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US 5,787,953 AGranted
Cordless apparatus for operating blinds and shades
OwnerJeff A. Jacobsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for cordless operation of blinds and shades. A pair of actuators are in spiral engagement with a spiral wand coupled to a rail mechanism from which the blinds or shades depend. Each actuator is biased into driving engagement with the wand, one of the actuators rotating the wand in one direction when raised or lowered and the other actuator rotating the wand in the opposite direction when raised or lowered.
Claims14
Apparatus for operating horizontal blinds or shades and vertical blinds comprising:
- actuating means coupled to said blinds or shades for selectively moving the same;
- a substantially vertically extending elongated spiral wand having elongated grooves and ridges coupled to said actuating means having a plurality of actuators in spiral engagement therewith, one of said actuators being disposed above the other and each actuator having a one-way bearing assembly mounted therein, the bearing assembly in one actuator rotating in a direction opposite that of the bearing assembly in the other actuator, each of said bearing assemblies being in driving engagement with at least one drive nut encircling said wand and in spiral engagement therewith whereby movement of one actuator along said wand rotates said wand in one direction and movement of the other actuator along said wand rotates said wand in a direction opposite that of the said one actuator, each of said bearing assemblies including a main body portion having a throughbore encircling said wand having elongated grooves and ridges on its throughbore conforming to the grooves and ridges of said wand, each of said bearing assemblies further including a drive nut portion also having a throughbore with elongated grooves and ridges therein conforming to the grooves and ridges of said wand and also having a toothed exterior adapted to engage a flange on the inner wall of said main body portion to drive the same, and biasing means mounted on each of said bearing assemblies biasing said drive nut portions into engagement with said flange.
Apparatus for operating horizontal blinds or shades and vertical blinds comprising:
- actuating means coupled to said blinds or shades for selectively moving the same;
- an elongated spiral wand having a plurality of elongated spiral grooves and ridges coupled to said actuating means having an actuator in spiral engagement therewith, said actuator having drive nut means mounted therein in driving engagement with said wand being adapted to rotate said wand in a single direction when said actuator is moved along said wand in one direction and to allow said wand to slide within said actuator without rotating said wand when said actuator is moved along said wand in a direction opposite said one direction, said drive nut means being biased into driving engagement with said wand by resilient means engaging said drive nut means and said actuator when said actuator is moved in said one direction.
Apparatus for operating horizontal blinds or shades and vertical blinds comprising:
- actuating means coupled to said blinds or shades for selectively moving the same;
- an elongated spiral wand having a plurality of elongated spiral grooves and ridges coupled to said actuating means having an actuator in spiral engagement therewith, said actuator having drive nut means mounted therein in driving engagement with said wand being adapted to rotate said wand in a single direction when said actuator is moved along said wand in one direction and to allow said wand to slide within said actuator without rotating said wand when said actuator is moved along said wand in a direction opposite said one direction, said drive nut means being biased into driving engagement with said wand when said actuator is moved in said one direction, said drive nut means including a toothed portion having a throughbore with grooves and ridges conforming to the grooves and ridges of said wand and in engagement therewith, said actuating means including a flange adapted to engage said toothed portion to rotate the same.
Apparatus for operating horizontal blinds or shades and vertical blinds comprising:
- actuating means coupled to said blinds or shades for selectively moving the same;
- an elongated spiral wand having a plurality of elongated spiral grooves and ridges coupled to said actuating means having an actuator in spiral engagement therewith, said actuator having drive nut means mounted therein in driving engagement with said wand being adapted to rotate said wand in a single direction when said actuator is moved along said wand in one direction and to allow said wand to slide within said actuator without rotating said wand when said actuator is moved along said wand in a direction opposite said one direction, said drive nut means being biased into driving engagement with said wand when said actuator is moved in said one direction;
- a second actuator, said second actuator having drive nut means mounted therein in driving engagement with said wand being adapted to rotate said wand in a direction opposite said single direction when said second actuator is moved along said wand in one direction and to allow said wand to slide within said second actuator without rotating said wand when said second actuator is moved along said wand in a direction opposite said last-mentioned one direction, said drive nut means of said second actuator being biased into driving engagement with said wand when said second actuator is moved in said one direction, said drive nut means of said second actuator including a toothed portion having a throughbore with grooves and ridges conforming to the grooves and ridges of said wand and in engagement therewith, said second actuator including a flange adapted to engage said toothed portion to rotate the same.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.