Ball Or Roller, Form Brake Or Stop Patents (Class 160/297)
  • Patent number: 11920407
    Abstract: A power assist module for use in roller tube driven products, such as roller shades. The module may be pre-wound prior to installation in a roller tube and retains its pre-wound condition, even after use, when removed from the roller tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. Haarer, Richard N. Anderson
  • Patent number: 11598147
    Abstract: A novel roller blind shaft is provided, comprising a roller blind having a reel, a lower curtain rod, a curtain fabric arranged between the reel and the lower curtain rod, and a driving device for driving the reel to rotate. A bearing seat is correspondingly provided at both ends of the reel. The novel roller blind shaft comprises: moving devices, which are respectively a first moving device and a second moving device arranged parallel to each other, arranged on the bearing seats at both ends of the reel and perpendicular to the reel and configured to drive the reel to move back and forth to adjust a gap between the curtain fabric and the wall, and a control device electrically connected to the first and second moving devices and configured to synchronously control the first and second moving devices to synchronously drive the reel to move back and forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Inventor: Jeff Wh Li
  • Patent number: 11466514
    Abstract: A counterbalancing device for a roller shade having a flexible sheet member and a roller shaft coupled to the flexible sheet member includes a stationary rod extending within the roller shaft, with the rod including a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The counterbalancing device also includes a rod adjuster coupled to the first end of the stationary rod and a spring winder positioned adjacent to the first end of the stationary rod. The rod adjuster is configured to selectively rotate the stationary rod and the spring winder is configured to rotate with the roller shaft. Additionally, the counterbalancing device also includes a spring having a first spring end coupled to the spring winder such that the first spring end rotates with the spring winder, and a second spring end coupled to the stationary rod such that the second spring end rotates with the stationary rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Jörg Bohlen, Lars Koop
  • Patent number: 10697235
    Abstract: A winder for a blind system, comprising a drive member rotatable in a drive direction and a free direction; a driven member to engage a blind cylinder; a transmission mechanism to selectively transmit rotation of the drive member to the driven member, the transmission mechanism including an intermediate transmission member and an intermediate resistor to provide resistance to rotation of the intermediate transmission member, wherein the transmission mechanism has a drive state when the drive member is rotated in the drive direction to overcome the resistance of the intermediate resistor and transmit rotation of the drive member through the intermediate transmission member to the driven member, and a free state when the drive member is rotated in the free direction, wherein transmission is broken between the drive member and the intermediate transmission member and intermediate resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Rollease Acmeda Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Riccardo Santilli
  • Patent number: 10208537
    Abstract: The present invention relates to double fabric blinds and, more particularly, to a device for adjusting a fabric angle of the double fabric blinds, which is capable of finely adjusting an degree of openness of a front sheet, wherein a plurality of balls are sequentially held in a holding groove, e.g., as four or eight balls, inserted into an insertion groove of a rotation component, wherein the plurality of balls are rotated in a guide groove of a stopper by approximately 90 degrees or 45 degrees, thereby improving safety and omitting the use of a conventional string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Comfortex Window Fashions
    Inventor: Jae Suk Kwak
  • Patent number: 10012020
    Abstract: A clutch having a clutch housing and a drive sprocket coaxially and rotationally mounted about a drive housing that is coaxially mounted about a shaft portion. The clutch housing has one or more drive sprocket engaging members with a locked and an unlocked position. When locked the drive sprocket engaging members lock the drive sprocket to the drive housing. When unlocked the drive sprocket engaging members permit the drive sprocket to rotate independently from the. A return drive mechanism includes a tether, a tether base and a return spring. The tether has a first end secured to the tether base and a second end secured to the clutch housing. The clutch housing, tether base and return spring are axially aligned and coaxially mounted about the shaft portion to present an overall compact clutch structure to facilitate mounting in confined locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: ZMC Metal Coating Inc.
