Actuator mechanism for venetian blinds
AssigneeTeh Yor Co., Ltd.
InventorsFu-Lai Yu, Chin-Tien Huang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An actuator mechanism for window coverings, such as, Venetian blinds that eliminates the use of pull cords and tilting wands is provided. The actuator mechanism includes a stop member engageable with at least one of the slats to stop tilting movement thereof and a clutch arrangement between a drive axle and a tilt control mechanism, responsive to the stop member engaging at least one of the slats, to disengage the tilting force applied to a ladder cord supporting the slats.
Claims13
An actuator mechanism for a blind having a head rail, a plurality of slats, and a bottom member the actuator mechanism comprising:
- a rotatable drive axle having a winding drum rotationally coupled therewith;
- a motor spring assembly operatively coupled with the drive axle;
- a raising cord having first end portion adopted to connect with the winding drum and second end portion adapted to connect with the bottom member;
- a ladder cord adapted to connect with the slats and operable to tilt the slats;
- a rotary tilt control mechanism mounted within the head rail, a portion of the ladder cord being secured thereto, the tilt control mechanism adapted to adjust the ladder cord and cause tilting of the slats;
- and
- a clutch arrangement operable to selectively engage the winding drum and the tilt control mechanism, the clutch arrangement having an engaged state and a disengaged state, wherein the tilt control mechanism is driven by rotation of the drive axle to adjust the ladder cord when the clutch arrangement is in the engaged state, and the clutch arrangement is switched from the engaged state to the disengaged state by actuation of a stop arrangement limiting vertical adjustment of the ladder cord, the stop arrangement comprising a first slat of the plurality of slats urged against a second slat of the plurality of slats, the drive axle and the winding drum rotating independent from the tilt control mechanism when the clutch arrangement is in the disengaged state;
- wherein the drive axle respectively receives a first torque from gravity action applied on the bottom member, and a second torque applied by the motor spring assembly opposite to the first torque;
- the second torque applied by the motor spring assembly being adapted to keep the bottom member in stationary equilibrium at a plurality of vertical heights, and to cause rotational displacement of the drive axle and the tilting portion to tilt the ladder cord as the bottom member is moved toward the head rail.
A window covering comprising:
- a head rail;
- a drive unit having a motor spring assembly;
- a rotatable drive axle operatively connected with the motor spring assembly and disposed within the head rail;
- a winding portion coupled with the drive axle, the winding portion rotating along with the drive axle to wind and unwind a raising cord;
- a bottom member connected with the raising cord;
- a tilting portion in selectable engagement with the drive axle, the tilting portion adapted to tilt a ladder cord;
- a plurality of slats disposed between the head rail and the bottom member, the slats being connected with the ladder cord;
- and
- a clutch arrangement having an engaged condition and a disengaged condition, wherein the ladder cord is driven by a rotation of the drive axle when the clutch arrangement is in the engaged condition the clutch arrangement is switched from the engaged state to the disengaged state by actuation of a stop arrangement limiting vertical adjustment of the ladder cord, and the drive axle rotates independent from the tilting portion when the clutch arrangement is in the disengaged condition, the stop arrangement comprising a first slat of the plurality of slats urged against a second slat of the plurality of slats;
- wherein the drive axle respectively receives a first torque from gravity action applied on the bottom member, and a second torque applied by the motor spring assembly opposite to the first torque;
- the second torque applied by the motor spring assembly being configured to keep the bottom member in stationary equilibrium at a plurality of vertical heights, and to cause rotational displacement of the drive axle and the tilting portion to tilt the ladder cord as the bottom member is moved toward the head rail.
An actuator mechanism for a blind having a head rail, a plurality of slats, a raising cord, a ladder cord extending from the head rail and supporting the plurality of slats for tilting movement thereof, a bottom member suspended from the raising cord, an upper end portion of the raising cord secured with the winding drum, and a drive unit operatively connected to the drive axle and adapted to rotate the drive axle in a first direction of rotation, the actuator mechanism comprising:
- a rotatable drive axle disposed within the head rail;
- a winding drum operatively coupled with the drive axle, the winding drum including a cylindrical shaft sleeve;
- a rotary tilt control mechanism mounted within the head rail and adapted to adjust the ladder cord and cause tilting of the slats, wherein the tilt control mechanism includes a pulley around which the ladder cord is wrapped, the pulley comprising a sleeve portion mounted around the shaft sleeve;
- a clutching arrangement operatively engageable with the winding drum and tilt control mechanism, the clutch arrangement including a coil spring having a pair of prongs, the coil spring being mounted around the sleeve portion of the pulley, and the winding drum engages the pair of prongs in a slot proximate the shaft sleeve, wherein the clutch arrangement rotationally disengages the winding drum and the tilt control mechanism in response to actuation of a stop arrangement limiting vertical adjustment of the ladder cord.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.