WO2016029249A1

WO2016029249A1 - Improved winder

Info

Publication number: WO2016029249A1
Application number: PCT/AU2015/000516
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carmelo Joseph Licciardi Di Stefano
Original assignee: Acmeda Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2014-08-29
Filing date: 2015-08-27
Publication date: 2016-03-03

Abstract

A winder assembly, comprising a drive mechanism operable to control the extension and retraction of a blind by rotation about a longitudinal axis of the drive mechanism; and a housing assembly for the drive mechanism, comprising a first housing component mountable relative to a support; a second housing component engageable with the first housing component; and a resilient tensioning component for tightening the engagement between the first housing component and the second housing component.

Description

IMPROVED WINDER

FIELD

[01] The present invention relates generally to a fitting for blind systems, and in particular a winder assembly for controlling the extension and retraction of a screen of a blind system.

BACKGROUND

[02] In this specification where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of the common general knowledge; or known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.

[03] A winder assembly refers to a user-operated blind component (or fitting) that is rotatable for, for example, extending and retracting a window covering such as a window blind. Such fittings typically include several parts including a drive mechanism that is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the drive mechanism, and a housing for the drive mechanism (which can itself be made up of several parts) mounted relative to a support. The drive mechanism typically engages a cord (for example a beaded cord or chain) allowing manual operation of the winder. Operation of the cord causes the drive mechanism to rotate about its longitudinal axis to cause extension or retraction of the window covering by rolling it about a shaft.

[04] The parts of the winder assembly are typically pre-fabricated as separate components before being assembled for installation. In order to permit assembly, several of the parts are usually fabricated in dimensions allowing for a degree of movement or 'play' relative to each other. However, during operation the parts of the winder assembly may move relative to each other, which can increase the overall noise of the system.

[05] It is therefore desired to address the above issue, or at least provide a useful alternative to existing winder fittings. SUMMARY

[06] According an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a winder assembly, comprising: a drive mechanism operable to control the extension and retraction of a blind by rotation about a longitudinal axis of the drive mechanism; and a housing assembly for the drive mechanism, comprising: a first housing component mountable relative to a support; a second housing component engageable with the first housing component; and a resilient tensioning component for tightening the engagement between the first housing component and the second housing component.

[07] The use of a resilient tensioning component allows the parts to be manufactured with looser tolerances, but still fit snugly together when assembled, thereby reducing the overall noise of the system when used. The resilient tensioning is a more efficient way of providing this effect, compared to the use of manual tensioning components such as screws.

[08] The present invention may be used in relation to a variety of housing components.

However, the first housing component may be an adaptor for connection to a longitudinal extrusion for housing a shaft for the blind.

[09] Furthermore, the second housing component may be a drum for housing at least part of the drive mechanism, including a clutch (e.g. including a helical spring) which acts to selectively restrict rotation of the drive mechanism.

[10] In a preferred embodiment, the resilient tensioning component may provide a tightening force along the longitudinal axis of the drive mechanism.

[11] The resilient tensioning component may be provided in a number of ways. For example, a separate resilient component may be used such as a coil spring or a rubber insert. However, the resilient tensioning component is preferably integral with a part of the housing assembly, and in particular may comprise a resilient portion of the first housing component. The resilient portion would be biased when the spring drum is engaged with the extrusion adaptor, thereby providing tension to tighten the engagement between the respective housing components.

[12] In some embodiments, the resilient tensioning component may comprise a central opening allowing passage of the drive mechanism from one side of the first housing component to the other, and the resilient portion of the first housing component may be located radially about the central opening.

[13] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a winder assembly comprising a drive mechanism operable to control the extension and retraction of a blind by rotation about a longitudinal axis of the drive mechanism; and a housing assembly for the drive mechanism, comprising: a first housing component mountable relative to a support; a second housing component engageable with the first housing component; and wherein the first and second housing components snap fit into engagement. This eases assembly at the time of assembly and/or installation.

[14] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a winder assembly comprising a drive mechanism including a wheel for engaging a cord or chain, operable to retract or extend a blind; and a cover for the winder assembly adjacent the wheel, wherein a lower part of the cover has a profile substantially corresponding to the profile of the wheel, thereby allowing the cord or chain to be operated from a wider angle without contacting the cover. This will result in less noise when chain is pulled to one or more sides.