    Inventor: Zhi Li
  • Patent number: 9523236
    Abstract: A braking mechanism for a roller shade control system. The braking mechanism includes a stationary member and a rotating member rotatable relative to the stationary member. The rotating member is rotatable in a winding direction or an unwinding direction. The braking mechanism also includes a connecting assembly operatively connecting the stationary member and the rotating member. The connecting assembly frictionally engages the rotating member when the rotating member is rotated in the unwinding direction and is frictionally disengaged from the rotating member when the rotating member is rotated in the winding direction. A control mechanism includes such a braking mechanism and an operating handle for operating the control mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignees: Altex Decoration Limitee, S.P. Engineering S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giovanni Bergamaschi
  • Patent number: 9410366
    Abstract: The present invention relates to double fabric blinds and, more particularly, to a device for adjusting a fabric angle of the double fabric blinds, which is capable of finely adjusting an degree of openness of a front sheet, wherein a plurality of balls are sequentially held in a holding groove, e.g., as four or eight balls, inserted into an insertion groove of a rotation component, wherein the plurality of balls are rotated in a guide groove of a stopper by approximately 90 degrees or 45 degrees, thereby improving safety and omitting the use of a conventional string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Comfortex Window Fashions
    Inventor: Jae Suk Kwak
  • Patent number: 9341020
    Abstract: A single pull-cord controller of roman shade comprises: a main control unit, a winding member, a first shaft member, a second shaft member, an inner bushing, an outer bushing, and a coupling unit. By the single pull-cord controller of the present invention, the up-down operation of the roman shade can be controlled by the pulling or releasing of a single pull-cord, and the pull-cord after manipulation can be wound within the controller by the recovery of the clock spring. Therefore, dangerous state of strangulation by wrapping around children's neck can be effectively avoided to achieve the object of safety precaution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Uni-Soleil Ent. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yu-Ting Kao
  • Patent number: 9187951
    Abstract: A window shade comprises a head rail, a shading structure, a bottom part, suspension cords connected with cord winding units, and a control module. The control module includes a drive axle assembled with the cord winding units, a sleeve affixed with the drive axle, an arrester assembled around the drive axle, and a release unit. The arrester has a locking state in which the arrester blocks a rotational displacement of the sleeve and the drive axle to keep the bottom part at a desired position, and an unlocking state in which rotation of the sleeve and the drive axle is allowed to lower the bottom part by gravity action. The release unit includes an actuator that is operatively connected with the arrester and has an elongated shape. The actuator can rotate about its lengthwise axis to turn the arrester from the locking to unlocking state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: TEH YOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fu-Lai Yu, Chin-Tien Huang
  • Patent number: 9062494
    Abstract: A coilable shade includes a main frame to which left and right fixed seats are mounted. A drum is rotatably coupled to the right fixed seat and receives a spring receiving a shaft extending through a positioning seat. An end of the coiling spring is fixed to the positioning seat. The other end of the coiling spring is fixed to a connection seat mounted to the left fixed seat. A rotating unit is mounted in a jacket and rotatably coupled to a positioning rod fixed to the left fixed seat. A fastener is slideable along a track in a rotating member of the rotating unit to control unfolding, coiling, and positioning of a shade. The rotating unit further includes a sleeve received in the rotating member. A soft ring buffer is received in an annular groove of the sleeve and contacts an inner periphery of the rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Inventor: Hou-Sheng Ko
  • Patent number: 8936062
    Abstract: A curtain structure without drawstring may include a curtain unit, a string scrolling base and an upper cover. The string scrolling base has a shell disposed in the base of the curtain unit, center portion of the shell having a shaft, both sides of which having a positioning shaft, and a line slot formed on both side walls of the positioning shaft, wherein upper periphery of rotating base has driving teeth having at least one groove, restricting guiding groove and arc rail groove on top surface thereof, and a driving unit is disposed on the positioning shafts, the driving unit having a rod to secure the string collecting bodies, and conjugating teeth are linked with the driving teeth of the rotating base; and an upper cover having a restricting groove corresponding to the rotating base, and a ball restricted in the groove of the restricting groove and the rotating base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Inventor: Hua-Chi Huang
  • Patent number: 8915287
