Motorized shade with transmission wire passing through the support shaft

• US 9,725,952 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2016
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Watt Stopper Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: The Watt Stopper Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Mullet, Willis Jay, Brunk, Darrin W., Lucas, William Ashton Lee Cutts
• Primary Examiner(s): GLASS, ERICK DAVID
• Application Number:
  US15/184,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20160298389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 318255, 318265, 318286
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2476 Solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6809 Control
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6818 using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6845 sensing position
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6872 using counters to determine shutter position
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/40 Roller blinds usable only as awnings E04F10/06
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/42 Parts or details of roller blinds, e.g. suspension devices, blind boxes brackets or adjustable mountings for roller blinds and drawable curtains A47H1/13
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/44 Rollers therefor; Fastening roller blinds to rollers
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/50 Bearings specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/62 Counterweighting arrangements E06B9/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/68 Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/72 comprising an electric motor positioned inside the roller
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/74 adapted for selective electrical or manual operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A roll shade system is disclosed. The roll shade system includes a motor configured to remain stationary during operation of the motor, a support shaft supporting the motor wherein the support shaft is configured to remain stationary during operation of the motor, and a roll shade tube configured to be rotatable about the motor and the support shaft during operation of the motor. The roll shade system further includes stationary components including a wiring connector, an input wiring system, a bearing, an antenna, a coaxial cable, a motor controller, a counterbalance spring. The roll shade system also includes rotatable components including a bearing housing and one or more O-rings.

Claims

1. A roll shade system, comprising:

a motor having an output shaft;

a motor tube configured to house the motor, wherein the motor tube is configured to remain stationary during operation of the motor;

a drive wheel connected to the output shaft of the motor, wherein the drive wheel is configured to rotate by operation of the motor;

a roll shade tube configured to rotate about the motor during operation of the motor;

a shade operatively connected to the roll shade tube;

an input wiring system electrically connected to the motor;

an external power source;

the input wiring system extending into the motor tube and electrically connecting the external power source to the motor;

a motor controller operatively connected to the motor;

a remote control device operatively connected to motor controller and configured to transmit control signals to the motor controller;

wherein the shade is movable to a different position by manual movement of the shade as well as by transmitting a control signal to the shade using the remote control device.

2. The roll shade system according to claim 1, further comprising an antenna operatively connected to the motor controller and wherein the remote control device is wirelessly connected to the motor controller.

3. The roll shade system according to claim 1, wherein the remote control device is connected by wiring to the motor controller.

4. The roll shade system according to claim 1, wherein the external power source is selected from the group consisting of:

an external battery pack, an external battery tube, an AC/DC power converter, line voltage and a solar cell.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

a counterbalance assembly positioned within the roll shade tube; and

wherein the counterbalance assembly provides a counterbalance force.

6. The roll shade system according to claim 1, wherein when the shade is moved by manual movement a sensor detects the movement and a counter tracks the movement.

7. The roll shade system according to claim 1, wherein when the shade is moved by manual movement the motor controller senses the movement and tracks the position of the shade.

8. A roll shade system, comprising:

a motor having an output shaft;

a motor tube configured to house the motor, wherein the motor tube is configured to remain stationary during operation of the motor;

a drive wheel connected to the output shaft of the motor, wherein the drive wheel is configured to rotate by operation of the motor;

a roll shade tube configured to rotate about the motor during operation of the motor;

a shade operatively connected to the roll shade tube;

an input wiring system electrically connected to the motor;

an external power source;

the input wiring system extending into the motor tube and electrically connecting the external power source to the motor;

wherein the shade is movable to a different position by manual movement of the shade as well as by motorized movement of the shade.

9. The roll shade system according to claim 8, further comprising an antenna operatively connected to the motor controller and a remote control device is wirelessly connected to the motor controller and configured to transmit control signals to the motor controller to control operation of the shade.

10. The roll shade system according to claim 8, wherein the external power source is selected from the group consisting of:

an external battery pack, an external battery tube, an AC/DC power converter, line voltage and a solar cell.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

a counterbalance assembly positioned within the roll shade tube; and

wherein the counterbalance assembly provides a counterbalance force.

12. The roll shade system according to claim 8, wherein when the shade is moved by manual movement a sensor detects the movement and a counter tracks the movement.

13. The roll shade system according to claim 8, wherein when the shade is moved by manual movement the motor controller senses the movement and tracks the position of the shade.

14. A method for manufacturing a roll shade system, comprising

configuring a motor tube to house a motor;

configuring the motor tube to remain stationary during operation of the motor;

connecting a drive wheel to the motor;

configuring the drive wheel to rotate during operation of the motor;

configuring a roll shade tube to house the motor tube;

configuring the roll shade tube to rotate about the motor tube by operation of the drive wheel;

extending an input wiring system into the motor tube from exterior to the motor tube and roll shade tube;

connecting the input wiring system to the motor;

connecting the input wiring system to an external power source;

supplying power to the motor through the input wiring system from the external power source;

connecting a shade to the roll shade tube;

connecting a motor controller to the motor;

connecting a remote control device to motor controller;

transmitting control signals to the motor controller using the remote control device;

moving the shade to a different position by manual movement of the shade as well as by transmitting a control signal to the shade using the remote control device.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

connecting an antenna to the motor controller;

moving the shade by wirelessly transmitting a control signal to the motor controller.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

connecting the remote control device to the motor controller by wiring.

