Shade operator with release brake

• US 6,142,211 A
• Filed: 08/10/1999
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Hunter Douglas Incorporated (Hunter Douglas N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Judkins, Ren
• Primary Examiner(s): Purol, David M.
• Application Number:
  US09/371,434
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 160/291, 160/296, 160/298, 160/299, 160/305, 160/307, 160/308, 160/319, 160/321, 160/84.04, 160/84.05, 192/415, 192/8 C, 192/81 C
• US Class Current: 160/308
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2627 Cellular screens, e.g. box or honeycomb-like
• 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 9/60 Spring drums operated only by closure members
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/78 for direct manual operation, e.g. by tassels, by handles
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/90 for immobilising the closure member in various chosen positions

Abstract

An operator for a window covering held on a roller or axle has a stationary member having a central cavity and a first bore sized and positioned so that the roller can pass through the bore into the central cavity. A release brake is positioned so that the axle or roller can pass through and be held by the release brake. An inertial ring within the central cavity of the stationary member, surrounds a coil spring which encircles the axle. A release member is provided adjacent the release brake and the inertial ring. The release member is sized and positioned so that when the release ring is in a first position the release member will not engage the inertial ring or the release brake and when the release member is moved in a selected direction the release member will engage and turn the release brake and the inertial ring. A spool is positioned within the central cavity of the stationary member adjacent the inertial ring. A rewind spring is connected between the spool and the stationary member such that when a force acts on the spool to turn the spool in the first direction from the initial position the rewind spring will tighten and when the force is removed the spring will loosen causing the spool to return to the initial position.

Claims

1. An operator for a window covering of the type having at least one axle about which one of a window covering material and lift cords are wound comprising:

a stationary member having a central cavity and a first bore sized and positioned so that the roller can pass through the bore into the central cavity;

a release brake having a release brake bore aligned with the first bore of the stationary member, the release brake bore sized and positioned so that the roller can pass through the second release brake bore;

an inertial ring within the central cavity of the stationary member, the inertial ring having an inertial ring bore aligned with the bores of the release brake and the stationary member, the inertial ring bore sized so that the axle may pass through the inertial ring bore;

a release member adjacent the release brake and the inertial member, the release member sized and positioned so that when the release member is in a first position the release member will not engage the inertial ring or the release brake and when the release member is moved in a selected direction the release member will engage and turn the release brake and the inertial ring;

a spool within the central cavity of the stationary member adjacent the inertial ring;

a coil spring positioned to encircle an axle passing through the inertial ring bore, the spring having opposite ends, one end attached to the spool and the opposite end attached to the inertial ring;

a rewind spring connected between the spool and the stationary member such that when a force acts on the spool to turn the spool in the first direction from an initial position the rewind spring will tighten and when the force is removed the spring will loosen causing the spool to return to the initial position; and

an operator attached to the release member to enable an operator to turn the release member.

2. The operator of claim 1 also comprising a cord attached to the spool in a manner to be wound and unwound around the spool.

3. The operator of claim 2 also comprising a cord stop attached to the cord.

4. The operator of claim 1 also comprising a bias spring connected between the release member and the stationary member biasing the release member to the first position.

5. The shade operator of claim 1 wherein the release brake is comprised of a movable member which contains the release brake bore and a spring having opposite ends and positioned within the release brake bore, one end of the spring attached to the movable member and the opposite end attached to the stationary member.

6. The shade operator of claim 1 wherein the release brake is comprised of strap having one end connected to the stationery member within the central cavity and a second end extending outside the central cavity of the stationery member.

7. The shade operator of claim 5 also comprising a bias spring connected between the stationery member and the strap.

8. The shade operator of claim 1 also comprising teeth attached to the inertial ring and positioned to be engaged by the release ring.

9. The shade operator of claim 1 also comprising teeth attached to the release brake and positioned to be engaged by the release member.