    Abstract: A stationary base plate, a chain drum locking mechanism and a reducer mechanism are provided for a manual rolling door operator, in which the reducer mechanism has an output shaft and the chain drum locking mechanism has a chain drum, a wedge wheel, a drive shaft, a plurality of moving rollers, and fixed rods. If the chain drum is rotated in any direction by a force pulling a chain run around the chain drum, the fixed rods push against the moving rollers to release a wedging action from the wedge wheel which simultaneously renders the drive shaft to be rotated. However, if the force stop to pull the chain, the wedge wheel locks the moving roller by the wedging action due to the weight of a curtain of slats so as to stop the rotation of the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Inventor: Chung-Hsien Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8893766
    Abstract: The invention relates to an operating unit (1) for architectural coverings, in particular roller blinds or shades. The unit (1) includes a stationary base member (37), a rotatable driving member (39), a rotatable driven member (29) and a brake mechanism (71, 73, and 75). The brake mechanism (71, 73, and 75) automatically arrests rotation of the driven member (29) in respect of the stationary base member (37), when not rotated by the driving member (39). The brake mechanism includes a first wrap spring (73), adapted to yield a predetermined minimum brake force, and at least one second wrap spring (75), different in size from the first wrap spring (73) and adapted to yield a supplementary brake force, which together with the predetermined minimum brake force amounts to a predetermined maximum brake force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Industries B.V.
    Inventor: Jorg Bohlen
  • Patent number: 8517081
    Abstract: A transmission assembly for a roller blind has a mounting frame, a roller, a coil spring, a spring axle, a turning element, a torsional spring, a major damper, a positioning device and a blind cloth device. The roller is mounted in the mounting frame. The coil spring is mounted in the roller. The spring axle is mounted in the coil spring. The turning element is connected to the spring axle. The torsional spring is mounted in the turning element. The major damper is connected to the coil spring and has a turning rod. The positioning device is mounted in the roller and has a rotating mount, a rail mount and a positioning ball. The rail mount is mounted in the rotating mount and has two rails. The positioning ball is mounted between the rotating mount and the rails. The blind cloth device is mounted the mounting frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: K.E. & Kingstone Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Chong Huang
  • Publication number: 20130199735
    Abstract: Example architectural opening coverings powered by rotary motors are described. An example architectural opening covering apparatus includes a rotatable member, a covering mounted to the rotatable member, a motor having a drive shaft which is capable of rotating the rotatable member in a first direction to raise the covering and in a second direction opposite the first direction to lower the covering, and a drive shaft coupling substantially preventing the motor from applying torque in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventors: Wendell Colson, Daniel Fogarty
  • Patent number: 8006738
    Abstract: A window up-and-down-winding-type shielding apparatus for a conveyance includes: a pair of guide rails that are parallel to each other and that extend in an up-and-down direction; a moving member that is connected to a lower end of a shielding member and that can be moved in the up-and-down direction along the guide rails; a winding mechanism that has a rotation section for retractably winding the shielding member; a biasing force application device that applies a biasing force to the rotation section of the winding mechanism in a direction along which the shielding member is wound; a motion conversion mechanism that converts the movement of the moving member in up-and-down direction along the guide rails to a rotational motion; and an axis member that is coordinated with the motion conversion mechanism to have a rotational motion in accordance with the up-and-down movement of the moving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: TOK Bearing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20100243182
    Abstract: An improved roller blind clutch assembly is disclosed for controlling the raising and lowering of a roller blind which permits the smooth raising and lowering of roller blinds even if the blinds are heavy. The improved roller blind clutch assembly includes a roller tube mount coaxially and rotatably mounted to a barrel. A clutch member is in turn coaxially and rotatably mounted to the barrel between the roller tube mount and the barrel. The clutch member has a window formed between a first and a second edge of the clutch member. A torsion locking spring is coaxially mounted to the barrel between the barrel and the clutch member. The torsion locking spring has opposite first and second ends which project into the window. The roller tube mount has an extension portion configured to extend into the window and dimensioned to fit between the first and second ends of the torsion locking spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Philip Ng, Norman Wills
  • Patent number: 7686150
