WINDOW COVERING SYSTEM AND WINDOW COVERING CONTROL ASSEMBLY THEREOF

• US 20170211318A1
• Filed: 01/15/2017
• Published: 07/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nien Made Enterprises Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nien Made Enterprises Company Limited
• Inventors: NIEN, KENG-HAO, CHEN, LIN
• Granted Patent: US 10,302,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/486 Arrangements or adaptations of the spring motor
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/3222 Cordless, i.e. user interface without cords
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/807 Brakes preventing fast screen movement
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/307 Details of tilting bars and their operation
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/322 Details of operating devices, e.g. pulleys, brakes, spring drums, drives operating devices E06B9/68 ; devices of general interest specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material B65H75/34
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/324 Cord-locks cord-locks for curtains A47H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/388 Details of bottom or upper slats or their attachment
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/80 Safety measures against dropping or unauthorised opening; Braking or immobilising devices; Devices for limiting unrolling securing devices or arrangements for direct manual operation E06B9/78
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/18 using electric, magnetic or electromagnetic means suppression of vibrations of rotating systems by use of non-rotating magnetic or electromagnetic means F16F15/03; dynamo-electric devices H02K; control effected upon generator excitation circuit to reduce harmful effects of overloads or transients H02P9/10
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2222/04 Friction
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2222/06 Magnetic or electromagnetic
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2222/12 Fluid damping
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2224/025 Elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2224/045 magnetorheological
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/125 characterised by adjustment means

Abstract

A window covering control assembly is used in a window covering system. The window covering control assembly comprises a driving module and a speed control module, and is provided in the shell, engaged to the weight element for simultaneous operation therewith. The driving module comprises a cord collecting assembly mounted in the shell. The cord collecting assembly is configured to operate in a first direction while a first driving force acting upon the cord collecting assembly such that the weight element descends away from the shell. The first driving force comprises at least a weight of the weight element. The speed control module is positioned corresponding to the driving module. A resistance force is selectively generated between the speed control module and the driving module, and this force reduces an operation speed of the cord collecting assembly in the first direction.

Claims

1. A window covering control assembly for a window covering system, the window covering system comprises a shell and a weight element under the shell, wherein the weight element is operatively configured to ascend close to or descend away from the shell, the window covering control assembly comprises:

a driving module provided in the shell and engaged to the weight element to operate simultaneously with the weight element, wherein the driving module comprises a cord collecting assembly, which is mounted in the shell;

the cord collecting assembly is configured to operate in a first direction while a first driving force acting upon the cord collecting assembly such that the weight element descends away from the shell, wherein the first driving force comprises at least a weight of the weight element; and

a speed control module positioned corresponding to the driving module, wherein a resistance force is selectively generated between the speed control module and the driving module, and wherein an operation speed of the cord collecting assembly in the first direction is reduced when the resistance force is generated between the speed control module and the driving module.

2. The window covering control assembly of claim 1, wherein the cord collecting assembly comprises a cord collecting wheel;

the resistance force is a friction force;

the speed control module comprises a friction member, the friction member is positioned corresponding to the cord collecting wheel;

while the cord collecting wheel is rotating in the first direction, the friction member provides the friction force to the driving module to reduce the rotating speed of the cord collecting wheel.

3. The window covering control assembly of claim 2, wherein the friction member is a restriction spring which comprises two ends and a diameter, wherein one end of the restriction spring is fixed to the shell, and the other end of the restriction spring is a free end;

the diameter of the restriction spring is changed when a position of the free end is changed.

4. The window covering control assembly of claim 3, wherein the speed control module further comprises a connecting shaft, an abutting member and a one-way clutch, wherein the abutting member is sleeved to the connecting shaft and positioned corresponding to the restriction spring, and the one-way clutch is positioned corresponding to the cord collecting wheel, and an outer case of the one-way clutch is coiled by the restriction spring;

wherein the one-way clutch is configured to rotate with respect to the restriction spring when the connecting shaft drives the abutting member to push the free end of the restriction spring to increase the diameter of the restriction spring, and the cord collecting wheel is configured to rotate with the one-way clutch simultaneously such that the cord collecting wheel rotates in the first direction, and the restriction spring is in contact with the outer case of the one-way clutch to generate the restriction force to reduce the rotating speed of the one-way clutch and the cord collecting wheel;

wherein the restriction spring coils tightly around the outer case of the one-way clutch such that the one-way clutch is not rotating when the connecting shaft drives the abutting member to move away from the free end of restriction spring, and the cord collecting wheel is allowed to rotate in a second direction by the one-way clutch.

