Abstract: An actuating system for a window shade includes a transmission axle, a braking spring having an engaged state adapted to prevent rotation of the transmission axle and a release state allowing rotation of the transmission axle, a brake actuating mechanism including a switching actuator operable between a first and a second position to switch the braking spring between the engaged state and the release state, the first position corresponding to the engaged state, and the second position corresponding to the release state, and a detent mechanism coupled to the brake actuating mechanism. The detent mechanism is switchable between a first biasing state where the detent mechanism applies a first biasing force that assists in keeping the switching actuator in the first position, and a second biasing state where the detent mechanism applies a second biasing force that assists in keeping the switching actuator in the second position.

Abstract: An actuating system for a window shade includes a transmission axle, a brake assembly and a clutch. The transmission axle is rotationally coupled to an axle adapter for rotation about a longitudinal axis. The brake assembly includes an arrester, a rotary element rotatable about the longitudinal axis, and a shift collar configured to couple and decouple the rotary element from the arrester, the shift collar switching from a decoupling position to a coupling position in response to a rotation of the rotary element in a first direction and from the coupling position to the decoupling position in response to a rotation of the rotary element in an opposite second direction. The clutch can couple and decouple the axle adapter from the rotary element, and has a clutch actuator rotatable about the longitudinal axis to switch the clutch between a clutch coupling state and a clutch decoupling state.

Abstract: An actuating system for a window shade includes a transmission axle rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof, a braking spring having an engaged state adapted to prevent rotation of the transmission axle and a release state allowing rotation of the transmission axle, and a brake actuating mechanism that is connected to the braking spring and includes a switching actuator and a position selector. The position selector has a first hold position for holding the braking spring in the engaged state and a second hold position for holding the braking spring in the release state. The position selector is switchable from the first hold position to the second hold position or from the second hold position to the first hold position through a back-and-forth movement of the switching actuator between an initial state and an actuating state.

Abstract: An actuating system includes a sleeve, a braking part for applying a braking force to prevent rotation of the sleeve, a brake releasing part, an axle coupler and an engaging part. The brake releasing part is operable to cause the braking part to release the braking force for rotation of the sleeve. The axle coupler is disposed through the sleeve, and is rotatable for raising and lowering a movable rail of a window shade. The engaging part is disposed between and can be in rolling contact with the axle coupler and the sleeve. The engaging part has a coupling position with respect to the axle coupler where the sleeve and the axle coupler are locked to each other in a first direction of rotation, and is movable away from the coupling position for rotation of the axle coupler relative to the sleeve in a second direction of rotation.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a shade panel includes forming a shade panel including a plurality of cells, wherein each of the cells has a front portion and a rear portion opposite to each other, stretching the shade panel, wherein each of the cells includes a bend in the front portion that protrudes away from the rear portion when the shade panel is stretched, and pressing the front portion including the bend and the rear portion against each other to form a crease in the front portion of each of the cells.

Abstract: An actuating system for a window shade includes a control module actuatable for adjusting a shading structure of the window shade. The control module includes a wand having a hollow interior, a flexible operating element extending outside the wand at a first end thereof, a handle coupled to the operating element and disposed at a second end of the wand, the handle being operable to pull the operating element for actuating the control module, and an anti-winding guard of an elongate shape, the operating element, the handle and the anti-winding guard being movable in unison relative to the wand. The anti-winding guard is configured to extend outside the wand between the handle and the second end of the wand when the handle moves away from the second end of the wand.

Abstract: An actuating system includes an actuating wheel coupled to an operating element, an axle coupling part disposed substantially coaxial to the actuating wheel and rotatable for raising or lowering a bottom part of a window shade, and a clutching part carried with a carrier and movably linked to the actuating wheel. The clutching part is movable between a retracted state for disengaging from the axle coupling part and an extended state for engaging with the axle coupling part. The actuating wheel is rotatable in a first direction to urge the clutching part to move from the retracted state to the extended state and drive the carrier and the axle coupling part to rotate in unison, and in a second direction to urge the clutching part to move from the extended state to the retracted state so that the actuating wheel is rotationally decoupled from the axle coupling part.

Abstract: A fastening system for a window shade includes a first clipping element having a first latching part, and a second clipping element having a second latching part operable to engage with the first latching part for attaching the first and second clipping element to each other, the first and second clipping element being attachable to each other for holding at least one panel of a window shade in a gap between the first and second clipping element. The first and second clipping element are attachable to each other according to a first and a second configuration, the gap between the first and second clipping element being greater in the first configuration than in the second configuration. The fastening system can hold two panels in contact with each other in the gap in the first configuration, and to hold a single panel in the gap in the second configuration.

Abstract: An actuating system for a window shade includes a first rotary axle rotatable for displacing a bottom part, a second rotary axle rotatable for displacing an intermediate rail, and a limiting mechanism including a first and a second sliding part respectively linked movably to the first and second rotary axle. The first sliding part slides in a first direction when the first rotary axle rotates for lowering the bottom part and in a second direction when the first rotary axle rotates for raising the bottom part. The second sliding part slides in the first direction when the second rotary axle rotates for lowering the intermediate rail and in the second direction when the second rotary axle rotates for raising the intermediate rail. The first sliding part is prevented from sliding in the second direction via a contact between the first sliding part and the second sliding part.