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

positioning a counterbalance assembly within the roll shade tube; and

providing a counterbalance force by the counterbalance assembly.

18. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

detecting manual movement of the shade by a sensor and tracking movement using a counter.

19. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

sensing manual movement of the shade and tracking the position of the shade.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the external power source is selected from the group consisting of:

an external battery pack, an external battery tube, an AC/DC power converter, line voltage and a solar cell.

21. A method for manufacturing a roll shade system, comprising

configuring a motor tube to house a motor;

configuring the motor tube to remain stationary during operation of the motor;

connecting a drive wheel to the motor;

configuring the drive wheel to rotate during operation of the motor;

configuring a roll shade tube to house the motor tube;

configuring the roll shade tube to rotate about the motor tube by operation of the drive wheel;

extending an input wiring system into the motor tube from exterior to the motor tube and roll shade tube;

connecting the input wiring system to the motor;

connecting the input wiring system to an external power source;

supplying power to the motor through the input wiring system from the external power source;

connecting a shade to the roll shade tube;

wherein the shade is movable to a different position by manual movement of the shade as well as by motorized movement of the shade.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

positioning a counterbalance assembly within the roll shade tube; and

providing a counterbalance force by the counterbalance assembly.

23. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

detecting manual movement of the shade by a sensor and tracking movement using a counter.

24. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

sensing manual movement of the shade and tracking the position of the shade.

25. The method according to claim 21, wherein the external power source is selected from the group consisting of:

an external battery pack, an external battery tube, an AC/DC power converter, line voltage and a solar cell.

26. A roll shade system, comprising:

a motor having an output shaft;

a motor tube extending a length from an exterior end to an interior end;

the motor tube configured to house the motor, wherein the motor tube is configured to remain stationary during operation of the motor;

a drive wheel connected to the output shaft of the motor wherein the drive wheel is configured to rotate by operation of the motor;

the drive wheel positioned adjacent the interior end of the motor tube;

a roll shade tube configured to rotate about the motor during operation of the motor;

a shade operatively connected to the roll shade tube;

an input wiring system electrically connected to the motor;

the input wiring system extending into the exterior end of the motor tube from exterior to the motor tube and the roll shade tube

wherein the shade is movable to a different position by manual movement of the shade as well as by motorized movement of the shade.

27. The roll shade system according to claim 26, wherein when the shade is moved by manual movement a sensor detects the movement and a counter tracks the movement.

28. The roll shade system according to claim 26, wherein when the shade is moved by manual movement the motor controller senses the movement and tracks the position of the shade.

29. The roll shade system according to claim 26, further comprising:

positioning a counterbalance assembly within the roll shade tube; and

providing a counterbalance force by the counterbalance assembly during operation of the roll shade system.

30. The roll shade system according to claim 26, wherein the input wiring system is connected to an external power source, wherein the external power source is selected from the group consisting of:

an external battery pack, an external battery tube, an AC/DC power converter, line voltage and a solar cell.

31. A roll shade system, comprising:

a motor having an output shaft;

a motor tube extending a length from an exterior end to an interior end;

the motor tube configured to house the motor, wherein the motor tube is configured to remain stationary during operation of the motor;

a drive wheel connected to the output shaft of the motor wherein the drive wheel is configured to rotate by operation of the motor;

the drive wheel positioned adjacent the interior end of the motor tube;

a roll shade tube configured to rotate about the motor during operation of the motor;

a shade operatively connected to the roll shade tube;

an input wiring system electrically connected to the motor;

the input wiring system extending into the exterior end of the motor tube from exterior to the motor tube and the roll shade tube

a motor controller operatively connected to the motor;

a remote control device operatively connected to motor controller and configured to transmit control signals to the motor controller;

wherein the shade is movable to a different position by manual movement of the shade as well as by transmitting a control signal to the shade using the remote control device.

32. The roll shade system according to claim 31, further comprising an antenna operatively connected to the motor controller and wherein the remote control device is wirelessly connected to the motor controller.

33. The roll shade system according to claim 31, wherein the remote control device is connected by wiring to the motor controller.

34. The roll shade system according to claim 31, wherein the external power source is selected from the group consisting of:

an external battery pack, an external battery tube, an AC/DC power converter, line voltage and a solar cell.

35. The method according to claim 31, further comprising:

a counterbalance assembly positioned within the roll shade tube; and

wherein the counterbalance assembly provides a counterbalance force.

36. The roll shade system according to claim 31, wherein when the shade is moved by manual movement a sensor detects the movement and a counter tracks the movement.

37. The roll shade system according to claim 31, wherein when the shade is moved by manual movement the motor controller senses the movement and tracks the position of the shade.