# US 2023/0407702 A1 · Manual Window Treatment Having a Floating Chain Tensioner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0407702 A1 - Document ID: US20230407702A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/339,886 - Filed: 2023-06-22 - Published: 2023-12-21 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-24 - Assignees: Lutron Technology Company LLC - Applicants: Lutron Technology Company LLC - Inventors: Evan T. Graham; David A. Kirby; Robert T. Nachtrieb - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230407702A1 ## CPC - E06B 9/78: for direct manual operation, e.g. by tassels, by handles - F16H 7/08: Means for varying tension of belts, ropes or chains (pulleys of adjustable construction F16H55/52) - E06B 9/326: Details of cords, e.g. buckles, drawing knobs - 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 9/74: adapted for selective electrical or manual operation - E06B 2009/785: {by belts, straps, bands, tapes, cords, tassels} - F16H 2007/087: {Sprockets} - F16H 2007/0872: {Sliding members} - F16H 2007/0891: {Linear path} - F16H 2007/0897: {External to internal direction} - 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) - F16H: GEARING ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-22. (canceled) ### Claim 23 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. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the tensioner further comprises a sprocket disposed in the housing and configured to engage the front portion and the rear portion of the drive chain at opposing sides of the sprocket and to rotate when the force is applied to the drive chain. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the sprocket comprises notches configured to engage the drive chain. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the drive chain comprises beads and wherein the notches of the sprocket are configured to receive the beads of the drive chain. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the inner surface of the first clamp and the inner surface of the second clamp are located at opposing sides, respectively, of the sprocket. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first clamp and the second clamp are configured to maintain engagement of the front portion and the rear portion, respectively, of the drive chain with the opposing sides of the sprocket. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the drive chain comprises beads, wherein the sprocket comprises notches configured to receive the beads of the drive chain, wherein the beads of the front portion of the drive chain are configured to slide along the inner surface of the first clamp as the beads of the front portion are received in the notches of the sprocket, and wherein the beads of the rear portion of the drive chain are configured to slide along the inner surface of the second clamp as the beads of the rear portion are received in the notches of the sprocket. ### Claim 30 (depends on 23) The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the tensioner further comprises a first sprocket and a second sprocket each disposed in the housing, and wherein the first sprocket and the second sprocket are each configured to engage the front portion and the rear portion of the drive chain at respective opposing sides of the first sprocket and the second sprocket and to rotate when the force is applied to the drive chain. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the inner surface of the first clamp and the inner surface of the second clamp are adjacent to the opposing sides of the first sprocket, and wherein the first clamp and the second clamp are configured to maintain engagement of the front portion and the rear portion, respectively, of the drive chain with the opposing sides of the first sprocket. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising a third clamp and a fourth clamp disposed in the housing, wherein the third clamp comprises an inner surface along which the first portion and the drive chain passes when the force is applied to the drive chain to operate the window treatment, and wherein the fourth 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. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the inner surface of the third clamp and the inner surface of the fourth clamp are adjacent the opposing sides of the second sprocket, and wherein the third clamp and the fourth clamp are configured to maintain engagement of the front portion and the rear portion, respectively, of the drive chain with the opposing sides of the second sprocket. ### Claim 34 (depends on 23) The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a third clamp and a fourth clamp disposed in the housing, wherein the third clamp comprises an inner surface along which the front portion and the drive chain passes when the force is applied to the drive chain to operate the window treatment, and wherein the fourth 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. ### Claim 35 (depends on 23) The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the drive chain is configured as a loop having a first end and a second end, and wherein the clutch mechanism is coupled to the first end of the loop of the drive chain. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising an end tensioner coupled to the second end of the loop of the drive chain, wherein the tensioner is coupled to the front portion and the rear portion of the drive chain between the clutch mechanism and the end tensioner. ### Claim 37 (depends on 23) The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising: a roller tube that is configured to be supported at opposed ends thereof, wherein the clutch mechanism is configured to be located at an end of the roller tube; and a covering material that is attached to the roller tube, the covering material operable between a raised position and a lowered position via rotation of the roller tube. ### Claim 38 (depends on 23) The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the tensioner is further configured to be affixed to a stationary structure. ### Claim 39 (depends on 23) The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the end tensioner is configured to maintain limited separation between the front portion and the rear portion of the drive chain. ### Claim 40 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 a 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 a 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. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The tensioner of claim 40, further comprising a sprocket disposed in the housing and configured to engage the front portion and the rear portion of the drive chain at opposing sides of the sprocket and to rotate when the force is applied to the drive chain. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The tensioner of claim 41, wherein the drive chain comprises beads, wherein the sprocket comprises notches configured to receive the beads of the drive chain, wherein the beads of the front portion of the drive chain slide along the inner surface of the first clamp as the beads of the front portion are received in the notches of the sprocket, and wherein the beads of the rear portion of the drive chain slide along the inner surface of the second clamp as the beads of the rear portion are received in the notches of the sprocket.