5. The window covering control assembly of claim 3, wherein the driving module further comprises a driving unit;

wherein the speed control module further comprises a connecting shaft and an abutting member which is sleeved to the connecting shaft and positioned corresponding to the restriction spring, wherein the restriction spring is sleeved to one of the driving unit and the cord collecting wheel;

the cord collecting wheel is configured to rotate with respect to the restriction spring when the connecting shaft drives the abutting member to push the free end of the restriction spring to increase the diameter of the restriction spring;

at the same time, the restriction spring is in contact with the corresponding driving unit or cord collecting wheel which is sleeved by the restriction spring to generate the resistance force and reduce the rotating speed of the cord collecting wheel.

6. The window covering control assembly of claim 5, wherein the driving unit of the driving module comprises a resilient member;

the cord collecting wheel is configured to rotate in a second direction while a second driving force is acting upon the cord collecting wheel, wherein the second driving force is a recovery force from the resilient member, and wherein the first driving force is greater than the second driving force.

7. The window covering control assembly of claim 6, wherein the resilient member is a spiral spring having a winding diameter;

while the cord collecting wheel is rotating in the first direction, the winding diameter reduces;

the friction member is engaged to a connecting shaft to operate simultaneously with the connecting shaft;

the connecting shaft is configured to drive the friction member to contact with the spiral spring to generate the resistance force when the cord collecting wheel begins to rotate in the first direction such that the rotating speed of the cord collecting wheel in the first direction is reduced, wherein the resistance force is not generated when the friction member is not in contact with the spiral spring due to a reduction of the winding diameter while the cord collecting wheel rotating in the first direction and the cord collecting wheel is configured to continue rotating in the first direction by the first driving force.

8. The window covering control assembly of claim 6, wherein the driving unit comprises a driving wheel and a storing wheel positioned adjacent to each other;

the resilient member is a spiral spring having two ends, and the two ends of the spiral spring are respectively positioned corresponding to the driving wheel and the storing wheel;

in an initial state of the spiral spring, the spiral spring winds around the storing wheel and has a winding diameter, and the weight element is at a position closest to the shell when the spiral spring is in the initial state.

9. The window covering control assembly of claim 8, wherein the friction member is positioned corresponding to the spiral spring which winds around the storing wheel, wherein the winding diameter reduces while the cord collecting wheel is rotating in the first direction;

the friction member comprises a adjuster for controlling the friction member between contacting or not contacting the spiral spring;

the adjuster is configured to drive the friction member to contact with the spiral spring to generate the resistance force when the cord collecting wheel begins to rotate in the first direction such that the rotating speed of the cord collecting wheel in the first direction is reduced, wherein the resistance force is not generated when the friction member is not in contact with the spiral spring due to a reduction of the winding diameter while the cord collecting wheel rotating in the first direction and the cord collecting wheel is configured to continue rotating in the first direction by the first driving force.

10. The window covering control assembly of claim 9, wherein the adjuster comprises a connecting shaft, an abutting wheel on the connecting shaft, and a sliding unit;

the friction member is provided in the sliding unit and positioned corresponding to the spiral spring;

the resistance force is generated when the connecting shaft drives the abutting wheel to push the sliding unit to move toward the spiral spring and the friction member is in contact with the spiral spring;

when the diameter of the spiral spring reduces to a predetermined value, the friction member is not in contact with the spiral spring.

11. The window covering control assembly of claim 10, wherein the friction member comprises a biasing member which is in the sliding unit;

a friction surface of the friction member is faced to the spiral spring by the biasing member when the friction member is in contact with spiral spring.

12. The window covering control assembly of claim 9, wherein the adjuster comprises a connecting shaft, a clamping member, and a separating member;

the friction member is provided on one side of the clamping member, wherein the side of the clamping member and the friction member faces to the spiral spring;

the separating member is positioned corresponding to and received by the clamping member and is configured to operate synchronously with the connecting shaft, wherein the separating member defines a distance between the clamping member and center of the spiral spring, and variation of the distance causes the friction member being in contact with the spiral spring to generate the resistance force.

