Covering for an architectural opening

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016010390-A1
Application number	US-201314770204-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 11, 2013
Priority date	Mar 11, 2013
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A covering for an architectural opening is provided. The covering may include a roller, a shade, and an assembly associated with the roller. The assembly may include a biasing element and a retention element. The biasing element may be operably associated with the roller to selectively rotate the roller. The biasing element may be preloaded. The retention element may be associated with the biasing element. The retention element may be operable to release the preload in the biasing element at an extended shade position.

First claim

1 . A covering for an architectural opening, comprising:
a rotatable roller; a shade suspended from the roller and wrappable about the roller; and an assembly associated with the roller, the assembly comprising
a biasing element operably associated with the roller to selectively rotate the roller in an extension direction, the biasing element having a preload; and
a retention element associated with the biasing element and operable to release the preload at an extended shade position.

2 . The covering of claim 1 , wherein the retention element is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein when in the first position, the retention element maintains the preload in the biasing element, and wherein when in the second position, the retention element releases the preload in the biasing element.

3 . The covering of claim 2 , wherein the assembly further comprises a rotatably-fixed anchor.

4 . The covering of claim 3 , wherein when in the first position, the retention element engages the anchor to restrain movement of the biasing element, and wherein when in the second position, the retention element disengages the anchor to permit movement of the biasing element.

5 . The covering of claim 1 , wherein the biasing element is a torsion spring.

6 . The covering of claim 1 , wherein the retention element is pivotable between a radially-inward position and a radially-outward position.

7 . The covering of claim 6 , wherein the assembly further comprises a translatable nut configured to move the retention element from the radially-inward position to the radially-outward position upon the shade reaching the extended shade position.

8 . The covering of claim 1 , wherein the extended shade position comprises a fully extended, closed shade position.

9 . The covering of claim 1 , wherein:
the shade comprises two sheets interconnected by a plurality of vanes; and the assembly is configured to rotate the roller a supplemental amount that laterally separates the sheets and moves the plurality of vanes into an at least partially open position.

10 . A covering for an architectural opening, comprising:
a rotatable roller; a shade suspended from the roller and wrappable about the roller; and an assembly associated with the roller to rotate the roller a supplemental amount in an extension direction when the shade is in an extended position, the assembly comprising
an anchor;
a preloaded biasing element having a fixed end and a movable end; and
a pawl associated with the movable end of the preloaded biasing element, the pawl movable between a first position and a second position, wherein when in the first position, the pawl engages the anchor to restrict movement of the movable end of the preloaded biasing element, and wherein when in the second position, the pawl disengages the anchor to free the movable end of the preloaded biasing element, thereby allowing the preloaded biasing element to rotate the roller the supplemental amount in the extension direction moving the shade from a closed position to an at least partially open position.

11 . The covering of claim 10 , further comprising a shaft rotatably mounted on the anchor and secured to the movable end of the preloaded biasing element.

12 . The covering of claim 11 , wherein the shaft defines a cavity that houses the pawl.

13 . The covering of claim 12 , wherein the cavity opens to the anchor and to the roller.

14 . The covering of claim 10 , wherein:
the anchor includes a circumferential pocket; and the pawl is seated in the pocket when in the first position.

15 . The covering of claim 11 , wherein the shaft is externally-threaded, and further comprising a translatable nut threadably mounted on the shaft and keyed to the roller so that the nut rotates in unison with the roller.

16 . The covering of claim 15 , wherein the nut includes a cam that moves the pawl from the first position to the second position when the shade is extended to the predetermined position.

17 . The covering of claim 10 , wherein when in the second position, the pawl contacts and rotates the roller under the bias of the preloaded biasing element.

18 . The covering of claim 17 , wherein:
the roller includes an internal, longitudinally-extending rib; and when in the second position, the pawl contacts the rib of the roller.

19 . The covering of claim 10 , wherein:
the shade comprises two sheets interconnected by a plurality of vanes; and the supplemental amount of roller rotation laterally separates the sheets and moves the plurality of vanes towards a horizontal orientation.

20 . A covering for an architectural opening, comprising:
a rotatable roller; a shade associated with the roller so that rotation of the roller in one direction retracts the shade and rotation of the roller in an opposite direction extends the shade; and an assembly associated with the roller to selectively rotate the roller in the opposite direction, the assembly comprising:
a rotatably-fixed anchor;
a preloaded torsion spring having a fixed end and a movable end;
a shaft having a first section and a second section, the first section rotatably mounted on the anchor and including a cavity open to the anchor and to the roller, the second section secured to the movable end of the preloaded torsion spring; and
a pawl pivotably seated in the cavity of the first section of the shaft, the pawl pivotable between a radially-inward position and a radially-outward position, wherein when in the radially-inward position, the pawl engages the anchor to limit rotation of the movable end of the preloaded torsion spring, and wherein when in the radially-outward position, the pawl disengages the anchor and engages the roller to rotate the roller in the opposite direction under the bias of the preloaded torsion spring.

21 . The covering of claim 20 , further comprising a nut keyed to the roller and translatable along the second section of the shaft, the nut including a cam that moves the pawl from the radially-inward position to the radially-outward position when the shade reaches an extended position.

Assignees

• Hunter Douglas

Inventors

• Smith Stephen P

Classifications

• E06B9/60 Primary

  Spring drums operated only by closure members · CPC title

• E06B9/78

  for direct manual operation, e.g. by tassels, by handles · CPC title

• E06B2009/2627

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

• E06B2009/2435

  Two vertical sheets and slats in-between · CPC title

• E06B2009/583

  Cords or cables · CPC title