    Abstract: This invention disclosed a speed limit device for door, which comprises: an input shaft with one end driven by a door motor, and having the first gear and the second gear configured at the other end simultaneously driving a hollow shaft and a third shaft, and the center of the hollow shaft accommodates and fixes one end of a reel, and the third shaft is connected with an extension shaft; a brake device, which includes an active gear fixed with the extension shaft; a passive gear is pivoted on a hub, and the hub is fixed with the reel and rotating with the hollow shaft; an inert wheel located between the active gear and the passive gear to adjust the passive gear to have the same rotation speed with the hollow shaft; a clutch mechanism, which could restrain the synchronous operation between the passive gear and the hub without any positional difference, and when the rotation speed of the reel has the abnormal change, the clutch mechanism generates the positional difference condition necessary to lock the hub t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Inventor: Chung-Hsien Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20080271859
    Abstract: A door controller (10) including an integrated electric motor, said door controller including an integrated stator (14) provided with at least one coil (16) placed about the circumference of said stator, said stator fixed to allow only a substantially small degree of rotation of said stator, in use said stator and a rotatable ring gear (18) adapted to be in electromagnetic interaction with each other so as to rotatably drive said ring gear, rotation of said ring gear effecting movement of said door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: B&D AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
    Inventors: George Kourtesis, John F. Udy
  • Patent number: 7147030
    Abstract: An operation group for use with a curtain winding roll is described relative to a first embodiment and a second embodiment (G1, G2), the first for automatically and the second for manually winding up curtains. According to the first embodiment (G1), the operation group includes a mechanism (1), connected to a head (3a) of a curtain winding roll (3). A stop device (90) defines a hub (9) connected to the remaining winding roll head. According to the second embodiment (G2), the operation group has instead a pulley (95) defining the hub (9). The mechanism (1) is operated by first sliding the barrel (5), connected to a first elastic element (2) situated inside the roll (3), axially to disengage a clutch (7), and then by rotating the barrel in one direction or another. When the mechanism is released, a second elastic element (6) slides the barrel (5) back, to re-engage the clutch (7). Adapter rings (30,300) allow use of the operation group with rolls (3) of different diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Dalex S.r.l.
    Inventors: Pietro Dalle Nogare, Simone Dalle Nogare
  • Patent number: 6529323
    Abstract: To provide a sheet take-up device for a projection screen and the like, said device being capable of simplifying the device in structure by omitting a one-way clutch and reducing components in number and capable of smoothly drawing out and taking up a sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Inventor: Keiichi Okumura
  • Patent number: 5586631
    Abstract: A window shade, in which a winding shaft, which is rotatably mounted with its ends on stationary pivot pins, can be coupled with a drive member at one of its ends. At least one rolling body is arranged in a recess, which is wedge-shaped in the circumferential direction, between an inner jacket surface of a pivot sleeve projection, which is rigidly mounted on the pivot pin, and an outer jacket surface of a shaft sleeve projection, which is rigidly mounted on the winding shaft. The rolling body acts as a locking member and is clamped in the wedge-shaped recess and can be released from the clamped position by an opening element movable by the drive member in the direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Benthin Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Siegfried Benthin
  • Patent number: 5566741
    Abstract: A roll screen apparatus improved in operation and manufacturing, wherein the winding up and down of the roll screen are effected in such a manner so that the rotation of the pulley, by the pulling down of the operation cord, is transmitted to the screen winding pipe, and wherein the stop of the screen is effected by disengaging the transmission from the screen winding pipe to the pulley. The improved apparatus is characterized by providing a clutch device and a disengagement device. The clutch device is only transmissive of the rotation of the pulley to the screen winding pipe, and the disengagement device disconnects the engagement between the pulley and the screen winding pipe and maintains such disconnected condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nichibei
    Inventors: Takeshi Ogawara, Yukinori Chisaka, Masato Fujihara
  • Patent number: 5392887