13. The window covering control assembly of claim 12, wherein the clamping member comprises a clamping arm and a contracting member which is provided on one end of the clamping arm to urge the clamping arm to contact with the separating member constantly, wherein the separating member comprises a connecting wheel and a stepped wheel, wherein the connecting wheel is provided on the connecting shaft and connected to the stepped wheel which has a diameter that defines the distance, wherein the stepped wheel comprises at least one concave structure defined from the circumference of the stepped wheel;

the resistance force is generated when the friction member is in contact with the spiral spring as the clamping arm is received in the concave structure due to reduction of the distance.

14. A window covering system, comprising a shell, a weight element, a covering material, at least one lifting cord through the covering material, and a window covering control assembly, wherein the covering material is provided between the shell and the weight element, and one end of the lifting cord is connected to the window covering control assembly, and the other end of the lifting cord is connected to the weight element, wherein the lifting cord controls collection and expansion of the covering material by the window covering control assembly and allows the weight element to descend away or ascend close to the shell, wherein the window covering control assembly comprises:

a driving module provided in the shell and engaged to the weight element to operate simultaneously with the weight element, wherein the driving module comprises a cord collecting assembly, wherein the driving unit and the cord collecting assembly are engaged to move simultaneously, wherein the cord collecting assembly is mounted in the shell, wherein one end of the lifting cord away from the weight element is connected to the cord collecting assembly;

the cord collecting assembly is configured to operate in a first direction which releases the lifting cord while a first driving force acting upon the cord collecting assembly such that the weight element descends away from the shell and the covering material expands, wherein the first driving force comprises at least a weight of the weight element; and

a speed control module positioned corresponding to the driving module, wherein a resistance force is selectively generated between the speed control module and the driving module, and wherein a rotating speed of the cord collecting assembly in the first direction is reduced when the resistance force is generated between the speed control module and the driving module such that a descending speed of the weight element is reduced.

15. The window covering system of claim 14, wherein the cord collecting assembly comprises a cord collecting wheel;

wherein the resistance force is a friction force;

the speed control module comprises a friction member, the friction member is positioned corresponding to the cord collecting wheel;

while the cord collecting wheel is rotating in the first direction, the friction member provides the friction force to the driving module to reduce the rotating speed of the cord collecting wheel.

16. The window covering system of claim 15, wherein the friction member is a restriction spring which comprises two ends and a diameter, wherein one end of the restriction spring is fixed to the shell, and the other end of the restriction spring is a free end;

the diameter of the restriction spring is changed when a position of the free end is changed.

17. The window covering system of claim 16, wherein the speed control module further comprises a connecting shaft, an abutting member and a one-way clutch, wherein the abutting member is sleeved to the connecting shaft and positioned corresponding to the restriction spring, and the one-way clutch is positioned corresponding to the cord collecting wheel, and an outer case of the one-way clutch is coiled by the restriction spring;

the one-way clutch is configured to rotate with respect to the restriction spring when the connecting shaft drives the abutting member to push the free end of the restriction spring to increase the diameter of the restriction spring, and the cord collecting wheel is configured to rotate with the one-way clutch synchronously such that the cord collecting wheel rotates in the first direction to release the lifting cord, and the restriction spring is in contact with the outer case of the one-way clutch to generate the restriction force to reduce the rotating speed of the one-way clutch and the cord collecting wheel;

the restriction spring is configured to coil tightly around the outer case of the one-way clutch when the connecting shaft drives the abutting member to move away from the free end of restriction spring such that the one-way clutch is not rotating, and the cord collecting wheel is allowed to rotate in the second direction by the one-way clutch.

18. The window covering system of claim 16, wherein the driving module further comprises a driving unit;

wherein the speed control module further comprises a connecting shaft and an abutting member which is sleeved to the connecting shaft and positioned corresponding to the restriction spring, wherein the restriction spring is sleeved to one of the driving unit or the cord collecting wheel, wherein the restriction spring is configured to operate simultaneously with the cord collecting wheel;

the cord collecting wheel is configured to rotate with respect to the restriction spring when the connecting shaft drives the abutting member to push the free end of the restriction spring to increase the diameter of the restriction spring;

at the same time, the restriction spring is in contact with the corresponding driving unit or cord collecting wheel which is sleeved by the restriction spring to generate the resistance force and reduce the rotating speed of the cord collecting wheel.

19. The window covering system of claim 18, wherein the driving unit of the driving module comprises a resilient member;

the cord collecting wheel is configured to rotate in a second direction to collect the lifting cord while a second driving force is acting upon the cord collecting wheel, wherein the second driving force is a recovery force from the resilient member, and wherein the first driving force is greater than the second driving force.

