Head rail-mounted mini-blind actuator
AssigneeHarmonic Design, Inc.
InventorsDouglas R. Domel, Winston G. Walker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mini-blind actuator has a motor and a housing that holds the motor and a dc battery. The rotor of the motor is coupled to the baton of the mini-blind for rotating the baton and thereby opening or closing the slats of the mini-blind. Alternatively, the rotor is coupled to the tilt rod of the blind to rotate the tilt rod and thereby open or close the slats of the mini-blind. A control signal generator generates a control signal for completing the electrical circuit between the battery and the motor. The control signal can be generated in response to a predetermined amount of daylight or in response to a user-generated remote command signal.
Claims14
A window blind actuator, comprising:
- a window blind having a head rail and a rod rotatably mounted therein, the rod defining an open position and a closed position;
- a sensor for detecting a light signal and generating a control signal in response thereto;
- a coupling engaged with the rod such that movement of the coupling causes rotation of the rod;
- a reversible electric direct current (dc) motor operably engaged with the coupling to move the coupling;
- a dc battery electrically connected to the motor;
- an electronic circuit electrically connected to the light sensor and the battery for processing the control signal from the light sensor to cause the battery to energize the motor to move the rod toward the open and closed positions;
- and
- at least a first travel limiter positioned in the head rail to cause the motor to be deenergized when the rod reaches the open or closed position.
A device for moving an operator of a window covering having slats to move the slats, comprising:
- an actuator including an electric motor and a coupling operably engaged with the motor, wherein the coupling contacts the operator to prevent rotational relative motion between the coupling and the operator, a rotor of the motor being connected to the coupling for rotating the operator in either direction;
- a source of electrical power;
- a control signal generator for generating a control signal to cause the source of electrical power to energize the motor to move the operator and thereby cause the slats to move;
- and
- at least a first travel limiter positioned adjacent the motor to cause the motor to be deenergized when the operator reaches a predetermined position.
A window blind actuator, comprising:
- a window blind having a head rail and a rod rotatably mounted therein, the rod defining an open position and a closed position;
- a sensor for detecting a light signal and generating a control signal in response thereto;
- a coupling engaged with the rod such that movement of the coupling causes rotation of the rod;
- a reversible electric direct current (dc) motor operably engaged with the coupling to move the coupling;
- a dc battery electrically connected to the motor;
- an electronic circuit including a switch electrically connected to the light sensor for receiving the control signal and activating the electronic circuit in response thereto to permit the circuit to cause the battery to energize the motor to move the rod toward the open and closed positions, whereby the electronic circuit is deactivated in the absence of the control signal.
A device for moving an operator of a window covering having slats to move the slats, comprising:
- an actuator including an electric motor and a coupling operably engaged with the motor, wherein the coupling contacts the operator to prevent rotational relative motion between the coupling and the operator, a rotor of the motor being connected to the coupling for rotating the operator in either direction;
- a source of electrical power;
- a control signal generator for generating a control signal;
- and
- an electronic circuit including a switch electrically connected to the control signal generator for receiving the control signal and causing the source of electrical power to energize the motor to move the operator, whereby the electronic circuit is deactivated in the absence of the control signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.