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: An actuating system for a window shade includes a transmission axle rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof, and a speed stabilizer including a housing having an inner wall, and a rotary plate disposed inside the housing and configured to rotationally couple to the transmission axle, the rotary plate carrying a plurality of friction elements angularly spaced apart from one another about the longitudinal axis of the transmission axis, the rotary plate being rotatable along with the transmission axle with the friction elements rubbing against the inner wall of the housing.

Abstract: A panel assembly for a window shade includes two elongate strips made of a single material layer that are bonded to a support sheet having a multilayer structure. Each elongate strip has a first and a second edge, and a main strip portion between a first and a second margin, the first and second margin respectively adjoining the main strip portion along a first and a second folding line, the first margin extending between the first folding line and the first edge, the second margin extending between the second folding line and the second edge and including a third folding line. The first margin of each elongate strip is bonded to the support sheet, and the second margin of a first elongate strip is bonded to a second elongate strip at a first margin portion between the third folding line and the second edge of the first elongate strip.

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: A panel assembly for a window shade includes a first and a second elongate strip adjacent to each other that are bonded to a support sheet. Each elongate strip has a first and a second edge opposite to each other, and a main strip portion between a first and a second margin, the first and second margin respectively adjoining the main strip portion along a first and a second folding line, the first margin extending between the first folding line and the first edge, the second margin extending between the second folding line and the second edge, the second margin including a third folding line substantially parallel to the second folding line. The first margin is bonded to the support sheet, and the second margin is bonded to the support sheet or the second elongate strip at a margin portion between the third folding line and the second edge.

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: A window shade comprises a shade assembly that includes a roller connected to a shade structure, and has a first end coupled to a first bracket and a second end having a coupler, the roller being pivotally connected to the first bracket. The first bracket is provided with a roller lock movable between a locking position where the roller lock rotationally locks the roller to prevent rotation of the roller relative to the first bracket, and an unlocking position where the roller lock rotationally unlocks the roller for rotation of the roller relative to the first bracket. Moreover, the window shade includes a connector and a second bracket attachable to a support surface of a building, wherein the first bracket and the coupler are respectively connected to the connector and the second bracket when the shade assembly is mounted to the support surface of the building.

Abstract: A window shade includes a shade assembly having a first end and a second end opposite to each other, the first end being coupled to a first bracket and the second end having a coupler, and a connector and a second bracket respectively attachable to a support surface of a building at two spaced-apart locations, wherein the first bracket at the first end of the shade assembly is operable to engage with and disengage from the connector, and the coupler at the second end of the shade assembly is operable to connect to and detach from the second bracket. Embodiments described herein also include a method of installing the window shade.

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.

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, 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 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.