Coupling mechanism for use with a roller tube of a window treatment
AssigneeLutron Technology Company LLC
InventorDavid A. Kirby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coupling for a roller tube of a window treatment system may include a body and/or one or more compliant members. The body may include a bore through a rotational axis of the coupling. The body may be configured to be received within the roller tube of the window treatment system. The body may define an outer surface. One or more compliant members may extend at an oblique angle from the outer surface of the coupling. The one or more compliant members may be configured to engage a smooth inner surface of the roller tube. The use of compliant members may enable a rigid connection of the coupling to the smooth inner surface of the roller tube surface, without the use of fasteners.
Claims20
A coupling for a roller tube of a window treatment system, the coupling comprising:
- a body that defines a bore that extends therethrough along a rotational axis, the body configured to be received within the roller tube of the window treatment system, the body defining an outer surface concentric to the bore;
- a first compliant member that protrudes outward from the outer surface at a first oblique angle thereto, wherein the first compliant member is configured to engage an inner surface of the roller tube such that clockwise rotation of the coupling relative to the roller tube is prevented;
- and
- a second compliant member that protrudes outward from the outer surface at a second oblique angle thereto, wherein the second compliant member is configured to engage the inner surface of the roller tube such that counter-clockwise rotation of the coupling relative to the roller tube is prevented;
- wherein the first and second compliant members are removably retained in the body.
A coupling for a roller tube of a window treatment system, the coupling comprising:
- a body defining an outer surface and a cavity recessed from the outer surface;
- a first compliant member that is positioned within the cavity and protrudes outward from the outer surface of the body;
- a second compliant member that is positioned within the cavity and protrudes outward from the outer surface of the body, wherein the first and second compliant members engage an inner surface of the roller tube such that a radial position of the coupling is fixed relative to the roller tube as the roller tube rotates;
- and
- a ring that extends from the body, wherein the ring has a smaller diameter than that of the outer surface of the body, wherein the ring is operatively engaged to a drive assembly of the window treatment system such that the coupling is drivable by the drive assembly.
A coupling for a roller tube of a window treatment system, the coupling comprising:
- a body that defines a bore that extends therethrough along a rotational axis, the body defining an outer surface, a cavity recessed from the outer surface, and further defining a front surface;
- and
- a ring that extends from the front surface of the body along the axis of rotation, the ring operatively engaged to a drive assembly of the window treatment system;
- wherein the cavity retains a spring clip comprising a base and first and second compliant members extending from the base at a respective first angle and a second angle to engage an inner surface of a roller tube of the window treatment system such that a radial position of the coupling is fixed relative to the roller tube as the roller tube rotates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.