    Abstract: A relatively light duty cone type clutch suitable for use in window blind or shade mechanisms is disclosed. As contrasted with conventional cone type clutches, the disclosed embodiment includes a plurality of radially arranged conically shaped rollers which are maintained in position by a spider forming part of a motion input pulley. The rollers are urged into engaged condition between a fixed clutch body and a polygonally shaped motion output core. The clutch is maintained in engaged condition by residual torque upon the output core provided by the weight of the unwound portion of the shade or blind. Upon the occurrence of rotary motion imparted to the pulley in either direction, the movement of the spider dislodges the rollers in an axial direction from engagement with the clutch body, following which motion is transmitted through the spider and rollers directly to the output core. When motion ceases, the rollers are returned to static position by a pressure washer carried by the spider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Introl Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Jules Nisenson
  • Patent number: 5099906
    Abstract: In the roller screen unit of the present invention, a clutch mechanism based on centrifugal effect using balls is provided with a ratchet member in which a cylindrical portion having notches between engaging grooves of a stator member and floating grooves of a rotator member, to perform stepwise operations of drawing/expanding, winding/housing and stopping the screen member. The roller screen unit of the present invention is provided with a braking mechanism having a top member, for controlling rotation of the rotator member during winding/housing of the screen member, centrifugally in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the rotator member. In addition, a connecting portion having side edge turnups or beads portion is provided at an end of the screen member and are engaged with groove provided in the longitudinal direction of the roller sleeve to simplify and facilitate to attach the screen member to the roller sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: Metaco Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomomichi Chigusa, Osamu Tsuchida
  • Patent number: 4466475
    Abstract: A device for driving and stopping a roll blind including a blind cloth and a winding roll for winding up and unwinding the blind coth, which includes a clutch mechanism which is actuated to its ON- and OFF-positions by drawing the blind cloth downward. In the cloth lowering operation the clutch mechanism is held in ON-position in order to stop the blind cloth at a desired position and in the cloth raising operation the clutch mechanism is actuated to the OFF-position by slightly drawing the blind cloth downward, thereby allowing the blind cloth onto the winding roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1984
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nichibei
    Inventors: Yasuji Saito, Hiroomi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 4345636
    Abstract: A roller screen unit including an outer sleeve, an intermediate sleeve loosely received in the outer sleeve, a core member loaded with an elongated spiral spring and received in the intermediate sleeve, a clutch mechanism connected to one end of the core member in association with the outer sleeve and a screen member wound around the outer roller sleeve is disclosed. The clutch mechanism includes a stator member and a rotator member turnably mounted on the stator member through one or more ball members to perform a function of the clutch on operation of the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1982
    Assignee: Metako Kigyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeki Fukuchi
  • Patent number: 4305447
    Abstract: A shade roller latch comprises a latch member in a bore in a stationary stem. This latch member can fall by gravity into a notch in the inside circumferential surface of a shell rotatable with the shade roller to be received in part by this notch and lock the roller against rotation in relation to the stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1981
    Inventor: Bo S. O. Persson
  • Patent number: 4250942
    Abstract: A ball clutch mechanism in a spring motor for a tubular roller-blind rod or the like. The clutch includes a hub or outer clutch member rotatably mounted on a cylindrical portion of a shaft made of plastics and forming an inner clutch member including clutch ball receiving recesses. The hub has straight ball channels and is made of plastics in one piece. The hub is locked in an axial position on the shaft by a locking pin engaging a groove in the shaft. The locking pin has a stop arm located to retain the respective clutch ball in the ball channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1981
    Assignee: Heinz Walter Dreher
    Inventors: Heinz W. Dreher, Bo S. O. Persson
  • Patent number: 4009745
    Abstract: A window shade support roller having an improved spring motor construction and method of manufacture includes a spring retaining structure which holds a driving spring and a spear structure having an integral spear. The spear structure and the spring retaining structure cooperate together, and with a ball, to form a ball clutch mechanism. The spring retaining structure has ball-receiving recesses with canting floors which simplify assembly. Assembly steps include inserting balls into the spring retaining structure, inserting the spear structure into the spring retaining structure, inserting a dowel into the spear structure, positioning a spring around the dowel, and inserting one end of such spring between portions of the spring retaining structure, which uniquely capture and retain the end without other securement, for torsional winding of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1977
    Assignee: Breneman, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Erpenbeck