Abstract: An actuating system for a window shade includes an axle coupling part rotatable for raising and lowering a movable rail of the window shade, a braking part and a brake coupling part connected with each other, the braking part being adapted to apply a braking force on the brake coupling part for preventing rotation of the brake coupling part, a lift actuating module including a spool connected with an operating part, the spool being rotatable in a winding direction to wind the operating part and in an unwinding direction to unwind the operating part, and a clutching mechanism including two clutching parts movable relative to the brake coupling part and the spool to selectively couple the axle coupling part to either one of the spool and the brake coupling part.

Abstract: An actuating system for a window shade includes an axle coupling part rotatable for raising or lowering a bottom part of a window shade, an arresting part and an arrester coupling part connected with each other, the arresting part having a braking state and a release state, a clutching part carried with the arrester coupling part and movable relative to the arrester coupling part between a retracted state where the clutching part is disengaged from the axle coupling part and an extended state where the clutching part is engaged with the axle coupling part, and an actuating wheel movably linked to the clutching part, the actuating wheel being rotatable in a first direction to urge the clutching part to move from the retracted state to the extended state, and in an opposite second direction to urge the clutching part to move from the extended state to the retracted state.

Abstract: An actuating system for a window shade includes a rotary axle, a cord winding assembly and a limiting mechanism. The cord winding assembly is coupled to the rotary axle and is connected with a plurality of suspension cords, the rotary axle being rotatable to cause the cord winding assembly to wind and unwind the suspension cords for displacing a movable rail of a window shade. The limiting mechanism includes a latch coupled to one of the suspension cords, the latch being movable between a locking state for preventing rotation of the rotary axle and an unlocking state for rotation of the rotary axle, the limiting mechanism being configured so that tensioning and loosening of the one of the suspension cords causes the latch to switch between the locking state and the unlocking state.

Abstract: A support structure includes a rail configured to provide support for a shading structure of an electrically-driven window shade, the rail having a cavity adapted to receive an electric motor and being fixedly connected with a battery case holder having a plurality of first electric connectors, and a battery case having a plurality of second electric connectors, the battery case having an interior configured to receive one or more battery cells. The battery case is removable from the battery case holder and the rail for accessing to the interior of the battery case, and is connectable with the battery case holder so that the first electric connectors respectively contact with the second electric connectors for supplying electric power through the first and second electric connectors to an electric motor installed in the cavity of the rail.

Abstract: A cord winding assembly for a window shade includes a housing, a first and a second spool portion respectively connected with a first and a second suspension cord, and a transmission axle. The first and second spool portions are disposed in a cavity of the housing. The transmission axle is rotationally coupled to the first and second spool portions and extends outside the housing at least at one end thereof, the transmission axle and the first and second spool portions being rotatable concurrently relative to the housing in a first direction for respectively winding the first and second suspension cords around the first and second spool portions, and in a second direction opposite to the first direction for respectively unwinding the first and second suspension cords from the first and second spool portions.

Abstract: A spring drive system for a window shade includes a housing, a cord drum and a first gear fixedly connected with each other and pivotally connected with the housing, the cord drum being connected with two second suspension cords, a second gear pivotally connected with the housing, two spring reels respectively pivotally connected at two opposite sides of the second gear so that the two spring reels are respectively rotatable relative to the second gear, the second gear and the two spring reels being disposed in a coaxial manner, a third gear pivotally connected with the housing and respectively meshed with the first and second gears, the third gear being fixedly connected with two second take-up reel at two opposite sides, and two springs each assembled around one corresponding spring reel and having one end connected with one corresponding take-up reel.

Abstract: An actuating system includes includes a sleeve, a braking part for applying a braking force to prevent rotation of the sleeve, a brake releasing part, an axle coupler and an engaging part. The brake releasing part is operable to cause the braking part to release the braking force for rotation of the sleeve. The axle coupler is disposed through the sleeve, and is rotatable for raising and lowering a movable rail of a window shade. The engaging part is disposed between and can be in rolling contact with the axle coupler and the sleeve. The engaging part has a coupling position with respect to the axle coupler where the sleeve and the axle coupler are locked to each other in a first direction of rotation, and is movable away from the coupling position for rotation of the axle coupler relative to the sleeve in a second direction of rotation.

Abstract: An operating wand for a window shade includes an elongate rod extending along a lengthwise axis, a catching portion protruding along the lengthwise axis from an end of the elongate rod, and a shoulder portion protruding sideways from the catching portion. The operating wand is operable to connect with and detach from a rail of a window shade. In particular, an end of the operating wand provided with the catching portion and the shoulder portion can engage with the rail for pushing or pulling the rail in movement so as to collapse or expand the window shade.