Operating system for an architectural covering

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10407983-B2
Application number	US-201715729769-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 11, 2017
Priority date	Oct 26, 2016
Publication date	Sep 10, 2019
Grant date	Sep 10, 2019

Abstract

An operating system for an architectural covering is provided. The operating system allows at least three modes of operation of an architectural covering. A transmission may be included between an input assembly and an output drive member, and the transmission may be selectively engaged to place the operating system into one of the at least three modes of operation. The operating system may include a first drive section including an input, a second drive section including an output, and a control mechanism arranged to selectively lock an element of the first and second drive sections to control movement of the output of the operating system upon actuation of the input. A shift lock is also disclosed herein. In use, the shift lock operates to restrict shifting operation of the operating system from one operating mode to another.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An operating system for an architectural covering, said operating system comprising:
a rotatable drive member configured for engagement with a covering winding member;
a transmission configured to drivingly rotate said drive member; and
a shifter movable to alternately engage different portions of said transmission to result in more than two modes of operation of said operating system.

2. The operating system of claim 1 , wherein:
in a first mode of operation, the operation system operates to close, to retract, or to both close and retract the covering; and
in a second mode of operation, the operation system operates to allow the covering to extend across an architectural structure or feature.

3. The operating system of claim 2 , wherein in a third mode of operation, the operation system operates to open the covering.

4. The operating system of claim 1 , wherein the alternate engagement of said shifter with said different portions of said transmission results in different directions of movement of said drive member upon actuation of said transmission.

5. The operating system of claim 1 , wherein:
said shifter comprises first and second lock portions configured to alternately engage another portion of said transmission;
engagement of said first lock portion with a first portion of said transmission locks said drive member against rotation in a first direction; and
engagement of said second lock portion with another portion of said transmission locks said drive member against rotation in a second direction.

6. The operating system of claim 1 , wherein said shifter pivots about an axis to alternately engage said different portions of said transmission.

7. The operating system of claim 1 , wherein said shifter is releasably held in alternate engagement with different parts of said transmission via a biasing mechanism.

8. The operating system of claim 7 , further comprising an end cap, wherein:
said biasing mechanism includes first and second magnets;
said first magnet is secured to said end cap;
said second magnet is associated with a portion of said shifter; and
said first and second magnets are configured to repel away from each other to position said shifter into alternating engagement with said transmission.

9. The operating system of claim 1 , wherein:
said transmission comprises a first member and a second member; and
said shifter moves to alternatively lock said first and second members against rotation in at least one direction.

10. The operating system of claim 9 , further comprising an overrunning gear meshingly engaged with said second member to lock said second member against rotation in at least one direction when engaged by said shifter.

11. The operating system of claim 9 , wherein:
said shifter includes a first protrusion operable to selectively engage said first member to lock said first member against rotation; and
said shifter includes a second protrusion operable to selectively engage said overrunning gear to lock said second member against rotation.

12. The operating system of claim 9 , wherein:
engagement of said shifter with said first member locks said drive member against rotation in a first direction; and
engagement of said shifter with said overrunning gear locks said drive member against rotation in a second direction, the drive member being free to rotate in said first direction when said shifter is positioned for engagement with said overrunning gear.

13. The operating system of claim 1 , wherein said transmission comprises first and second drive sections operably coupled together yet individually controlled by said shifter.

14. The operating system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an output arranged to drivingly rotate said drive member; and
a clutch mechanism permitting said drive member to slip relative said output upon application of a predetermined torque load to said clutch mechanism.

15. The operating system of claim 14 , wherein said clutch mechanism comprises a spring coupled to said output and engageable with said drive member, said spring arranged to allow movement of said output relative said drive member at the predetermined torque load.

16. The operating system of claim 1 , further comprising an obstruction element coupled with said shifter to selectively restrict movement of said shifter.

17. The operating system of claim 1 , wherein said transmission comprises a first drive section and a second drive section.

18. The operating system of claim 17 , wherein each of said first and second drive sections comprises a planetary gear set to control rotation of said rotatable drive member upon rotation of said transmission.

19. The operating system of claim 17 , wherein:
said first drive section comprises:
a first sun gear; and
a first set of planetary gears meshingly engaged with said first sun gear and carried by a first carrier positioning said first set of planetary gears about said first sun gear; and

said second drive section comprises:
a second sun gear; and
a second set of planetary gears meshingly engaged with said second sun gear and carried by a second carrier positioning said second set of planetary gears about said second sun gear.

20. The operating system of claim 19 , further comprising a ring gear meshingly engaged with both said first set of planetary gears and said second set of planetary gears.

21. The operating system of claim 14 , wherein said clutch mechanism comprises a slip clutch coupled to said output and engageable with said drive member, said slip clutch arranged to allow movement of said output relative said drive member at or below said predetermined torque load.

22. The operating system of claim 21 , wherein said slip clutch includes a first body portion and a second body portion, said first and second body portions being adapted and configured: (i) to rotate in unison when an applied torque is below said predetermine torque load so that said applied torque is transmitted from said transmission to said drive member via said slip clutch, and (ii) to decouple when an applied torque is above said predetermine torque load so that said applied torque is not transmitted from said transmission to said drive member via said slip clutch.

23. The operating system of claim 22 , wherein said output includes an opening formed in an end thereof, said opening being arranged and configured to receive a portion of said first body portion of said slip clutch.

24. The operating system of claim 22 , wherein said second body portion of said slip clutch includes a plurality of ridges formed thereon for coupling to said drive member.

Assignees

• Hunter Douglas

Inventors

• Holt Ronald
• Wisecup Stephen T
• Akins Terry L

Classifications

• F16D7/048

  with parts moving radially between engagement and disengagement (F16D7/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E06B9/34 Primary

  roller-type; {Roller shutters with adjustable lamellae} · CPC title

• F16D7/044

  the axially moving part being coaxial with the rotation, e.g. a gear with face teeth · CPC title

• E06B2009/905

  using wrap spring clutches · CPC title

• E06B2009/802

  located in or close to shutter box · CPC title