System to open and close drapes

• US 7,337,825 B1
• Filed: 07/18/2005
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Erbe J. Ralph
• Original Assignee: Erbe J. Ralph
• Inventors: Erbe, J. Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson; Blair M.
• Application Number:
  US11/160,965
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 160/331, 160/344, 160/345, 160/321, 160/310, 318/266, 318/286, 318/468
• US Class Current: 160/331
• CPC Class Codes: A47H 2/00 Pelmets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47H 5/0325 using electrical or electronical drive, detecting or controlling means

Abstract

An electric motor moves drapes on a carrier by a cord wound on a sheave attached to a shaft thereof. The motor is attached to a housing along with a second shaft. The second shaft has an arm on an end thereof and carries a disc with first and second cam surfaces thereon and an axial projection. An arcuate slot on an end cap receives the projection on the disc. In response to an actuation signal, a control activates the motor causing the shaft and sheave to rotate and linearly move the cord and drapes. A limit member on the cord engages the arm and rotates the second shaft causing the first cam to close a first switch and cancel the actuation signal while the second cam closes a second switch such that the rotational direction of the shaft is reversed on receipt of a next actuation signal.

Claims

1. A system for opening and closing drapes that are retained on a horizontal carrier that is located between a first bracket and a second bracket that is attached to a wall, said carrier including a continuous cord that extends from a first sheave on the first bracket, around a second sheave on the second bracket, back to a third sheave on the first bracket and around a fourth sheave associated with a tensioning member before returning to the first sheave, said system further including an electric motor and switch apparatus consisting of:

a support member having a first side and a second side;

a motor secured to said first side of said support member with a first shaft that extends through the support member to said second side, said fourth sheave being attached to said first shaft and located on said second side of said support member;

a toggle member having a second shaft that extends through said support member with a first end located on said first side of said support member and second end located on said second side of said support member;

first and second radial arms attached to said second end of said second shaft of said toggle member;

a projection that extends from said second shaft along a plane perpendicular to said first and second radial arms;

a disc retained on said second shaft and located on said first side of said support member, said disc having a peripheral surface with at least a first cam and a second cam thereon and an axial pin that extends away from the first side;

an end cap secured to said second shaft, said end cap having an arcuate slot for receiving said axial pin on said disc;

a spring connected to said support member and acting on said projection for sequentially urging said second shaft toward one of either a first rest position or a second rest position;

a first switch secured to said support member and having a first roller located on said first cam on said disc, said first switch being connected to a receiver and a source of electricity;

a second switch secured to said support member and having a second roller located on said second cam on said disc, said second switch being connected to the electric motor and the source of electricity;

a first limit member including a first adjustable stop secured to said continuous cord and a first plunger slideably retained on said second side of said support member and connected to said first radial arm;

a second limit member including a second adjustable stop secured to said continuous cord and a second plunger slideable that is retained on said second side of said support member and connected to said second radial arm; and

electronic control means connected to said first switch, said second switch and said electric motor for selectively supplying electricity to electric motor in response to a first actuation signal from a transponder is communicated to the receiver and said fourth sheave is initially rotated in a first direction causing said continuous cord to linearly move said carrier with respect to said first and second brackets until said first adjustable stop engages and moves said first plunger and said first radial arm causing said second shaft to rotate such that said axial pin on said end cap engages and thereafter rotates said disc to change a relationship between said first cam and first roller such that said input signal from the receiver is cancelled and to change a relationship between said second cam and second roller such that a signal is supplied to said electronic control means such that the operational rotation of the electric motor is reversed on receipt of a next actuation signal from the transponder and as a result the cord and carrier move in an opposite direction.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said second limit member engages said second plunger to rotate said second shaft and said disc to change a current relationship between said first roller and first switch and said second roller and second switch such that a second subsequent input signal from the transponder the operational rotation of the electric motor is reversed to the first rotational direction.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 further being characterized in said first and second limit members provide for a delay in the termination of electricity to said electric motor to assure that the movement of the cord corresponds to a desired linear movement of the carrier.