[15] A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the invention is provided below, along with accompanying figures that illustrate by way of example the principles of the invention. While the invention is described in connection with such embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to any embodiment. On the contrary, the scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims and the invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents.

[16] For the purpose of example, numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. The present invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purposes of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the present invention is not unnecessarily obscured.

[17] For the purposes of providing a clear description of the present invention, terms such as "front" and "rear" are used in the below descriptions. This terminology will be understood to be for illustrative purposes only, and does not limit the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[18] Various embodiments/aspects of the invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings in which,

[19] Figure 1 is a partially exploded view of a winder assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, with some parts assembled;

[20] Figure 2 is a partially exploded view of the winder assembly of Figure 1 , with some parts assembled;

[21] Figure 3 is a partially exploded view of the winder assembly of Figure 1, with some parts assembled;

[22] Figure 4 is a front view of a winder assembly; [23] Figure 5 is a section view B-B of the winder assembly of Figure 4; [24] Figure 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the section view of Figure 5; [25] Figure 7 is a front view of a first housing component; [26] Figure 8 is a rear view of the first housing component of Figure 7;

[27] Figure 9 is a section view A-A of the first housing component of Figure 7;

[28] Figure 10 is an enlarged section view B-B of the first housing component of Figure 7;

[29] Figure 11 is an enlarged section view B-B of Figure 10;

[30] Figure 12 is a side view of the winder assembly; and

[31] Figure 13 is a section view A-A of the winder assembly of Figure 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[32] A winder assembly 100, as shown in Figure 1, comprises a drive mechanism and a housing assembly. The housing assembly comprises a number of components, including (in this embodiment) an adaptor 210 mountable relative to a support (not shown), a drum 220 engageable with the adaptor, a cap 230 engageable with the drum and a cover 240. The adaptor 240 is engageable with a longitudinal extrusion (not shown) for housing a rotatable shaft (not shown) for extending and retracting a blind. The extrusion in turn would then be mounted to a support, such as a wall or door or window frame.

[33] A number of different drive mechanisms could be used in accordance with the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, a direct drive mechanism is shown. This comprises chain wheel 310, a first drive member 330, second drive member 340 and a clutch in the form of helical spring 350. As shown, the chain wheel comprises teeth 312 for engaging a bead cord or chain (not shown) for rotating the chain wheel 310. The chain wheel 310 includes a shaft portion 314 for engaging the first drive member 330, which operates to release the clutch 350 and then rotate the second drive member 340. The second drive member 340 is engaged with a shaft (not shown) which rotates to extend or retract the blind. When the blind is in its desired position, and the chain or cord is released, further rotation of the second drive member (e.g. under the weight of the blind) will be prevented by engagement of the clutch 350. Of course, although a direct drive mechanism is described above and shown in the figures, other types of drive mechanisms (e.g. using a planetary arrangement of gears) could be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

[34] Extrusion adaptor 210 comprises fittings 214 for snap engagement with lugs 224 located towards a first end of spring drum 220. Fittings 214 each comprise an opening 215 (see Figure 10) to receive lugs 224 in a snap engaging manner. In should be noted that one of 4 fitting 214 and one of 4 matching opening 215 has a different size to the other fittings and openings (shown in Figure 8 - bottom left fitting), for the sole purpose of fool-proofing assembly of components. Similarly, in a preferred embodiment, spring drum 220 comprises openings 225 (see Figure 2) located towards a second end of spring drum 220 for snap engagement with lugs 234 located on spring drum cap 230. Similar fool-proofing features 235 (see Figure 2) have been added to cap 230 and a matching mating feature also added to the spring drum 220.

[35] In a preferred embodiment, extrusion adaptor 210 comprises one or more fingers 216 adapted for engagement with longitudinal extrusion (not shown). The extrusion is preferably constructed with complementary surfaces for receiving and supporting fingers 216 when inserted into the extrusion.

