Window shade and actuating system thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11598145-B2
Application number	US-202117194195-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2021
Priority date	Mar 9, 2020
Publication date	Mar 7, 2023
Grant date	Mar 7, 2023

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An actuating system for a window shade, comprising:
a housing;
an axle coupling part rotatable relative to the housing for raising or lowering a bottom part of a window shade, the axle coupling part having a sleeve configured to rotationally couple to an axle;
an arresting part and an arrester coupling part connected with each other, the arrester coupling part being a single body having an outer surface and the arresting part having an end connected with the outer surface of the arrester coupling part, the arresting part being disposed in the housing and having a braking state and a release state, the arresting part having a surface that is in frictional contact with the housing in the braking state, the frictional contact between the surface of the arresting part and the housing being loosened in the release state;
a clutching part carried with the arrester coupling part and having a protrusion, the clutching part being movable relative to the arrester coupling part between a retracted state where the protrusion of the clutching part is retracted toward the arrester coupling part and disengaged from the sleeve of the axle coupling part, and an extended state where the protrusion of the clutching part extends outward from the arrester coupling part and is engaged with the sleeve of 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 a second direction opposite to the first direction to urge the clutching part to move from the extended state to the retracted state.

2. The actuating system according to claim 1 , wherein the braking state of the arresting part applies a braking force on the arrester coupling part that is adapted to prevent rotation of the axle coupling part in a direction that lowers a bottom part of a window shade when the clutching part is in the extended state, and the axle coupling part is rotationally decoupled from the arrester coupling part and the actuating wheel when the clutching part is in the retracted state.

3. The actuating system according to claim 1 , wherein the actuating wheel is rotatable in the first direction to drive the arrester coupling part and the axle coupling part to rotate in unison with the clutching part in the extended state for switching the arresting part from the braking state to the release state and raising a bottom part of a window shade.

4. The actuating system according to claim 1 , wherein the axle coupling part, the arrester coupling part and the actuating wheel are disposed substantially coaxial.

5. The actuating system according to claim 1 , wherein the clutching part is respectively connected slidably with the arrester coupling part and the actuating wheel.

6. The actuating system according to claim 5 , wherein the actuating wheel is rotatable about a pivot axis and has a driving portion at an eccentric location, and the clutching part is slidably connected with the driving portion.

7. The actuating system according to claim 6 , wherein the driving portion has a guide slot, and the clutching part has a pin slidably received in the guide slot.

8. The actuating system according to claim 7 , wherein the arrester coupling part has a channel in which the clutching part is guided for sliding movement, and the guide slot overlaps at least partially with the channel.

9. The actuating system according to claim 1 , wherein the sleeve has a tooth protruding inward, the arrester coupling part and the axle coupling part being rotatable in unison with the clutching part engaged with the tooth.

10. The actuating system according to claim 9 , wherein the arrester coupling part is at least partially received inside the sleeve of the axle coupling part, and the clutching part protrudes outward from a circumference of the arrester coupling part in the extended state for engaging with the tooth of the sleeve.

11. The actuating system according to claim 1 , wherein the arresting part is a spring that is disposed in contact with the housing and has an end anchored to the arrester coupling part, the spring being in frictional contact with the housing in the braking state, the frictional contact of the spring with the housing being loosened in the release state.

12. The actuating system according to claim 1 , further including a spring connected with the actuating wheel, the spring applying a biasing force on the actuating wheel in the first direction for assisting in maintaining the clutching part in the extended state.

13. The actuating system according to claim 12 , wherein the spring has a first end connected with the actuating wheel and a second end connected with the arrester coupling part.

14. The actuating system according to claim 1 , wherein the actuating wheel is coupled to a closed-loop operating element.

15. The actuating system according to claim 14 , wherein the operating element is a bead chain or a cord loop.

16. The actuating system according to claim 1 , further including a transmission axle rotationally coupled to the axle coupling part, and at least one winding unit that is coupled to the transmission axle and is connected with a suspension element.

17. A window shade comprising:
a head rail;
a shading structure and a bottom part suspended from the head rail; and
the actuating system according to claim 16 , wherein the bottom part is connected with the suspension element.

Assignees

• Teh Yor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Huang Chung-Chen
• Liu Kuan-Yu

Classifications

• E06B9/302

  without ladder-tape, e.g. with lazy-tongs, with screw spindle · CPC title

• E06B9/262 Primary

  with flexibly-interconnected horizontal or vertical strips; Concertina blinds {, i.e. upwardly folding flexible screens} · CPC title

• E06B2009/2625

  Pleated screens, e.g. concertina- or accordion-like · CPC title

• E06B9/38

  Other details · CPC title

• E06B2009/2627

  Cellular screens, e.g. box or honeycomb-like · CPC title