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US 10,829,990 B2Granted
Covering for architectural openings
AssigneeHunter Douglas Inc.
InventorsRichard Anderson, Robert E. Fisher, II, Donald E. Fraser, Steven R. Haarer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cord wrapping mechanism converts linear motion to circular motion for use in coverings for architectural openings. The cord is guided onto a spool.
Claims21
A covering for an architectural opening, the covering comprising:
- a shade material movable between an extended position and a retracted position;
- a lift rod rotatable in a first direction to move said shade material towards said extended position and in a second direction to move said shade material towards said retracted position;
- a drag brake coupled to said lift rod, said drag brake comprising:
- a housing;
- a spool at least partially positioned within said housing and being operatively coupled to said lift rod such that rotation of said lift rod results in rotation of said spool;
- and
- a lock spring including a first end, a second end, and a coiled portion extending between said first and second ends, one of said first end or said second end being fixed relative to said housing, said coiled portion being positioned around an outer surface of said spool such that said lock spring resists rotation of said spool and said lift rod in both said first and second directions;
- wherein a torque required to overcome the resistance to rotation is greater in one of said first and second directions than in the other of said first and second directions.
5 more elements
A covering for an architectural opening, the covering comprising:
- a shade material movable between an extended position and a retracted position;
- a lift rod rotatable in a first direction to move said shade material towards said extended position and in a second direction to move said shade material towards said retracted position;
- a spring motor operatively coupled to said lift rod, said spring motor configured to store energy when said lift rod is rotated in said first direction and to release energy when said lift rod is rotated in said second direction to assist in moving said shade material towards said retracted position;
- and
- a transmission coupled between said spring motor and said lift rod, said transmission including:
- a housing;
- a drive shaft at least partially positioned within said housing and being coupled to an output shaft of said spring motor, said drive shaft having an axial length defined by both a first axial section of said drive shaft and a separate, second axial section of said drive shaft, said drive shaft including a first threaded portion extending along said first axial section of said drive shaft and a second non-threaded portion extending along said second axial section of said drive shaft;
- a driven shaft at least partially positioned within said housing and being coupled to said lift rod, said driven shaft defining a threaded conical surface;
- and
- a transmission cord extending between said drive and driven shafts such that said transmission cord unwraps from one of said drive shaft or said driven shaft and wraps around the other of said drive shaft or said driven shaft as said shade material is moved between said extended and retracted positions;
- wherein said transmission cord wraps around both said first threaded portion and said second non-threaded portion when said transmission cord is fully wrapped around said drive shaft.
8 more elements
A covering for an architectural opening, the covering comprising:
- a shade material movable between an extended position and a retracted position;
- a rotatable element that is rotatable in a first direction to move said shade material towards said extended position and in a second direction to move said shade material towards said retracted position;
- and
- a drag brake configured to resist rotation of said rotatable element, said drag brake comprising:
- a spool operatively coupled to said rotatable element such that rotation of said rotatable element results in rotation of said spool;
- and
- a lock spring positioned relative to said spool such that said lock spring resists rotation of said spool and said rotatable element in both said first and second directions;
- wherein:
- when said rotatable element is rotated in said second direction, a first torque is required to overcome the resistance to rotation applied by said lock spring;
- when said rotatable element is rotated in said first direction, a second torque is required to overcome the resistance to rotation applied by said lock spring;
- and
- said second torque is greater than said first torque.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.