20. The window covering system of claim 19, wherein the resilient member is a spiral spring having a winding diameter;

while the cord collecting wheel is rotating in the first direction, the winding diameter reduces;

the friction member is engaged to a connecting shaft to operate simultaneously with the connecting shaft;

the connecting shaft is configured to drive the friction member to contact with the spiral spring to generate the resistance force when the cord collecting wheel begins to rotate in the first direction such that the rotating speed of the cord collecting wheel in the first direction is reduced, wherein the resistance force is not generated when the friction member is not in contact with the spiral spring due to a reduction of the winding diameter while the cord collecting wheel rotating in the first direction and the cord collecting wheel is configured to continue rotating in the first direction by the first driving force.

21. The window covering system of claim 19, wherein the driving unit comprises a driving wheel and a storing wheel positioned adjacent to each other;

the resilient member is a spiral spring having two ends, and the two ends of the spiral spring are respectively positioned corresponding to the driving wheel and the storing wheel;

in an initial state of the spiral spring, the spiral spring winds around the storing wheel and has a winding diameter, and the weight element is at a position closest to the shell when the spiral spring is in the initial state.

22. The window covering system of claim 21, wherein the friction member is positioned corresponding to the spiral spring which winds around the storing wheel, wherein the winding diameter reduces and the weight element descends away from the position closest to the shell while the cord collecting wheel is rotating in the first direction;

the friction member comprises a adjuster for controlling the friction member between contacting or not contacting the spiral spring;

the adjuster is configured to drive the friction member to contact with the spiral spring to generate the resistance force when the cord collecting wheel begins to rotate in the first direction such that the rotating speed of the cord collecting wheel in the first direction is reduced, wherein the resistance force is not generated when the friction member is not in contact with the spiral spring due to a reduction of the winding diameter while the cord collecting wheel rotating in the first direction and the cord collecting wheel is configured to continue rotating in the first direction by the first driving force such that the covering material keeps expanding.

23. The window covering system of claim 22, wherein the adjuster comprises a connecting shaft, an abutting wheel on the connecting shaft, and a sliding unit;

the friction member is provided in the sliding unit and positioned corresponding to the spiral spring;

the resistance force is generated when the connecting shaft drives the abutting wheel to push the sliding unit to move toward the spiral spring and the friction member is in contact with the spiral spring;

when the diameter of the spiral spring reduces to a predetermined value, the friction member is not in contact with the spiral spring.

24. The window covering system of claim 23, wherein the friction member comprises a biasing member which is in the sliding unit;

a friction surface of the friction member is faced to the spiral spring by the biasing member when the friction member is in contact with spiral spring.

25. The window covering system of claim 22, wherein the adjuster comprises a connecting shaft, a clamping member, and a separating member;

the friction member is provided on one side of the clamping member, wherein the side of the clamping member and the friction member faces to the spiral spring;

the separating member is positioned corresponding to and received by the clamping member and is configured to operate synchronously with the connecting shaft, wherein the separating member defines a distance between the clamping member and center of the spiral spring, and variation of the distance causes the friction member being in contact with the spiral spring to generate the resistance force.

26. The window covering system of claim 25, wherein the clamping member comprises a clamping arm and a contracting member which is provided on one end of the clamping arm to urge the clamping arm to contact with the separating member constantly, wherein the separating member comprises a connecting wheel and a stepped wheel, wherein the connecting wheel is provided on the connecting shaft and connected to the stepped wheel which has a diameter that defines the distance, wherein the stepped wheel comprises at least one concave structure defined from the circumference of the stepped wheel;

the resistance force is generated when the friction member is in contact with the spiral spring as the clamping arm is received in the concave structure due to reduction of the distance.

27. The window covering system of claim 14, further comprising a releasing module engaged to the window covering control assembly to operate simultaneously with the window covering control assembly, wherein the releasing module is configured to restrict the cord collecting assembly from operating in the first direction and allow the cord collecting assembly to operate in a direction which is opposite to the first direction.

28. The window covering system of claim 27, further comprising a slat adjusting module connected to the releasing module, wherein the slat adjusting module comprises an operating member and a tilting unit, wherein the tilting unit is configured to operate with the covering material simultaneously and connected to the releasing module, wherein the tilting unit and the releasing module are configured to be driven by the operating member to operate simultaneously, wherein the operating member is configured to control the tilting unit to change a light transmittance of the covering material.