Battery-powered Roman shade system

A shade system comprising:

• first and second brackets for mounting the shade system to a structure;
• a motor drive unit;
• a lift assistance subsystem;
• a roller tube extending from a first end to a second end and defining at least one internal cavity, the roller tube rotatably supported by the first and second brackets, the at least one internal cavity sized and configured to receive the motor drive unit therein;
• a housing extending from a first end to a second end and supported by the first and second brackets, the housing configured to receive, at the first end of the housing, one or more batteries for powering the motor drive unit inside the roller tube, the housing also configured to support the lift assistance subsystem at the second end of the housing, the lift assistance subsystem configured to provide variable lift assistance to the motor drive unit, wherein the first bracket is configured to be coupled to the first end of the roller tube and to the first end of the housing, and the second bracket is configured to be coupled to the second end of the roller tube and to the second end of the housing;
• a battery holder configured to hold the one or more batteries and to be received within the housing;
• and
• a gear assembly configured to mechanically couple the roller tube to the lift assistance subsystem, the gear assembly comprising a first gear coupled to the roller tube, a second gear coupled to the lift assistance subsystem, and a third gear configured to engage the first and second gears, wherein the second bracket is configured to support the gear assembly;
• wherein the motor drive unit is located in the first end of the roller tube, the motor drive unit comprising an end portion configured to be supported by the first bracket, the motor drive unit electrically coupled to the battery holder via electrical wiring that extends from the motor drive unit to the battery holder adjacent to the first bracket.

A shade system comprising:

• first and second brackets for mounting the shade system to a structure;
• a motor drive unit;
• a lift assistance subsystem;
• a roller tube extending from a first end to a second end and defining at least one internal cavity, the roller tube rotatably supported by the first and second brackets, the at least one internal cavity sized and configured to receive the motor drive unit therein;
• a housing extending from a first end to a second end and supported by the first and second brackets, the housing configured to receive, at the first end of the housing, one or more batteries for powering the motor drive unit inside the roller tube, the housing also configured to support the lift assistance subsystem at the second end of the housing, the lift assistance subsystem configured to provide variable lift assistance to the motor drive unit, wherein the first bracket is configured to be coupled to the first end of the roller tube and to the first end of the housing, and the second bracket is configured to be coupled to the second end of the roller tube and to the second end of the housing;
• a battery holder configured to hold the one or more batteries and to be received within the housing;
• and
• a gear assembly configured to mechanically couple the roller tube to the lift assistance subsystem, wherein the second bracket is configured to support the gear assembly;
• wherein the motor drive unit is located in the first end of the roller tube, the motor drive unit comprising an end portion configured to be supported by the first bracket, the motor drive unit electrically coupled to the battery holder via electrical wiring that extends from the motor drive unit to the battery holder adjacent to the first bracket;
• and
• wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are configured such that the shade system is attachable to the structure in at least a first and a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration the roller tube is disposed vertically above the housing, and wherein in the second configuration, the housing is disposed vertically above the roller tube.