Fenestration covering lift system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9222302-B2
Application number	US-201314141649-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2013
Priority date	Dec 27, 2013
Publication date	Dec 29, 2015
Grant date	Dec 29, 2015

Abstract

A window covering for a fenestration product includes a top rail, a bottom rail, and a shade extending between the top rail and the bottom rail. A shade mechanism includes a rotatable lift shaft, a lift spool having a cylinder operably connected to the top rail for raising and lowering the top rail, and a resilient member operably connected between the lift shaft and the lift spool. The resilient member allows the lift shaft to over-rotate with respect to the lift spool.

First claim

The following is claimed:

1. A window covering for a fenestration product having a viewing area, the window covering comprising:
a top rail;
a bottom rail;
a shade extending between the top rail and the bottom rail; and
a shade mechanism comprising:
a rotatable lift shaft;
a lift spool having a cylinder operably connected to the top rail for raising and lowering the top rail; and
a resilient member operably connected between the lift shaft and the lift spool, wherein the resilient member allows the lift shaft to over-rotate with respect to the lift spool.

2. The window covering of claim 1 , wherein the resilient member is axially elongate with a first end connected to the cylinder and a second end connected to the rotatable lift shaft.

3. The window covering of claim 2 , wherein the resilient member comprises a stop extending from the second end of the resilient member and engagable with a portion of the lift spool to limit relative angular rotation between the lift shaft and the lift spool.

4. The window covering of claim 1 , wherein the resilient member is connected to the cylinder via an end cap connected to an end of the cylinder.

5. The window covering of claim 4 , wherein the end cap defines an end cap hole, wherein the cylinder defines a cylinder hole at a second end of the cylinder, wherein the lift shaft extends through the end cap hole with little or no contact between the lift shaft and the end cap at the end cap hole, and wherein the lift shaft extends through the cylinder hole with little or no contact between the lift shaft and the cylinder at the cylinder hole.

6. The window covering of claim 4 , wherein the end cap defines a substantially kidney-shaped knot slot, wherein the cylinder defines a lift cord slot adjacent the knot slot, and wherein a knotted lift cord extends through the lift cord slot with a knot of the knotted cord held in place at the lift cord slot.

7. The window covering of claim 4 , wherein the end cap includes a lock tab extending axially from the end cap and engaged with the cylinder at a lock receptacle defined by the cylinder.

8. The window covering of claim 1 , wherein a first resilient member end of the resilient member is connected to a first cylinder end of the cylinder and wherein a second resilient member end of the resilient member extends into the cylinder toward a second cylinder end of the cylinder.

9. The window covering of claim 1 , wherein the resilient member comprises first and second resilient member supports positioned on opposite sides of and extending substantially parallel to the lift shaft.

10. The window covering of claim 9 , wherein the resilient member is connected to the lift shaft via a plurality of brackets, each extending from the first resilient member support to the second resilient member support.

11. The window covering of claim 1 , wherein the lift spool includes a lift cord wrapped around the lift spool and connected to the top rail for raising and lowering the top rail.

12. The window covering of claim 1 , wherein the lift spool does not contact the lift shaft except through the resilient member.

13. The window covering of claim 1 , wherein the shade mechanism is positioned on a mounting structure positioned above the top rail and wherein the top rail can be raised and lowered with respect to the mounting structure when the mounting structure is mounted to a window frame.

14. The window covering of claim 1 , and further comprising:
a brake attached to the lift shaft and engagable to stop rotation of the lift shaft to hold the top rail and the shade at a selectable position.

15. A top-down shade system comprising:
a top rail extending substantially horizontally;
a bottom rail extending substantially horizontally;
a shade extending between the top rail and the bottom rail;
a mounting structure positioned above the top rail; and
a shade mechanism positioned at least partially in the mounting structure, the shade mechanism comprising:
a rotatable lift shaft;
a lift spool having a cylinder connected to the top rail via a lift cord wrapped around the cylinder; and
a resilient member operably connected between the lift shaft and the lift spool, wherein the resilient member allows the lift shaft to over-rotate with respect to the lift spool.

16. The window covering of claim 15 , wherein the resilient member is axially elongate with a first end connected to the cylinder via an end cap and a second end connected to the rotatable lift shaft.

17. The window covering of claim 15 , wherein a first resilient member end of the resilient member is connected to a first cylinder end of the cylinder and wherein a second resilient member end of the resilient member extends into the cylinder toward a second cylinder end of the cylinder.

18. The window covering of claim 15 , wherein the resilient member comprises first and second resilient member supports positioned on opposite sides of, spaced from, and extending substantially parallel to the lift shaft.

19. The window covering of claim 15 , and further comprising:
a brake attached to the lift shaft and engagable to stop rotation of the lift shaft to hold the top rail and the shade at a selectable position.

20. A method of operating the window covering of claim 1 having the shade extending between the top rail and the bottom rail, the method comprising:
rotating in a first direction the lift shaft and the cylinder operably connected by the resilient member;
raising the top rail to abut a structure above the top rail via the lift cord operably connected between the top rail and the cylinder; and
over-rotating the lift shaft with respect to the cylinder by bending the resilient member to maintain tension in the lift cord.

21. The method of claim 20 , and further comprising:
allowing the lift shaft to rotate slightly in a second direction opposite the first direction; and
braking rotation of the lift shaft, wherein force of the resilient member holds the top rail against the support structure after braking rotation of the lift shaft.

Assignees

• Black Randy Lee
• Pella Corp

Inventors

• Black Randy Lee

Classifications

• E06B9/303 Primary

  with ladder-tape · CPC title

• E06B9/262 Primary

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

• E06B9/322

  Details of operating devices, e.g. pulleys, brakes, spring drums, drives ({operating devices E06B9/68} ; devices of general interest specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material B65H75/34) · CPC title

• E06B2009/2625

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