# US 2014/0196857 A1 · Braking mechanism for a roller shade controller, control mechanism comprising same and control handle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196857 A1 - Document ID: US20140196857A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/158,335 - Filed: 2014-01-17 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-17 - Assignees: Altex Decoration LimitéE; S.P. Engineering S.R.L. - Applicants: Altex Decoration Limitee - Inventors: Gianni BERGAMASCHI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196857A1 ## CPC - E06B 9/42: Parts or details of roller blinds, e.g. suspension devices, blind boxes (brackets or adjustable mountings for roller blinds and drawable curtains A47H1/13) - E06B 9/50: Bearings specially adapted therefor - E06B 9/60: Spring drums operated only by closure members - E06B 9/78: for direct manual operation, e.g. by tassels, by handles - E06B 9/84: against dropping - E06B 9/90: for immobilising the closure member in various chosen positions - E06B 2009/785: {by belts, straps, bands, tapes, cords, tassels} - E06B 2009/905: {using wrap spring clutches} - E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00) ## Abstract A braking mechanism for a roller shade control system. The braking mechanism includes a stationary member and a rotating member rotatable relative to the stationary member. The rotating member is rotatable in a winding direction or an unwinding direction. The braking mechanism also includes a connecting assembly operatively connecting the stationary member and the rotating member. The connecting assembly frictionally engages the rotating member when the rotating member is rotated in the unwinding direction and is frictionally disengaged from the rotating member when the rotating member is rotated in the winding direction. A control mechanism includes such a braking mechanism and an operating handle for operating the control mechanism. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A braking mechanism for a roller shade control system, the braking mechanism comprising: a stationary member; a rotating member rotatable relative to the stationary member, the rotating member being rotatable in a winding direction or an unwinding direction; a connecting assembly operatively connecting the stationary member and the rotating member, the connecting assembly frictionally engaging the rotating member when the rotating member is rotated in the unwinding direction and being frictionally disengaged from the rotating member when the rotating member is rotated in the winding direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The braking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the stationary member comprises at least one recess formed therein, the at least one recess having a bottom wall extending between a first extremity having a first depth and a second extremity having a second depth greater than the first depth, and the connecting assembly comprises a braking element located within at least one of the at least one recess, each braking element being sized and shaped to engage the bottom wall and the rotating member at the first extremity and to disengage the bottom wall from the rotating member at the second extremity. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The braking mechanism of claim 2, wherein the braking element is a roller. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The braking mechanism of claim 2, wherein the stationary member comprises a plurality of recesses symmetrically arranged around a center of the stationary member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The braking mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a biasing element for biasing the connecting assembly towards an engaged configuration in an absence of rotation of the rotating member. ### Claim 6 A control mechanism for a roller shade, the control mechanism comprising: a tubular core onto which the roller shade is wrappable, the tubular core being rotatable in a winding direction or an unwinding direction; an actuation assembly comprising an actuation member, the actuation assembly being operable to rotate the tubular core in the winding direction or the unwinding direction; and a braking mechanism operatively connected to the actuation assembly, the braking mechanism comprising: a stationary member; a rotating member rotatable relative to the stationary member, the rotating member being operatively connected to the tubular core to be rotatable in the winding direction or the unwinding direction simultaneously with the tubular core; and a connecting assembly operatively connecting the stationary member and the rotating member, the connecting assembly frictionally engaging the rotating member when the rotating member is rotated in the unwinding direction and being frictionally disengaged from the rotating member when the rotating member is rotated in the winding direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The control mechanism of claim 6, wherein the actuation member comprises an operating handle at at least one of a first end of the actuation member or a second end of the actuation member, the operating handle having a main body operatively connected to the actuation member by a dampening mechanism for dampening relative motion between the main body and the actuation member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The control mechanism of claim 7, wherein the dampening mechanism comprises a resilient member having a movable end connected to the actuation member, the movable end being displaceable within the main body, and the resilient member being constrained within the main body such that the resilient member resists against relative motion of the actuation member with respect to the main body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The control mechanism of claim 6, wherein the stationary member comprises at least one recess formed therein, the at least one recess having a bottom wall extending between a first extremity having a first depth and a second extremity having a second depth greater than the first depth, and the connecting assembly comprises a braking element located within at least one of the at least one recess, each braking element being sized and shaped to engage the bottom wall and the rotating member at the first extremity and to disengage the bottom wall from the rotating member at the second extremity. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The control mechanism of claim 9, wherein the braking element is a roller. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The control mechanism of claim 9, wherein the stationary member comprises a plurality of recesses symmetrically arranged around a center of the stationary member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The control mechanism of claim 6, further comprising a biasing element for biasing the connecting assembly towards an engaged configuration in an absence of rotation of the rotating member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The control mechanism of claim 12, wherein the biasing element comprises a weight element comprising at least one of the roller shade and a weighted hem bar. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The control mechanism of claim 6, further comprising a gear assembly for multiplying rotations of the tubular core with respect to displacements of the actuation member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The control mechanism of claim 14, further comprising a bi-directional torsion spring operatively connected to at least one gear of the gear assembly for dampening rotational movement thereof. ### Claim 16 An operating handle for operating a control mechanism for a roller shade having an actuation member, the operating handle comprising: a body operatively connectable to the actuation member; and a dampening mechanism for dampening relative motion between the body and the actuation member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The operating handle of claim 16, wherein the dampening mechanism comprises a resilient member having a movable end connected to the actuation member, the movable end being displaceable within the body, and the resilient member being constrained within the body such that the resilient member resists against relative motion of the actuation member with respect to the body.