4. The system as recited in claim 2 wherein said first and second adjustable stops may be moved on said cord to establish a desired linear movement of said carrier.

5. The system as recited in claim 3 wherein said first and second plungers do not interfere with movement of said cord with respect to said fourth sheave.

6. The system as recited in claim 4 wherein said cord is wound about said fourth sheave at least two turns to define a minimum for linearly moving said carrier.

7. The system as recited in claim 5 wherein said cord is wound about said fourth sheave a maximum of four turns to define a maximum force for linearly moving said carrier.

8. A system for opening and closing drapes that are retained on a horizontal carrier that is located between a first bracket and a second bracket, said carrier including a continuous cord that extends from a first sheave on the first bracket, around a second sheave on the second bracket, back to a third sheave on the first bracket and around a fourth sheave associated with a tensioning member before returning to the first sheave, said system further including an electric motor and switch apparatus consisting of:

a support member;

a motor secured to said support member having a first shaft on which said fourth sheave is located;

a toggle member attached to said support member and including a second shaft with first and second radial arms attached to said toggle member, a projection that extends along a plane that is perpendicular to said first and second radial arms, a disc retained on said second shaft having a peripheral surface with at least a first cam and a second cam thereon and an axial pin, an end cap secured to said second shaft with an arcuate slot for receiving said axial pin on said disc, and a spring connected to said support member and acting on said projection for sequentially urging said second shaft toward one of either a first rest position or a second rest position;

a first switch secured to said support member and having a first roller located on said first cam on said disc, said first switch being connected to a receiver and a source of electricity;

a second switch secured to said support member and having a second roller located on said second cam on said disc, said second switch being connected to the electric motor and the source of electricity;

limit means including an adjustable stop secured to said continuous cord and a plunger slideably retained on said support member and connected to said first radial arm; and

electronic control means connected to said first switch, said second switch and the electric motor for selectively supplying electricity to the electric motor in response to a first actuation signal from a transponder to the receiver for activating the electric motor to rotate said fourth sheave in a first direction causing said continuous cord to linearly move said carrier with respect to said first and second brackets until said first adjustable stop engages and moves said first plunger and said first radial arm to rotate said second shaft such that said axial pin on said end cap engages and thereafter rotates said disc to change a relationship between said first cam and first roller and send a termination signal to the receiver to cancel the input signal from the transponder and to change a relationship between said second cam and second roller and send a reversing signal to said electronic control means such that on receipt of a next actuation signal from the transponder the rotational first direction of the motor is reversed and the cord and carrier move in a second direction.

9. The system as recited in claim 8 wherein the linear movement of the carrier is adjusted by moving said limit means on the cord.

10. A system for moving drapes retained on a carrier by movement of a cord comprising:

a sheave on a first shaft of an electric motor that is secured to a housing, said sheave receiving a plurality of winds of the cord;

a second shaft retained by the housing, said second shaft having an arm on an end thereof;

a disc carried by the second shaft having first and second cam surfaces thereon and an axial projection;

an cap attached to the second shaft having an arcuate slot for receiving the projection on the disc to position said disc adjacent the housing;

a first switch having a first roller that is located in said first cam surface of said disc and being connected to a receiver;

a second switch having a second roller that is located on said second cam surface of said disc and being connected to said electric motor;

stop means attached to said cord; and

a control unit connected to said first switch, second switch, electric motor and a source of electrical energy, said receiver being responsive to an actuation signal from a transponder such that the first switch provides said control unit with an input and said control unit thereafter allows electricity to be supplied to the electric motor causing said first shaft and said sheave to rotate and pull on said cord to linearly move the carrier until said stop means engages the arm on said second shaft and rotate said second shaft and said first cam sufficiently to close said first switch and nullify the actuation signal and move said second cam to close said second switch such that the rotational direction of said first shaft is reversed on the receipt of a next actuation signal.