Window covering system and window covering control assembly thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10302172-B2
Application number	US-201715406772-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2017
Priority date	Jan 22, 2016
Publication date	May 28, 2019
Grant date	May 28, 2019

Abstract

A window covering control assembly is used in a window covering system. The window covering control assembly comprises a driving module and a speed control module, and is provided in the shell, engaged to the weight element for simultaneous operation therewith. The driving module comprises a cord collecting assembly mounted in the shell. The cord collecting assembly is configured to operate in a first direction while a first driving force acting upon the cord collecting assembly such that the weight element descends away from the shell. The first driving force comprises at least a weight of the weight element. The speed control module is positioned corresponding to the driving module. A resistance force is selectively generated between the speed control module and the driving module, and this force reduces an operation speed of the cord collecting assembly in the first direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A window covering control assembly for a window covering system, the window covering system comprises a shell and a weight element under the shell, wherein the weight element is operatively configured to ascend close to or descend away from the shell, the window covering control assembly comprises:
a driving module, which is adapted to be provided in the shell and engaged to the weight element to operate simultaneously with the weight element, wherein the driving module comprises a cord collecting assembly, which is adapted to be mounted in the shell; the cord collecting assembly is configured to operate in a first direction while a first driving force acts upon the cord collecting assembly; when the cord collecting assembly is mounted in the shell and when the weight element descends away from the shell, the first driving force at least comprises a weight of the weight element; and
a speed control module positioned corresponding to the driving module, wherein a resistance force is selectively generated between the speed control module and the driving module, and wherein an operation speed of the cord collecting assembly in the first direction is reduced when the resistance force is generated between the speed control module and the driving module.

2. The window covering control assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cord collecting assembly comprises a cord collecting wheel; the resistance force is a friction force; the speed control module comprises a friction member, the friction member is positioned corresponding to the cord collecting wheel; while the cord collecting wheel is rotating in the first direction, the friction member provides the friction force to the driving module to reduce the rotating speed of the cord collecting wheel.

3. The window covering control assembly of claim 2 , wherein the friction member is a restriction spring which comprises two ends and a diameter, wherein one end of the restriction spring is fixed to the shell, and the other end of the restriction spring is a free end; the diameter of the restriction spring is changed when a position of the free end is changed.

4. The window covering control assembly of claim 3 , wherein the speed control module further comprises a connecting shaft, an abutting member and a one-way clutch, wherein the abutting member is sleeved to the connecting shaft and positioned corresponding to the restriction spring, and the one-way clutch is positioned corresponding to the cord collecting wheel, and an outer case of the one-way clutch is coiled by the restriction spring; wherein the one-way clutch is configured to rotate with respect to the restriction spring when the connecting shaft drives the abutting member to push the free end of the restriction spring to increase the diameter of the restriction spring, and the cord collecting wheel is configured to rotate with the one-way clutch simultaneously such that the cord collecting wheel rotates in the first direction, and the restriction spring is in contact with the outer case of the one-way clutch to generate the restriction force to reduce the rotating speed of the one-way clutch and the cord collecting wheel; wherein the restriction spring coils tightly around the outer case of the one-way clutch such that the one-way clutch is not rotating when the connecting shaft drives the abutting member to move away from the free end of restriction spring, and the cord collecting wheel is allowed to rotate in a second direction by the one-way clutch.

5. The window covering control assembly of claim 3 , wherein the driving module further comprises a driving unit; wherein the speed control module further comprises a connecting shaft and an abutting member which is sleeved to the connecting shaft and positioned corresponding to the restriction spring, wherein the restriction spring is sleeved to one of the driving unit and the cord collecting wheel; the cord collecting wheel is configured to rotate with respect to the restriction spring when the connecting shaft drives the abutting member to push the free end of the restriction spring to increase the diameter of the restriction spring; at the same time, the restriction spring is in contact with the corresponding driving unit or cord collecting wheel which is sleeved by the restriction spring to generate the resistance force and reduce the rotating speed of the cord collecting wheel.

6. The window covering control assembly of claim 5 , wherein the driving unit of the driving module comprises a resilient member; the cord collecting wheel is configured to rotate in a second direction while a second driving force is acting upon the cord collecting wheel, wherein the second driving force is a recovery force from the resilient member, and wherein the first driving force is greater than the second driving force.

7. The window covering control assembly of claim 6 , wherein the resilient member is a spiral spring having a winding diameter; while the cord collecting wheel is rotating in the first direction, the winding diameter reduces; the friction member is engaged to a connecting shaft to operate simultaneously with the connecting shaft; the connecting shaft is configured to drive the friction member to contact with the spiral spring to generate the resistance force when the cord collecting wheel begins to rotate in the first direction such that the rotating speed of the cord collecting wheel in the first direction is reduced, wherein the resistance force is not generated when the friction member is not in contact with the spiral spring due to a reduction of the winding diameter while the cord collecting wheel rotating in the first direction and the cord collecting wheel is configured to continue rotating in the first direction by the first driving force.

8. The window covering control assembly of claim 6 , wherein the driving unit comprises a driving wheel and a storing wheel positioned adjacent to each other; the resilient member is a spiral spring having two ends, and the two ends of the spiral spring are respectively positioned corresponding to the driving wheel and the storing wheel; in an initial state of the spiral spring, the spiral spring winds around the storing wheel and has a winding diameter, and the weight element is at a position closest to the shell when the spiral spring is in the initial state.

9. The window covering control assembly of claim 8 , wherein the friction member is positioned corresponding to the spiral spring which winds around the storing wheel, wherein the winding diameter reduces while the cord collecting wheel is rotating in the first direction; the friction member comprises a adjuster for controlling the friction member between contacting or not contacting the spiral spring; the adjuster is configured to drive the friction member to contact with the spiral spring to generate the resistance force when the cord collecting wheel begins to rotate in the first direction such that the rotating speed of the cord collecting wheel in the first direction is reduced, wherein the resistance force is not generated when the friction member is not in contact with the spiral spring due to a reduction of the winding diameter while the cord collecting wheel rotating in the first direction and the cord collecting wheel is configured to continue rotating in the first direction by the first driving force.

10. The window covering control assembly of claim 9 , wherein the adjuster comprises a connecting shaft, an abutting wheel on the connecting shaft, and a sliding unit; the friction member is provided in the sliding unit and positioned corresponding to the spiral spring; the resistance force is generated when the connecting shaft drives the abutting wheel to push the slid

Assignees

• Nien Made Entpr Co Ltd

Inventors

• Chen Lin
• Nien Keng-Hao

Classifications

• E06B9/80

  Safety measures against dropping or unauthorised opening; Braking or immobilising devices; Devices for limiting unrolling (securing devices or arrangements for direct manual operation E06B9/78) · CPC title

• E06B9/307

  Details of tilting bars and their operation · CPC title

• E06B9/388

  Details of bottom or upper slats or their attachment · CPC title

• E06B2009/3222

  Cordless, i.e. user interface without cords · CPC title

• B65H75/486

  Arrangements or adaptations of the spring motor · CPC title