SPOOL BOX FOR MANUAL TO MOTORIZED WINDOW COVERING

• US 20200131847A1
• Filed: 10/17/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2018
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Techtronic Cordless GP (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Techtronic Cordless GP (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Clark, Austin
• Application Number:
  US16/655,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20200131847A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2627 Cellular screens, e.g. box or honeycomb-like
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/3222 Cordless, i.e. user interface without cords
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/262 with flexibly-interconnected horizontal or vertical strips; Concertina blinds , i.e. upwardly folding flexible screens
• 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 9/74 adapted for selective electrical or manual operation

Abstract

A spool box is configured to permit a change in the operation of a window covering from a manually-operated stated to a motorized state. The spool box may include a transfer drum, a coil spring drum, and a cord spool, together which permit the manual raising and lowering of the window covering. The spool box also may include an interface for coupling with a motorized converter module. When the spool box and motorized converter module are coupled, the window covering may be raised and lowered by a motorized operation.

Claims

1. A spool box comprising:

a housing;

a cord spool;

a transfer drum;

a coil spring drum; and

a coil spring,

wherein the cord spool, transfer drum, and coil spring drum are disposed at least mostly in the housing, and

wherein the spool box includes a coupling interface for coupling to a motorized converter module.

2. The spool box of claim 1, wherein the coupling interface is disposed on the transfer drum.

3. The spool box of claim 1, wherein

the coil spring has two ends,

a first end of the coil spring is attached to the coil spring drum, and

a second end of the coil spring is attached to the transfer drum.

4. The spool box of claim 1, wherein

the transfer drum includes a spur gear on one end,

the cord spool includes a spur gear on one end, and

the spur gear of the transfer drum is engaged with the spur gear of the cord spool.

5. The spool box of claim 1, wherein

the transfer spool includes a ridge,

the housing includes a ridge guide, and

the ridge is disposed within the ridge guide.

6. The spool box of claim 1, wherein the window covering comprises cellular blinds.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the spool box is the spool box of claim 1.

7. A window covering assembly comprising:

a window covering;

a header;

a spool box comprising;

a housing;

a cord spool;

a transfer drum;

a coil spring drum; and

a coil spring; and

a motorized converter module,

wherein the cord spool, transfer drum, and coil spring drum are disposed at least mostly in the housing, and

wherein the spool box includes a coupling interface for coupling to the motorized converter module, and

wherein the spool box and motorized converter module are coupled.

8. The window covering assembly of claim 7, wherein the coupling interface is disposed on the transfer drum.

9. The window covering assembly of claim 7, wherein

the coil spring has two ends,

a first end of the coil spring is attached to the coil spring drum, and

a second end of the coil spring is attached to the transfer drum.

10. The window covering assembly of claim 7, wherein

the transfer drum includes a spur gear on one end,

the cord spool includes a spur gear on one end, and

the spur gear of the transfer drum is engaged with the spur gear of the cord spool.

11. The window covering assembly of claim 7, wherein

the transfer spool includes a ridge,

the housing includes a ridge guide, and

the ridge is disposed within the ridge guide.

12. The window covering assembly of claim 7, wherein the window covering comprises cellular blinds.

13. A method comprising:

disposing a spool box in a window covering assembly, the spool box comprising;

a housing;

a cord spool;

a transfer drum;

a coil spring drum; and

a coil spring,

wherein the cord spool, transfer drum, and coil spring drum are disposed at least mostly in the housing, and

wherein the spool box includes a coupling interface for coupling to a motorized converter module;

coupling a motorized converter module that includes a motor to the spool box;

activating the motor to rotate with a torque;

transmitting the torque via a transmission to the spool box;

converting at least a portion of the torque at the spool box to raise or lower a window covering.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

converting a portion of the torque at the spool box to energize the coil spring.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of coupling the motorized converter module to the spool box includes coupling a shaft of the motorized converter module to an interface on the transfer drum.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the shaft is generally cylindrical with an external spline and the interface includes an internal spline.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of converting at least a portion of the torque at the spool box to raise or lower a window covering includes the step of transmitting the torque through a spur gear on the transfer drum to a spur gear on the cord spool.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the window covering comprises cellular blinds.

19. A method of raising or lowering a window covering of a window covering assembly comprising:

applying a force to the window covering to either raise or lower the window covering;

coupling a motorized converter module that includes a motor to a spool box of the window covering assembly; and

activating the motor to either raise or lower the window covering.