and is preferably frustoconical in shape, and may include striations or grooves to improve gripping of the cord 28 wound on the surface of the winding drum 24.
• An end of the raising cord (not shown) is secured towards the larger diameter end 62 of the winding drum 24.
• the cord winding assembly 20 rotates and translates in a direction to wind the raising cord 28, the raising cord is wrapped around increasingly narrower portions of the winding drum 24.
• FIGS. 8 A and 8B the raising operation of the window covering is shown.
• the shade element 38 is fully deployed, as shown in FIG. 8A, the raising cord 28 is fully extended from a wider portion of the winding drum 24.
• the load on the spring units is now described with reference to one of the spring units.
• the load on one spring unit 14 is derived with an adequate scale factor from a momentum M on the drive axle 18 that can be approximated by the product between the suspended weight W, including the weight of the bottom rail plus the amount of shade element 38 stacked thereon, and a winding radius R of the winding drum 24.
• W will increase, and R will decrease because the raising cord 28 winds on increasingly narrower portions of the tapered winding drum 24 that slide with reduced frictions owing to the adapter 60 and threaded tubular member 32 and adapter 60.
• the load M on one spring unit 14 can be kept at a level that varies slightly and can be overcome by the constant force spring 46 (FIG. 2) to fully raise the bottom rail 40 and shade element 38.
• the constant force spring 46 F FIG. 2
• spring units 14 and 16 of constant force thus can be suitably used to raise a suspended weight charge W that increases as it rises.
• the shade element itself may have an effect on the total downward force or suspended weight.
• an inherent upward spring bias to the material may serve to decrease the total downward force.
• the window covering opens, the total weight suspended increases and the total raising force decreases. As such, the rate at which the window cover raises decreases as it nears a fully opened condition.
• the clutch member 36 is provided in order to lock the shade element 38 and bottom rail 40 in a desired position.
• Clutch member 36 is mounted coaxially with the drive axle 18 and is configured to unlock the drive axle 18 as the user pulls down the bottom rail 40 to stretch the shade element 38, and to lock the drive axle 18 when the user releases the bottom rail 40 at the desired height.
• the clutch disengages and allows the bottom rail 40 to be raised by the spring units
• the clutch member 36 includes a casing
• FIGS. 9 A and 9B show the clutch when the window covering 10 is in a fully raised position. Spring 80 is in a relaxed condition with second end 84 in an abutting relationship with protrusion 74. As shown in FIGS.
• the spring units 14 and 16 cause the drive axle 18 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction to bring second end 84 of the spring 80 into engagement with protrusion 74, and thereby loosening spring 80, which permits drive axle 18 to continue rotating and fully opening the window covering.
• Window covering 510 includes a head rail 512 having a pair of spring units 514 and 516 mounted with a drive axle 518.
• Cord winding assemblies 520 and 522 are also provided. Raising cords 528 and 530 pass through shade element 538 and are connected with bottom rail 540.
• at least one deceleration member 550 is provided. Deceleration member 550 is engageable with one cord winding assembly 522 to slow down the rise of the bottom rail 540 as it approaches the head rail.
• FIGS. 15A - 15C The preferred embodiment of the deceleration member 520 is shown in FIGS. 15A - 15C.
• the cord winding assembly 522 In the position of FIG. 15A, the cord winding assembly 522 is disengaged from the deceleration member 550. As the cord winding assembly 522 winds the cord 526, the cord winding assembly 522 also moves towards the deceleration member 550. As the cord winding assembly 522 engages with a plate 552 of the deceleration member 550 as shown in FIG 15B, the rotation of the cord winding assembly 522 causes the plate 552 to rotate.
• the plate 552 is connected to an axle sleeve 554, which is in contact with a decelerating member, such as viscous oil liquid, contained inside a housing 556.
• a decelerating member such as viscous oil liquid
• the sleeve 554 is configured to achieve a resistant contact with the decelerating member to decelerate the rotation of the cord winding assembly.
• protrusions or fins may be provided on the axle sleeve 554. The rate at which the bottom rail is raised by the spring units 514 and 516 is slowed as the bottom rail reaches the head rail so that the bottom rail more smoothly stops at a fully opened position.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Blinds (AREA)
• Operating, Guiding And Securing Of Roll- Type Closing Members (AREA)
• Window Of Vehicle (AREA)
• Special Wing (AREA)
• Curtains And Furnishings For Windows Or Doors (AREA)
• Closing And Opening Devices For Wings, And Checks For Wings (AREA)
• Storage Of Web-Like Or Filamentary Materials (AREA)

Priority Applications (13)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=40259881

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (12)

Cited By (4)

Families Citing this family (11)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (10)

• 2007
  • 2007-07-19 ES ES07796943T patent/ES2381378T3/es active Active
  • 2007-07-19 PL PL07796943T patent/PL2181233T3/pl unknown
  • 2007-07-19 KR KR1020107001069A patent/KR101314077B1/ko active IP Right Grant
  • 2007-07-19 CA CA2693056A patent/CA2693056C/en active Active
  • 2007-07-19 AT AT07796943T patent/ATE550512T1/de active
  • 2007-07-19 DE DE112007000007T patent/DE112007000007T5/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-07-19 EP EP07796943A patent/EP2181233B1/de active Active
  • 2007-07-19 EP EP11195181.0A patent/EP2436869B1/de active Active
  • 2007-07-19 BR BRPI0721879-6A2A patent/BRPI0721879A2/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2007-07-19 AU AU2007229388A patent/AU2007229388B2/en active Active
  • 2007-07-19 WO PCT/US2007/016365 patent/WO2009011681A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2007-07-19 JP JP2010516958A patent/JP5209052B2/ja active Active
• 2011
  • 2011-07-28 RU RU2011131825/12A patent/RU2479704C2/ru active

Patent Citations (3)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events