[36] In use, the chain wheel 310 locates on one side of the extrusion adaptor 210 (the 'front'), and the spring drum 220 and longitudinal extrusion locate on the other ('rear'). The extrusion adaptor 210 further comprises openings 211 to receive threaded members 242 for the simultaneous attachment of the cover 240 on the rear side of the chain wheel 310 and of adaptor 210 to the extrusion. In Figure 8, the openings 211 are shown aligned with the fingers 216.

[37] As shown in the figures, spring drum 220 houses much of the drive mechanism for rotating a central shaft, including the shaft portion 314 of the chain wheel 310, the first drive member 330, second drive member 340 and clutch spring 350.

[38] Extrusion adaptor 210 comprises a central opening 218. When assembled, the shaft potion 314 of chain wheel 310 passes from the front side of extrusion adaptor 210 through opening 218 to the rear side to engage with the rest of the drive mechanism inside spring drum 220. [39] In the preferred embodiment depicted in the figures, extrusion adaptor 210 comprises a resilient tensioning component in the form of a resilient portion 219 of the extrusion adaptor 210. When spring drum 220 is not engaged with extrusion adaptor 210, resilient portion 219 projects rearward along the longitudinal axis of driving mechanism. Resilient portion 219 is able to flex along the longitudinal axis. When spring drum 220 engages with extrusion adaptor 210, resilient portion 219 becomes biased and provides a tightening force along the longitudinal axis of the driving mechanism, as shown by the arrow in Figure 6. The extrusion adaptor 210 may be made of a suitable polymer, such as nylon, to allow this bias to occur, and the resilient portion 219 may be tapered inwardly towards the central opening 218 to assist in providing this bias. Accordingly, the resilient portion 219 of the extrusion adaptor acts as a resilient tensioning component for tightening the engagement between extrusion adaptor 210 and spring drum 220. Tightening force may be translated to other components along the longitudinal axis of the drive mechanism to tighten the engagement of other components.

[40] In the preferred embodiment depicted in the figures, resilient portion 219 is located radially about central opening 218 and comprises a circular inner flange 212a, a circular outer flange 212b and a contact surface 213 between both flanges. Front face of spring drum 220 is shaped to engage with one or more of the inner flange 212a, outer flange 212b or contact surface 213.

[41] In use, a user pulls on a cord to engage chain wheel 310 and rotate shaft portion 314 about longitudinal axis of shaft portion. This rotates a central shaft (not shown) connected to the second drive member 340 in a blind extending or blind retracting direction. As the engagement between one or more components inside spring drum 220 is tightened by the force exerted by resilient portion 219 of extrusion adaptor 210, this action of the user results in less axial movement between said components and hence less noise during operation.

[42] Although the resilient tensioning component has been described above as a resilient portion 219 of the extrusion adaptor 210 located radially about a central opening 218, variations are possible. For example, the resilient tensioning component could be provided by a resilient portion of the spring drum 220, but still be an integral part of that component. The resilient tensioning effect could also be provided to tighten the engagement between different components, for example between the drum 220 and end cap 230. It provides particular advantages where the components snap fit together.

[43] The word 'comprising' and forms of the word 'comprising' as used in this description and in the claims does not limit the invention claimed to exclude any variants or additions.

[44] Modifications and improvements to the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and improvements are intended to be within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1 A winder assembly, comprising: a drive mechanism operable to control the extension and retraction of a blind by rotation about a longitudinal axis of the drive mechanism; and a housing assembly for the drive mechanism, comprising: a first housing component mountable relative to a support; a second housing component engageable with the first housing component; and a resilient tensioning component for tightening the engagement between the first housing component and the second housing component.

2 The winder assembly of claim 1 wherein the resilient tensioning component provides a tightening force along the longitudinal axis of the drive mechanism.

3 The winder assembly of either of claims 1 or 2 wherein the resilient tensioning component comprises a resilient portion of the first housing component, which is biased when the second housing component is engaged with the first housing component.

4 The winder assembly of claim 3, wherein the first housing component includes a central opening allowing passage of the drive mechanism from one side of the first housing component to the other, and wherein the resilient portion of the first housing component is located radially about the central opening.

5 The winder assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second housing component is snap engaged with the first housing component.