Manual window treatment having a floating chain tensioner
AssigneeLutron Technology Company LLC
InventorsEvan T. Graham, David A. Kirby, Robert T. Nachtrieb
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A manual drive assembly for a manually-operated window treatment based on a drive chain formed as a loop, may incorporate one or more intermediate tensioners disposed between two ends of the loop. The loop may be formed between a manual clutch mechanism coupled to the window treatment and an end tensioner. The one or more intermediate tensioners may serve to limit slack in the loop such that sides of the loop cannot be pulled to create a large loop, for example, having a gap of four inches or greater, between the hanging sides of the cord.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a drive chain;
- a clutch mechanism configured to be coupled to a window treatment, the clutch mechanism and the drive chain coupled such that a front portion and an opposing rear portion of the drive chain extend from the clutch mechanism, wherein the clutch mechanism is configured to rotate when a force is applied to the drive chain to operate the window treatment;
- and
- a tensioner coupled to the front portion and the rear portion of the drive chain, the tensioner comprising:
- a housing with opening that permit the front portion and the rear portion of the drive chain to pass through the housing;
- and
- a first clamp and a second clamp disposed in the housing, wherein the first clamp comprises an inner surface along which the front portion of the drive chain passes when the force is applied to the drive chain to operate the window treatment, and wherein the second clamp comprises an inner surface along which the rear portion of the drive chain passes when the force is applied to the drive chain to operate the window treatment;
- wherein the tensioner is configured to be disposed at more than one location along the front portion and the rear portion of the drive chain.
A tensioner for a drive assembly configured for use with a window treatment, the tensioner comprising:
- a housing with openings that permit a front portion and a rear portion of a drive chain to pass through the housing;
- and
- a first clamp and a second clamp disposed in the housing, wherein the first clamp comprises an inner surface along which the front portion of the drive chain passes when a force is applied to the drive chain to operate the window treatment, and wherein the second clamp comprises an inner surface along which the rear portion of the drive chain passes when force is applied to the drive chain to operate the window treatment;
- wherein the tensioner is configured to be disposed at more than one location along the front portion and the rear portion of the drive chain.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.